Christian Liberty

5 ^(A)Stand^[a] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a ^(B)yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(C)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(D)that he is ^[b]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (E)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(F)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(G)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(H)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(I)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(J)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ^9 (K)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, ^(L)why do I still suffer persecution? Then ^(M)the offense of the cross has ceased. ^12 (N)I could wish that those ^(O)who trouble you would even ^[c]cut themselves off!

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only ^(P)do not use liberty as an ^(Q)opportunity for the flesh, but ^(R)through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(S)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ^(T)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

¹⁶ I say then: ^(U)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(V)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, ^(W)so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But ^(X)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now ^(Y)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[d]adultery, ^[e]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[f]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that ^(Z)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But ^(AA)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(AB)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, ^(AC)goodness, ^(AD)faithfulness, ^23 [g]gentleness, self-control. ^(AE)Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s ^(AF)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ^25 (AG)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ^26 (AH)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.