Freedom of the Christian
1 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm l then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. m 2 Take note! I, Paul, am telling you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to do the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. n 5 For we eagerly await o through the Spirit, by faith, the hope p of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith q working through love. r
7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth? S,s 8 This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. t 9 A little leaven T leavens the whole batch of dough. 10 I myself am persuaded in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. u 11 Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross v has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!
13 For you were called w to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity U for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled x in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. V,y 15 But if you bite and devour z one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.
The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say then, walk by the Spirit a and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires b what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want. c 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious: W sexual immorality, d moral impurity, e promiscuity, f 20 idolatry, g sorcery, h hatreds, i strife, j jealousy, k outbursts of anger, l selfish ambitions, m dissensions, n factions, o 21 envy, X,p drunkenness, carousing, q and anything similar. I am warning you about these things—as I warned you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. r
22 But the fruit of the Spirit s is love, t joy, u peace, patience, v kindness, w goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, x and self-control. y The law is not against such things. Y 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus z have crucified the flesh a with its passions and desires. b 25 If we live c by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. d