Freedom of the Christian

1Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firma then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.b 2Take 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.c 5For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly waitd for the hopee of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faithf working through love.g

7You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?h 8This persuasion did not come from the One who called you.i 9A 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.j 11Now •brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the crossk has been abolished. 12I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!

13For you were calledl to 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 fulfilledm in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.n, o 15But if you bite and devourp one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Spirit versus the Flesh

16I say then, •walk by the Spiritq and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh desiresr 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.s 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

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

22But the fruit of the Spirital is love,am joy,an peace, patience,ao kindness,ap goodness, faith,aq 23gentleness,ar self-control.as Against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesusat have crucified the fleshau with its passions and desires.av 25Since we liveaw by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.ax