FREEDOM OF THE CHRISTIAN

5 For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firmh, then, and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.i 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.j 5 For we eagerly awaitk through the Spirit, by faith, the hopel of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faithm working through love.n

7 You were running well. Who prevented you from being persuaded regarding the truth?C,o 8 This persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.p 9 A little leavenD 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.q 11 Now brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the crossr has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also let themselves be mutilated!

13 For you were calleds to be free, brothers and sisters; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunityE for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilledt in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.F,u 15 But if you bite and devourv one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

THE SPIRIT VERSUS THE FLESH

16 I say, then, walk by the Spiritw and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desiresx 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.y 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious:G sexual immorality,z moral impurity,aa promiscuity,ab 20 idolatry,ac sorcery,ad hatreds,ae strife,af jealousy,ag outbursts of anger,ah selfish ambitions,ai dissensions,aj factions,ak 21 envy,H,al drunkenness, carousing,am 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.an

22 But the fruit of the Spiritao is love,ap joy,aq peace, patience,ar kindness,as goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness,at and self-control.au The law is not against such things.I 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesusav have crucified the fleshaw with its passions and desires.ax 25 If we liveay by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.az