Standing Free in Christ
Freedom is what Christ bought, so Paul warns that circumcision would put them back under the whole law. But freedom is not license: love serves, and the flesh's works tear a church apart and shut people out of our Father's kingdom, while the Spirit grows love, joy, peace, patience.
5 1Christ freed us for freedom. So stand firm—don't be yoked again to slavery.
2Listen: I, Paul, tell you—if you get circumcised, Christ will benefit you nothing. 3I testify again: every man who accepts circumcision must keep the whole law. 4You seeking justification by law are severed from Christ; you have fallen from grace. 5For through the Holy Spirit, by faith, we eagerly await the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters—only faith working through love.
7You were running well. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8This persuasion does not come from our Father, who calls you. 9A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough. 10I'm confident in the Lord you'll take no other view; whoever is troubling you will bear the judgment.
11But brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the cross's offense is abolished. 12I wish those who are unsettling you would emasculate themselves! a a v12 Paul sharply turns the knife: if cutting is the point, let the circumcision teachers go all the way.
13You were called to freedom, brothers—just don't let that freedom become a foothold for the flesh; instead, serve each other through love.
14For the whole law is fulfilled in one command: "You will love your neighbor as yourself."
15But if you bite and devour each other, watch that you aren't destroyed by each other.
16But I say: walk by the Spirit, and you won't carry out the flesh's cravings. 17The sinful nature wants what opposes the Spirit, and the Spirit what opposes the sinful nature; they conflict, so you don't do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19The sinful nature's works are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, reckless indulgence. 20Idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, angry outbursts, selfish ambitions, divisions, factions, 21envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and things like these. I warn you now, just as before: those who practice such things won't inherit the kingdom of our Father.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
