That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

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In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children,(A) but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.(B)

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13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

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13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(A)

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11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

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11 And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.(A) So then, he is the father(B) of all who believe(C) but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them. 12 And he is then also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise(D) that he would be heir of the world,(E) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.(F) 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,(G) 15 because the law brings wrath.(H) And where there is no law there is no transgression.(I)

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace(J) and may be guaranteed(K) 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.(L)

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26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

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26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God(A) through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ(B) have clothed yourselves with Christ.(C) 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free,(D) nor is there male and female,(E) for you are all one in Christ Jesus.(F) 29 If you belong to Christ,(G) then you are Abraham’s seed,(H) and heirs(I) according to the promise.(J)

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14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

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14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God(A) are the children of God.(B)

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22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

29 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.

30 Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.

31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

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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:

“Be glad, barren woman,
    you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud,
    you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
    than of her who has a husband.”[a](F)

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 4:27 Isaiah 54:1
  2. Galatians 4:30 Gen. 21:10

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

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See what great love(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.(C) Dear friends,(D) now we are children of God,(E) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a](F) we shall be like him,(G) for we shall see him as he is.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known

The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.

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The Lord will write in the register(A) of the peoples:
    “This one was born in Zion.”

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30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.

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30 Posterity(A) will serve him;
    future generations(B) will be told about the Lord.

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15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.

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15 Does he not regard us as foreigners?(A) Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us.(B)

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