²⁸ For ^(A)no one is a Jew ^(B)who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. ²⁹ But a Jew is one ^(C)inwardly, and ^(D)circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. ^(E)His praise is not from man but from God.

⁹ Is this blessing then only for ^(A)the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? ^(B)For we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. ¹⁰ How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. ^11 (C)He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was ^(D)to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them as well, ¹² and to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

The Promise Realized Through Faith

¹³ For ^(E)the promise to Abraham and his offspring ^(F)that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ^14 (G)For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.

³ For ^(A)we are the circumcision, ^(B)who worship ^(C)by the Spirit of God^[a] and ^(D)glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—

²⁶ for in Christ Jesus ^(A)you are all sons of God, through faith. ²⁷ For as many of you as ^(B)were baptized ^(C)into Christ have ^(D)put on Christ. ^28 (E)There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave^[a] nor free, ^(F)there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Example of Hagar and Sarah

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons, ^(A)one by a slave woman and ^(B)one by a free woman. ²³ But ^(C)the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, while ^(D)the son of the free woman was born through promise. ²⁴ Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two ^(E)covenants. ^(F)One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia;^[a] she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But ^(G)the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written,

²⁸ Now you,^[b] brothers, ^(I)like Isaac, ^(J)are children of promise. ²⁹ But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh ^(K)persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(L)so also it is now. ³⁰ But what does the Scripture say? ^(M)“Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”