King James Bible
"Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ."
Paul declares a radical transformation in the believer's status—from slave to son. This shift occurs because of the preceding argument about Christ redeeming those under the law, marking a move from fearful obedience to intimate family relationship with God. In Roman law, sonship automatically conferred inheritance rights, making Paul's logic clear: adoption into God's family means receiving the full privileges of a legitimate child. This inheritance includes all the promises given to Abraham, now accessible to both Jews and Gentiles. Paul emphasizes that this entire transformation—from servant to son to heir—is accomplished solely through Christ's mediating work. This phrase prevents any misunderstanding that such status could be earned through law-keeping or human effort.