Freedom in Christ

1Stand fast therefore, and be not hampered again with the yoke of bondage.

2take notice, 'tis I Paul declare it to you, that if you are circumcised, Christ shall be of no advantage to you. 3for I testify to every man that is circumcised, that he is under an obligation to perform the whole law. 4Christ is of no use to you, whoever of you seek to be justified by the law; you have lost all interest in the gospel-dispensation. 5but as for us, our minds are possessed with the hopes of justification by faith. 6for in the christian-dispensation, neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision, but an active benevolent faith.

7You set out well in your course: who hath obstructed your progress in the truth? 8this opinionativeness does not come from him that called you. 9a little leaven affects the whole mass. 10I have confidence in you, that, through the Lord, you will be of the same mind with me, so that he who troubles you shall fall under the censure he deserves, whoever he be. 11as for me, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why am I yet persecuted? for then there would not be so much objection to the doctrine of the cross. 12I wish they who unsettle you were entirely circumcised.

13for, brethren, you have been called to liberty, only abuse not this freedom as a pretext to vice, but in offices of love be as servants one to another. 14for all the law is comprehended in this one precept, "thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." 15but if you bite and tear one another, take heed that you be not consumed by one another.

Walking by the Spirit
(Romans 8:9–11)

16I say then, conduct yourselves by the spirit, and you will not then gratify the animal passions. 17for the vicious desires are contrary to those of the spirit, and the inclinations of the spirit are contrary to those of the animal part; these are opposite to each other, so that you do not the things that you would. 18but if you are governed by the spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19now the effects of vicious passions are manifestly these, fornication, uncleanness, 20brutality, idolatry, poisoning, enmities, quarrels, emulations, animosities, strife, seditions, factions, envyings, 21drunkenness, revellings, and such like, concerning which I forewarn you now, as heretofore I have done, that they who practise such vices, shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, sweetness of disposition, beneficence, faithfulness, meekness, temperance: 23against such there is no law. 24now they who belong to Christ, have crucified the animal nature with the affections and passions thereof.

25if we live by the spirit, let us regulate our actions by the spirit: 26let us not be vain-glorious, provoking one another, envying one another.