Christ Set Us Free

5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again.

¹³ After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. ¹⁴ In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^{[a] 15} But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Flesh Opposes Spirit

¹⁶ What I am saying is this: Walk by the spirit,^[b] and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires. ¹⁷ For the sinful flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. In fact, these two continually oppose one another, so that you do not continue to do these things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the control of the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the sinful flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders,^[c] drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the spirit^[d] is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.