1For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
2Look — I, Paul, tell you that if you get circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3I testify again to every man who gets circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law.
4You who are being justified by the law have been cut off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.
5For we, through the Spirit, by faith eagerly await the hope of righteousness.
6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any power, but only faith working through love.
7You were running well. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?
8This persuasion is not from the one who calls you.
9A little leaven leavens the whole batch of dough.
10I am confident about you in the Lord that you will think nothing otherwise; but the one who is troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.
11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
12I wish those who are unsettling you would even castrate themselves!
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.
14For the whole law has been fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
15But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh.
17For the flesh desires against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are opposed to one another, so that you do not do the things you may want.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
19Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions,
21envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these — about which I warn you, just as I warned you before, that 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 desires.
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.
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