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Christ Set Us Free

[a](A)It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, (B)stand firm and do not be subject again to a (C)yoke of slavery.

Behold I, (D)Paul, say to you that if you receive (E)circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I (F)testify again to every man who receives (G)circumcision, that he is under obligation to (H)keep the whole Law. You have been [b]severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have (I)fallen from grace! For we [c]through the Spirit, [d]by faith, are (J)eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in (K)Christ Jesus (L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (M)faith working through love.

You were (N)running well; who hindered you from [e]obeying the truth? This persuasion is not from (O)Him who calls you. (P)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 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 his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still (T)persecuted? Then (U)the stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished. 12 I wish that (V)those who are upsetting you would even [g](W)mutilate themselves.

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Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:1 Some authorities prefer to join this sentence with 4:31 and render but with the freedom of the free woman Christ set us free
  2. Galatians 5:4 Lit abolished, cf. 5:11
  3. Galatians 5:5 Lit by
  4. Galatians 5:5 Lit out of
  5. Galatians 5:7 Or being persuaded by, cf. 5:8, 10
  6. Galatians 5:10 Lit toward
  7. Galatians 5:12 Or cut themselves off, castrate

Freedom in Christ

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.

But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love.

You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! 10 I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you.

11 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. 12 I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 5:11 Greek Brothers; similarly in 5:13.
  2. 5:12 Or castrate themselves, or cut themselves off from you; Greek reads cut themselves off.