Live in the Freedom that the Messiah Provides

5 The Messiah^[a] has set us free so that we may enjoy the benefits of freedom.^[b] So keep on standing firm in it, and stop putting yourselves under the yoke of slavery again. ² Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah^[c] will be of no benefit to you. ³ Again, I insist^[d] that everyone who allows himself to be circumcised is obligated to obey the entire Law. ⁴ Those of you who are trying to be justified by the Law have been cut off from the Messiah.^[e] You have fallen away from grace.

⁵ Through the Spirit by faith we confidently await the fulfillment of our righteous hope, ⁶ for in union with the Messiah^[f] Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. What matters is faith^[g] expressed through love.

⁷ You were running the race beautifully. Who cut in on you and stopped you from obeying the truth? ⁸ Such influence does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough. ¹⁰ I am confident^[h] in the Lord that you will take no other view of this. However, the one who is troubling you will suffer God’s^[i] judgment, whoever he is. ¹¹ As for me, brothers, if I am still preaching the necessity of^[j] circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish that those who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!