Galatians 5–6

Freedom in Christ

5It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.^m Stand firm,ⁿ then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.^o

²Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,^p Christ will be of no value to you at all. ³Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.^{q 4}You who are trying to be justified by the law^r have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.^{s 5}For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope.^{t 6}For in Christ Jesus^u neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^v The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^w

⁷You were running a good race.^x Who cut in on you^y to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.^{z 9}“A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.”^{a 10}I am confident^b in the Lord that you will take no other view.^c The one who is throwing you into confusion,^d whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. ¹¹Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted?^e In that case the offense^f of the cross has been abolished. ¹²As for those agitators,^g I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!

Life by the Spirit

¹³You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free.^h But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh^a;ⁱ rather, serve one another^j humbly in love. ¹⁴For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{bk 15}If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.

¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit,^l and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.^{m 17}For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.ⁿ They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^c you want.^{o 18}But if you are led by the Spirit,^p you are not under the law.^q

¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality,^r impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.^s I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.^t

²²But the fruit^u of the Spirit is love,^v joy, peace,^w forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.^x Against such things there is no law.^{y 24}Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh^z with its passions and desires.^{a 25}Since we live by the Spirit,^b let us keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited,^c provoking and envying each other.

Doing Good to All

6Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit^d should restore^e that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. ²Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.^{f 3}If anyone thinks they are something^g when they are not, they deceive themselves.^{h 4}Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone,ⁱ without comparing themselves to someone else,^{j 5}for each one should carry their own load.^{k 6}Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.^l

⁷Do not be deceived:^m God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.^{n 8}Whoever sows to please their flesh,^o from the flesh will reap destruction;^p whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.^{q 9}Let us not become weary in doing good,^r for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.^{s 10}Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good^t to all people, especially to those who belong to the family^u of believers.

Not Circumcision but the New Creation

¹¹See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!^v

¹²Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh^w are trying to compel you to be circumcised.^x The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted^y for the cross of Christ. ¹³Not even those who are circumcised keep the law,^z yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh.^{a 14}May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,^b through which^a the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.^{c 15}Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^d what counts is the new creation.^{e 16}Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to^b the Israel of God.

¹⁷From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks^f of Jesus.

¹⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ^g be with your spirit,^h brothers and sisters. Amen.