Freedom in Christ

1In freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore and do not be entangled again in a yoke of slavery!

2Behold, I Paul say to you that if you shall become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3Now again I testify to every man receiving circumcision that he is a debtor to keep the whole Law. 4Whoever are being justified in the Law, you are severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly await the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power, but only faith working through love.

7You were running well. Who hindered you, not to obey the truth? 8This persuasion is not of the One calling you. 9A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10I am confident as to you in the Lord that you will have no other mind. But the one troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he might be.

11Now brothers, if I still proclaim circumcision, why still am I persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12I wish those upsetting you also will emasculate themselves!

13For you brothers were called to freedom, but not the freedom for an opportunity to the flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. 14For the entire Law is fulfilled in in this one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”a 15But if you bite and devour one another, take heed, lest you might be consumed by one another.

Living by the Spirit
(Romans 8:9-11)

16Now I say, walk by the Spirit, and you should not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are opposed to one another in order that you should not do those things you might wish. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, contentions, dissensions, factions, 21envyings, drunkennesses, carousing, and things like these, as to which I forewarn you, even as I warned before, that those doing such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

24Now those of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit. 26We should not become boastful, provoking one another, envying one another.