Galatians 5:1-12

New Century Version

Keep Your Freedom

5 We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong. Do not change and go back into the slavery of the law. ² Listen, I Paul tell you that if you go back to the law by being circumcised, Christ does you no good. ³ Again, I warn every man: If you allow yourselves to be circumcised, you must follow all the law. ⁴ If you try to be made right with God through the law, your life with Christ is over—you have left God’s grace. ⁵ But we have the true hope that comes from being made right with God, and by the Spirit we wait eagerly for this hope. ⁶ When we are in Christ Jesus, it is not important if we are circumcised or not. The important thing is faith—the kind of faith that works through love.

⁷ You were running a good race. Who stopped you from following the true way? ⁸ This change did not come from the One who chose you. ⁹ Be careful! “Just a little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.” ¹⁰ But I trust in the Lord that you will not believe those different ideas. Whoever is confusing you with such ideas will be punished.

¹¹ My brothers and sisters, I do not teach that a man must be circumcised. If I teach circumcision, why am I still being attacked? If I still taught circumcision, my preaching about the cross would not be a problem. ¹² I wish the people who are bothering you would castrate^[a] themselves!