Freedom of the Christian

5 Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm^(A) then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.^{(B) 2} Take note! I, Paul, tell you that if you get yourselves circumcised, Christ will not benefit you at all. ³ Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to keep the entire law. ⁴ You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.^{(C) 5} For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait^(D) for the hope^(E) of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith^(F) working through love.^(G)

⁷ You were running well. Who prevented you from obeying the truth?^{(H) 8} This persuasion did not come from the One who called you.^{(I) 9} A little yeast leavens the whole lump of dough. ¹⁰ I have confidence in the Lord you will not accept any other view. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the penalty.^{(J) 11} Now brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross^(K) has been abolished. ¹² I wish those who are disturbing you might also get themselves castrated!

¹³ For you were called^(L) to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For the entire law is fulfilled^(M) in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.^{(N)[a] 15} But if you bite and devour^(O) one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

The Spirit versus the Flesh

¹⁶ I say then, walk by the Spirit^(P) and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires^(Q) what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.^{(R) 18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious:^[b][c] sexual immorality,^(S) moral impurity,^(T) promiscuity,^{(U) 20} idolatry,^(V) sorcery,^(W) hatreds,^(X) strife,^(Y) jealousy,^(Z) outbursts of anger,^(AA) selfish ambitions,^(AB) dissensions,^(AC) factions,^{(AD) 21} envy,^[d](AE) drunkenness, carousing,^(AF) and anything similar. I tell you about these things in advance—as I told you before—that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.^(AG)

²² But the fruit of the Spirit^(AH) is love,^(AI) joy,^(AJ) peace, patience,^(AK) kindness,^(AL) goodness, faith,^{[e] 23} gentleness,^(AM) self-control.^(AN) Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who belong to Christ Jesus^(AO) have crucified the flesh^(AP) with its passions and desires.^{(AQ) 25} Since we live^(AR) by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. ²⁶ We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.^(AS)