Freedom of the Christian

5 Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm g then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery. h 2 Take note! I, Paul, tell 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 keep the entire law. 4 You who are trying to be * justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace. i 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait j for the hope k of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith l working through love. m

7 You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth? n 8 This persuasion did not come from the One who called you. o 9 A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty. p 11 Now * brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross q has been abolished. 12 I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!

13 For you were called r to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled s in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself. t u 15 But if you bite and devour v 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 w and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires x 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: z a sexual immorality, b moral impurity, c promiscuity, d 20 idolatry, e sorcery, f hatreds, g strife, h jealousy, i outbursts of anger, j selfish ambitions, k dissensions, l factions, m 21 envy, n o drunkenness, carousing, p and 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

22 But the fruit of the Spirit r is love, s joy, t peace, patience, u kindness, v goodness, faith, w 23 gentleness, x self-control. y Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus z have crucified the flesh a with its passions and desires. b 25 Since we live c by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. d