¹³ It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise^(A) that he would be heir of the world,^(B) but through the righteousness that comes by faith.^(C)

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

¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you^(A) will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south.^(B) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.^[a](C)

¹⁷ I will surely bless you^(A) and make your descendants^(B) as numerous as the stars in the sky^(C) and as the sand on the seashore.^(D) Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,^{(E) 18} and through your offspring^[a] all nations on earth will be blessed,^[b](F) because you have obeyed me.”^(G)

⁸ 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)

⁴ “As for me, this is my covenant with you:^(A) You will be the father of many nations.^{(B) 5} No longer will you be called Abram^[a]; your name will be Abraham,^[b](C) for I have made you a father of many nations.^{(D) 6} I will make you very fruitful;^(E) I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.^(F)

¹⁶ The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.^(A) Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,”^[a](B) meaning one person, who is Christ. ¹⁷ What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years^(C) later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. ¹⁸ For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise;^(D) but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.

¹⁶ I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her.^(A) I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations;^(B) kings of peoples will come from her.”