Galatians 5–6

Freedom of the Christian

5Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm ^gthen and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. ^h2Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. ⁴You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. ⁱ⁵For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait ^jfor the hope ^kof righteousness. ⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith ^lworking through love. ^m

⁷You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? ⁿ⁸This persuasion did not come from the One who called you. ^o9A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. ¹⁰I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. ^p11Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross ^qhas been abolished. ¹²I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!

¹³For you were called ^rto be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled ^sin one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. ^tu15But if you bite and devour ^vone another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶I say then, walk by the Spirit ^wand you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷For the flesh desires ^xwhat 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. ^y18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹Now the works of the flesh are obvious: ^zasexual immorality, ^bmoral impurity, ^cpromiscuity, ^d20idolatry, ^esorcery, ^fhatreds, ^gstrife, ^hjealousy, ⁱoutbursts of anger, ^jselfish ambitions, ^kdissensions, ^lfactions, ^m21envy, ^nodrunkenness, carousing, ^pand anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ^q

²²But the fruit of the Spirit ^ris love, ^sjoy, ^tpeace, patience, ^ukindness, ^vgoodness, faith, ^w23gentleness, ^xself-control. ^yAgainst such things there is no law. ²⁴Now those who belong to Christ Jesus ^zhave crucified the flesh ^awith its passions and desires. ^b25Since we live ^cby the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. ²⁶We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. ^d

Carry One Another’s Burdens

6Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle ^espirit, ^fwatching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted. ^g2Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ^h3For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, ⁱhe deceives himself. ⁴But each person should examine his own work, ^jand then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else. ⁵For each person will have to carry his own load.

⁶The one who is taught the message must share ^kall his good things with the teacher. ⁷Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap, ⁸because the one who sows to his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit ^lwill reap eternal life ^mfrom the Spirit. ⁹So we must not get tired ⁿof doing good, ^ofor we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work ^pfor the good ^qof all, especially for those who belong to the household ^rof faith. ^s

Concluding Exhortation

¹¹Look at what large letters I use as I write to you in my own handwriting. ¹²Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh ^tare the ones who would compel you to be circumcised ^u—but only to avoid being persecuted ^vfor the cross ^wof Christ. ¹³For even the circumcised don’t keep ^xthe law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh. ¹⁴But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world. ¹⁵For ^yboth circumcision and uncircumcision ^zmean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation. ^a16May peace come to all those who follow this standard, and mercy to the Israel ^bof God!

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me trouble, because I bear on my body scars for the cause of Jesus. ^c18Brothers, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. ^dAmen.