Romans 4:14 : For if they that are of the law are heirs, faith is made void, and the promise is made of none effect. The world was not promised to Abraham's natural seed. God promised to make of his natural seed a great nation, and to give them a definite territory, but they were not constituted the heirs of the world. The seed that was to bless the world was Christ. "Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed which is Christ" (Galatians 3:16). "Whom he appointed heir of all things" (Hebrews 1:2). With this agree the words of David: "I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" (Psalms 2:7-8). Now, this promise of world-wide inheritance was not made to Abraham through the righteousness of the law, but through the righteousness of faith. Paul had shown the Judaizing teachers that Abraham was not righteous by law, but by faith. Now he shows briefly that the promise of the Messiah was through the righteousness of faith, and not through the right-eousness of law. "Through the law" means through the righteousness of the law, for the person who does not keep the law perfectly receives nothing through the law but punishment. "They that are of the law" means they that are righteous by law. If such are heirs, faith as a basis for righteousness is void. If the promise was made -to those who would keep the law, the promise would have been of no effect, for no one kept the law there would have been no one to whom the promise applied. All would have been subject to penalty for violating law, Instead of receiving a reward for keeping it.