¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(A) Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

¹⁵ Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything;^(A) what counts is the new creation.^(B)

⁶ For in Christ Jesus^(A) neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.^(B) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.^(C)

Love and Hatred for Fellow Believers

³ We know^(A) that we have come to know him^(B) if we keep his commands.^{(C) 4} Whoever says, “I know him,”^(D) but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.^(E)

²² and receive from him anything we ask,^(A) because we keep his commands^(B) and do what pleases him.^{(C) 23} And this is his command: to believe^(D) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,^(E) and to love one another as he commanded us.^{(F) 24} The one who keeps God’s commands^(G) lives in him,^(H) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.^(I)

²⁵ Circumcision has value if you observe the law,^(A) but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised.^{(B) 26} So then, if those who are not circumcised keep the law’s requirements,^(C) will they not be regarded as though they were circumcised?^{(D) 27} The one who is not circumcised physically and yet obeys the law will condemn you^(E) who, even though you have the^[a] written code and circumcision, are a lawbreaker.

²⁸ A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly,^(F) nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.^{(G) 29} No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,^(H) by the Spirit,^(I) not by the written code.^(J) Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.^(K)

¹⁴ “Blessed are those who wash their robes,^(A) that they may have the right to the tree of life^(B) and may go through the gates^(C) into the city.^(D)

¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew,^(A) circumcised or uncircumcised,^(B) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,^(C) but Christ is all,^(D) and is in all.

² This is how we know^(A) that we love the children of God:^(B) by loving God and carrying out his commands. ³ In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.^(C) And his commands are not burdensome,^(D)