For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
If those who are of the law were the heirs, faith would be emptied of its meaning and God's promise would be rendered ineffective. Inheritance does not depend on being under the law, for to make it so would void faith and nullify the promise. The promise stands only as it is received by faith, not as it is earned by legal standing.
In connection with Romans 5, this shows that faith is what enables human nature to grasp the divine nature through Christ. Christ joined humanity and divinity together in Himself and overcame, opening the way for humanity to lay hold upon divinity by faith. It is through that faith-union with His overcoming life that the promise takes effect.
If those who are of the law were the heirs, faith would be emptied of its meaning and God's promise would be rendered ineffective. Inheritance does not depend on being under the law, for to make it so would void faith and nullify the promise. The promise stands only as it is received by faith, not as it is earned by legal standing.
In connection with Romans 5, this shows that faith is what enables human nature to grasp the divine nature through Christ. Christ joined humanity and divinity together in Himself and overcame, opening the way for humanity to lay hold upon divinity by faith. It is through that faith-union with His overcoming life that the promise takes effect.