²⁹ If you belong to Christ,^(A) then you are Abraham’s seed,^(B) and heirs^(C) according to the promise.^(D)

⁶ This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs^(A) together with Israel, members together of one body,^(B) and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.^(C)

⁷ Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”^{[a](A) 8} In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,^(B) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.^(C)

²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman^(A) and the other by the free woman.^{(B) 23} His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh,^(C) but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.^(D)

²⁴ These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above^(E) is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise.^{(G) 29} At that time the son born according to the flesh^(H) persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit.^(I) It is the same now. ³⁰ But what does Scripture say? “Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.”^{[b](J) 31} Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman,^(K) but of the free woman.^(L)

⁷ Understand, then, that those who have faith^(A) are children of Abraham.^(B)

¹⁶ Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace^(A) and may be guaranteed^(B) to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.^{(C) 17} As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.”^[a](D) He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life^(E) to the dead and calls^(F) into being things that were not.^(G)

¹⁸ Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations,^(H) just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”^{[b](I) 19} Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead^(J)—since he was about a hundred years old^(K)—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.^{(L) 20} Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened^(M) in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(N) 21} being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.^(O)

¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs^(A)—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings^(B) in order that we may also share in his glory.^(C)

⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(A) we might become heirs^(B) having the hope^(C) of eternal life.^(D)

⁷ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.^(A)