Stand firm in freedom
1For freedom the Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be harnessed again to a yoke of slavery. 2Look: I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, the Christ will be of no use to you. 3Again I testify to every man who lets himself be circumcised: he is bound to keep the whole law. 4You who look for righteousness in the law have been cut off from the Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For we, through the Spirit and by faith, wait eagerly for the righteousness we hope for. 6In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything — only faith working through love. 7You were running well. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That persuasion did not come from the one who calls you. 9A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10I am confident about you in the Lord, that you will think no differently; and whoever is stirring you up will bear the judgment, whoever he may be. 11As for me, brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12I wish the men who are unsettling you would go the whole way and cut themselves off!
Freedom is not a foothold for the flesh
13You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters — only do not turn that freedom into a foothold for the flesh; instead, serve one another through love. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one saying: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you keep biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16What I mean is this: walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the craving of the flesh. 17For the flesh sets its craving against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; the two are locked in opposition, so that you do not do the things you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
The works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit
19The works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, 20idolatry, sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, outbursts of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, wild revelry, and things like these. I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and cravings. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
