Galatians 5
1 Christ set us free so we could have real freedom. So stand firm and don't get burdened down again by a yoke of slavery.
stand firm then, and do not be again entangled in a yoke of bondage.
2 Let me, Paul, tell you bluntly: if you rely on the way of circumcision, Christ will be of absolutely no benefit to you.
Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, Christ will be no profit to you.
3 Let me repeat: every man who is circumcised has to keep the whole of the law.
I solemnly testify to every man who submits to circumcision that he obligates himself to keep the whole Law.
4 Those of you who think you can be made right by the law are cut off from Christ—you have abandoned grace.
If you are being justified by law, you are cut off from Christ; you are fallen away from grace.
5 For through the Spirit we trust and wait in hope to be made right.
But we are not, for we through the Spirit are eagerly waiting by faith for a hope of righteousness (a hope well founded);
6 For in Christ Jesus being circumcised or uncircumcised doesn't achieve anything; it's only trust working through love that matters.
because in Christ neither circumcision has any value, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works through love.
7 You were doing so well! Who got in the way and prevented you from being convinced by the truth?
You were running your race nobly. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
8 This “persuasion” certainly isn't from the one who calls you.
The influence brought to bear does not come from him who is calling you.
9 You only need a little bit of yeast to raise the whole batch of dough.
A little leaven is leavening the whole lump.
10 I'm confident in the Lord that you won't change the way you think, and that the one who is confusing you will face the consequences, whoever he is.
As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be.
11 As for me, brothers and sisters, if I were still advocating circumcision—why am I still persecuted? If that was true, it would remove the issue of the cross that offends people so much.
But I, brothers, if I "still preach circumcision," why am I still persecuted? Then surely the stumbling-block of the Cross has ceased to be an obstacle!
12 If only those who are causing you trouble would go even further than circumcision and castrate themselves!
Would to God that those who are trying to unsettle you would even have themselves mutilated.
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to freedom! Just don't use your freedom as an excuse to indulge your sinful human nature—instead serve one another in love.
For you, brothers, were called for freedom; only do not make your freedom an excuse for self-indulgence, but in love enslave yourselves to one another.
14 For the whole law is summed up in this one command, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
For the whole Law has been fulfilled in this one precept, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
15 But if you attack and tear into one other, watch out that you don't completely destroy yourselves!
But if you are always biting and devouring one another, take heed lest you be utterly consumed one by another.
16 My advice is to walk by the Spirit. Don't satisfy the desires of your sinful human nature.
This is my meaning. Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
17 For the desires of the sinful nature are opposed to the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the sinful nature. They fight one another, so you don't do what you want to do.
For the desire of the flesh is against that of the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit is against that of the flesh, for they two are antagonistic, so that you may not do those things that you wish.
18 But if the Spirit leads you, you're not under the law.
But if you are habitually led by the Spirit you are not under law.
19 It's clear what the sinful human nature produces: sexual immorality, indecency, sensuality,
Now the works of the flesh are manifest; such, for instance, as fornication, impurity, indecency,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, anger, selfish ambition, dissension, heresy,
idol-worship, sorcery, quarrels, party-spirit, jealousy, passionate anger, intrigues, factions, sectarianism,
21 envy, drunkenness, feasting, and similar things. As I warned you before so I warn you again: nobody who behaves like this will inherit the kingdom of God.
envy, drunkenness, revelings, and things like these. I tell you beforehand, as I have already told you, that those who practise such sins shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the Spirit produces fruit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trust,
But the harvest-fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long- suffering, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control;
23 gentleness, self-control—and there's no law against these kinds of things!
against such there is no law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed to the cross their sinful human nature, together with all their sinful passions and desires.
And those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and appetites.
25 If we live in the Spirit we should also walk in the Spirit.
If we are living by the Spirit, let us also keep step in the Spirit.
26 Let's not become boastful, or irritate and envy one another.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
