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and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that descendants will bear your name.”

In other words, it is not through physical descent that people are regarded as children of God. Rather, the children of the promise are those who are counted as descendants. For this is how the promise was worded: “About this time next year I shall return, and Sarah will have a son.”

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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) 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) For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”[b](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Romans 9:7 Gen. 21:12
  2. Romans 9:9 Gen. 18:10,14