Follow the Spirit

5 ^(A)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^(B)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^(C)yoke of slavery.

² Look! I, ^(D)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^(E)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. ³ And I ^(F)testify again to every man who has himself ^(G)circumcised, that he is obligated to ^(H)keep the whole Law. ⁴ You have been severed from Christ, you who ^[a]are seeking to be justified by the ^[b]Law; you have ^(I)fallen from grace. ⁵ For we, ^[c]through the Spirit, ^[d]by faith, are ^(J)waiting for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in ^(K)Christ Jesus ^(L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^(M)faith working through love.

⁷ You were ^(N)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion did not come from ^(O)Him who calls you. ^9 (P)A little ^[e]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. ^10 (Q)I have confidence ^[f]in you in the Lord, that you ^(R)will adopt no other view; but the one who is ^(S)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. ¹¹ But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^(T)persecuted? Then ^(U)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. ¹² I wish that ^(V)those who are troubling you would even ^[g](W)emasculate themselves.

¹³ For you were called to ^(X)freedom, brothers and sisters; ^(Y)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^(Z)serve one another through love. ¹⁴ For ^(AA)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^(AB)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you ^(AC)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

¹⁶ But I say, ^(AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^(AE)the desire of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(AF)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^(AG)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(AH)led by the Spirit, ^(AI)you are not under the Law. ¹⁹ Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^(AJ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, ²⁰ idolatry, ^(AK)witchcraft, hostilities, ^(AL)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^(AM)selfish ambition, dissensions, ^(AN)factions, ²¹ envy, ^(AO)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^(AP)inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(AQ)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AR)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, ^(AS)self-control; against such things ^(AT)there is no law. ²⁴ Now those who ^[h]belong to ^(AU)Christ Jesus ^(AV)crucified the flesh with its passions and ^(AW)desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^(AX)the Spirit as well. ²⁶ Let’s not become ^(AY)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.