^aIt was for this freedom that Christ set us free completely liberating us; therefore ^bkeep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^cyoke of slavery which you once removed.

2 Notice, it is I, ^aPaul, who tells you that if you receive ^bcircumcision as a supposed requirement of salvation, Christ will be of no benefit to you for you will lack the faith in Christ that is necessary for salvation. 3 ^aOnce more I solemnly affirm to every man who receives ^bcircumcision as a supposed requirement of salvation, that he is under obligation and required to ^ckeep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be ¹justified that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God through the Law; you have ^afallen from grace for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing. 5 For we not relying on the Law but through the strength and power of the Holy Spirit, by faith, are ^awaiting confidently for the hope of righteousness the completion of our salvation. 6 For if we are in ^aChrist Jesus ^bneither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only ^cfaith activated and expressed and working through love.

7 You were ^arunning the race well; who has interfered and prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 This deceptive persuasion is not from ^aHim who called you to freedom in Christ. 9 ^aA little ¹leaven a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers leavens the whole batch it perverts the concept of faith and misleads the church. 10 ^aI have confidence in you in the Lord that you ^bwill adopt no other view contrary to mine on the matter; but the one who is ^cdisturbing you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty. 11 But as for me, ¹brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision as I had done before I met Christ; and as ²some accuse me of doing now, as necessary for salvation, why am I still being ^apersecuted by Jews? In that case ^bthe stumbling block of the cross to unbelieving Jews has been abolished. 12 I wish that ^athose who are troubling you by teaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation would even go all the way and ^bcastrate themselves!

13 For you, my brothers, were called to ^afreedom; ^bonly do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the ¹sinful nature (worldliness, selfishness) , but through ²love ^cserve and seek the best for one another. 14 For ^athe whole Law concerning human relationships is fulfilled in one precept, “^bYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit.” Lev 19:18 15 But if you ^abite and devour one another in bickering and strife, watch out that you along with your entire fellowship are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, ^awalk habitually in the Holy Spirit seek Him and be responsive to His guidance, and then you will certainly not carry out ^bthe desire of the ¹sinful nature which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts. 17 For ^athe sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the desire of the Spirit opposes the ¹sinful nature; for these two, the sinful nature and the Spirit are in direct opposition to each other continually in conflict, ^bso that you as believers do not always do whatever good things you want to do. 18 But if you are ^aguided and led by the Spirit, ^byou are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the ¹sinful nature are clearly evident: they are ^asexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control) , 20 ¹idolatry, ^2asorcery, hostility, ^bstrife, jealousy, fits of anger, ^cdisputes, dissensions, ^dfactions that promote heresies, 21 envy, ^adrunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not ^binherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^athe fruit of the Spirit the result of His presence within us is ^blove unselfish concern for others, joy, inner peace, patience not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, ^aself-control. Against such things ^bthere is no law. 24 And those who belong to ^aChrist Jesus have ^bcrucified the ¹sinful nature together with its passions and ^cappetites.

25 If we claim to live by the Holy Spirit, we must also walk ^aby the Spirit with personal integrity, godly character, and moral courage—our conduct empowered by the Holy Spirit. 26 We must not become ^aconceited, challenging or provoking one another, envying one another.

^aIt was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^bkeep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^cyoke of slavery.

2 Look! I, ^aPaul, tell you that if you have yourselves ^bcircumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I ^atestify again to every man who has himself ^bcircumcised, that he is obligated to ^ckeep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who ¹are seeking to be justified by the ²Law; you have ^afallen from grace. 5 For we, ¹through the Spirit, ²by faith, are ^awaiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in ^aChrist Jesus ^bneither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^cfaith working through love.

7 You were ^arunning well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from ^aHim who calls you. 9 ^aA little ¹leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 ^aI have confidence ¹in you in the Lord, that you ^bwill adopt no other view; but the one who is ^cdisturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. 11 But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^apersecuted? Then ^bthe stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that ^athose who are troubling you would even ^1bemasculate themselves.

13 For you were called to ^afreedom, brothers and sisters; ^bonly do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but ^cserve one another through love. 14 For ^athe whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^bYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you ^abite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, ^awalk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^bthe desire of the flesh. 17 For ^athe desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^bin order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are ^aled by the Spirit, ^byou are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^asexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, ^awitchcraft, hostilities, ^bstrife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^cselfish ambition, dissensions, ^dfactions, 21 envy, ^adrunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^binherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^athe fruit of the Spirit is ^blove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, ^aself-control; against such things ^bthere is no law. 24 Now those who ¹belong to ^aChrist Jesus ^bcrucified the flesh with its passions and ^cdesires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow ^athe Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become ^aboastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

^1aIt was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore ^bkeep standing firm and do not be subject again to a ^cyoke of slavery.

2 Behold I, ^aPaul, say to you that if you receive ^bcircumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I ^atestify again to every man who receives ^bcircumcision, that he is under obligation to ^ckeep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who ¹are seeking to be justified by law; you have ^afallen from grace. 5 For we ¹through the Spirit, ²by faith, are ^awaiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in ^aChrist Jesus ^bneither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but ^cfaith working through love.

7 You were ^arunning well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion did not come from ^aHim who calls you. 9 ^aA little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 ^aI have confidence ¹in you in the Lord that you ^bwill adopt no other view; but the one who is ^cdisturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still ^apersecuted? Then ^bthe stumbling block of the cross has been abolished. 12 I wish that ^athose who are troubling you would even ^1bmutilate themselves.

13 For you were called to ^afreedom, brethren; ^bonly do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^cserve one another. 14 For ^athe whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “^bYOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you ^abite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, ^awalk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out ^bthe desire of the flesh. 17 For ^athe flesh ¹sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, ^bso that you may not do the things that you ²please. 18 But if you are ^aled by the Spirit, ^byou are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: ^1aimmorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, ^asorcery, enmities, ^bstrife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, ^cdisputes, dissensions, ^1dfactions, 21 envying, ^adrunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not ^binherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^athe fruit of the Spirit is ^blove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, ^aself-control; against such things ^bthere is no law. 24 Now those who ¹belong to ^aChrist Jesus have ^bcrucified the flesh with its passions and ^cdesires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also ¹walk ^aby the Spirit. 26 Let us not become ^aboastful, challenging one another, envying one another.