1Christ has truly set us free. So stand firm, then, in that liberty; and do not allow yourselves to be entangled again in the slavery of the law. 2Listen! I, Paul, tell you, that if you trust in circumcision to make you right with God, then the redemptive work of Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3For I tell you again: every man that is circumcised to gain favor with God has become obligated to fulfill the whole law. 4When you seek justification by the law; you sever yourself from grace, and the freedom purchased for you by Jesus Christ; and the redemptive work of Christ is of no effect for you. 5For we who live by faith through the Spirit eagerly await the righteousness that God has promised us. 6For in Jesus Christ, neither circumcision or uncircumcision has any value - but faith which expresses itself through love.

7You were running your race well. Who tripped you up and hindered you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of influence does not come from God, Who called you to freedom. 9A little leaven (yeast - impurity) leavens (contaminates) the whole lump (batch of dough – the Word of God). 10I have confidence in the Lord, that you will be protected from such false teaching; but the one causing you this confusion shall pay for it, whoever he is. 11And brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that circumcision is necessary, as some say that I do, why would I suffer the persecution that I do? And if I no longer preached salvation through the cross of Christ, then my persecutors would not be offended. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and completely emasculate themselves!

13You, my brothers and sisters, have been called to be free. But do not use your liberty to indulge in the sins of the flesh, but rather to serve one another in love. 14For the entire law is summed up and fulfilled in one command, which is: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Lev.19:18). 15But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another. 16So I say, walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you cannot do what you would. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The acts or manifestations of fleshly lust are obvious: adultery, fornication, impurity, debauchery, 20Idolatry, sorcery, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, rage, divisions, seditions, heresies, 21Envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things of that sort. And as I have already warned you in the past, those who engage in such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But on the other hand, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, self-control; and there is no law against these things. 24And they that belong to Christ have crucified the flesh, with its passions and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us follow the leading of the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, nor provoke or envy one another.