1Christ has set us free to enjoy our freedom. So remain strong in the faith. Don’t let the chains of slavery hold you again.2Here is what I, Paul, say to you. Don’t let yourselves be circumcised. If you do, Christ won’t be of any value to you.3I say it again. Every man who lets himself be circumcised must obey the whole law.4Some of you are trying to be made right with God by obeying the law. You have been separated from Christ. You have fallen away from God’s grace.5But we long to be made completely holy because of our faith in Christ. Through the Holy Spirit we wait for this in hope.6Circumcision and uncircumcision aren’t worth anything to those who believe in Christ Jesus. The only thing that really counts is faith that shows itself through love.7You were running a good race. Who has kept you from obeying the truth?8The God who chooses you does not keep you from obeying the truth.9You should know that ‘just a little yeast works its way through the whole batch of dough.’10The Lord makes me certain that you will see the truth of this. The one who has confused you will have to pay the price. This will happen no matter who has done it.11Brothers and sisters, I no longer preach that people must be circumcised. If I did, why am I still being opposed? If I preached that, then the cross wouldn’t upset anyone.12So then, what about troublemakers who try to get others to be circumcised? I wish they would go the whole way! I wish they would cut off everything that marks them as men!
Living by the Holy Spirit’s power
13My brothers and sisters, you were chosen to be free. But don’t use your freedom as an excuse to live under the power of sin. Instead, serve one another in love.14The whole law is fulfilled by obeying this one command. ‘Love your neighbour as you love yourself.’ (Le 19:18)15If you say or do things that harm one another, watch out! You could end up destroying one another.16So I say, live by the Holy Spirit’s power. Then you will not do what your desires controlled by sin want you to do.17The desires controlled by sin do not want what the Spirit delights in. And the Spirit does not want what the desires controlled by sin delight in. The two are at war with each other. That’s why you are not supposed to do whatever you want.18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the authority of the law.19The result of sin’s control in our lives is clear. It includes sexual sins, impure acts and wild living.20It includes worshipping statues of gods and worshipping evil powers. It also includes hatred and fighting, jealousy and fits of anger. Sinful desire is interested only in getting ahead. It stirs up trouble. It separates people into their own little groups.21It wants what others have. It gets drunk and takes part in wild parties. It does many things of that kind. I warn you now as I did before. People who live like this will not receive God’s kingdom.22But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful23and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind.24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore.25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.26Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others.
1For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Joh 8:32; Ac 15:10; 1Co 16:13; Ga 2:4; Ga 5:13; Jas 1:25)2Look: I, Paul, say to you that if you accept circumcision, Christ will be of no advantage to you. (Ac 15:1; 1Co 7:18; Ga 4:11; Ga 5:3; Ga 5:11)3I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. (Ro 2:25)4You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[1] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Ro 7:6; Ro 9:31; Ga 2:21; Ga 3:10; Heb 12:15; 2Pe 3:17)5For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. (Ro 8:23; Ro 8:25)6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (1Co 7:19; Ga 3:28; Ga 6:15; Eph 6:23; Col 3:11; 1Th 1:3; Jas 2:18; Jas 2:20; Jas 2:22)7You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? (1Co 9:24; Ga 2:5)8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. (Ga 1:6)9A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (1Co 5:6; 1Co 15:33; Heb 12:15)10I have confidence in the Lord that you will take no other view, and the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. (2Co 2:3; Ga 1:7; Ga 5:12; Php 3:15)11But if I, brothers,[2] still preach[3] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. (1Co 1:23; Ga 4:29; Ga 6:12; 1Pe 2:8)12I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves! (Ga 2:4; Ga 5:10)13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (1Co 8:9; 1Co 9:19; 1Pe 2:16; 2Pe 2:19; Jud 1:4)14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Le 19:18; Mt 7:12; Mt 19:19; Mt 22:40; Joh 13:34; Ga 5:22; Ga 6:2)15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Php 3:2)
Keep in Step with the Spirit
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Ro 8:4; Ro 13:14; Ga 5:24; Eph 2:3)17For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Ro 7:15; Ro 7:18; Ro 7:23; Ro 8:5)18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. (Ro 7:4; Ro 8:14)19Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, (Mt 15:18; 1Co 3:3; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; Jas 3:14)20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, (1Co 11:19)21envy,[4] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[5] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (1Co 6:9; Col 3:6)22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Ro 5:1; Ro 7:4; Ro 8:5; 2Co 6:6; Eph 5:9; Col 3:12)23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Ac 24:25; Eph 4:2; 1Ti 1:9)24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Ro 6:6; Ro 7:5; Ga 5:16)25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Ga 5:16)26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. (Php 2:3)