Christ Set Us Free

¹It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.[#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]

²Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.

³And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.

⁴You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace![#5:4 Lit abolished , cf. 5:11]

⁵For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness.[#5:5 Lit by; #5:5 Lit out of]

⁶For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

⁷You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?[#5:7 Or being persuaded by , cf. 5:8, 10]

⁸This persuasion is not from Him who calls you.

⁹A little leaven leavens the whole lump.

¹⁰I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. But the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.[#5:10 Lit toward]

¹¹But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished.

¹²I wish that those who are upsetting you would even mutilate themselves.[#5:12 Or cut themselves off , castrate]

¹³For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

¹⁴For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself .”

¹⁵But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.

Walk by the Spirit

¹⁶But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.

¹⁷For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want.[#5:17 Lit lusts against]

¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

¹⁹Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

²⁰idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions,[#5:20 Or heresies]

²¹envying, 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 inherit the kingdom of God.

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

²³gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

²⁴Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.[#5:24 Lit are of]

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit.[#5:25 Lit following in line]

²⁶Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.