Galatians 5

Keep Your Freedom

1 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 13 My brothers and sisters, God called you to be free, but do not use your freedom as an excuse to do what pleases your sinful self. Serve each other with love.14 The whole law is made complete in this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 

15 If you go on hurting each other and tearing each other apart, be careful, or you will completely destroy each other.

The Spirit and Human Nature

16 So I tell you: Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want.17 Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other, so you cannot do just what you please.

18 But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.
19 The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins,20 worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people,21 feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom.22 But the Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong.24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.25 We get our new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit.26 We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other.

Galatians 5

1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that, if ye receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.3 Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.4 Ye are severed from Christ, ye would be justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.5 For we through the Spirit by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith working through love.7 Ye were running well; who hindered you that ye should not obey the truth?8 This persuasion came not of him that calleth you.9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.10 I have confidence to you-ward in the Lord, that ye will be none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be.11 But I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? then hath the stumbling-block of the cross been done away.12 I would that they that unsettle you would even go beyond circumcision.13 For ye, brethren, were called for freedom; only use not your freedom for an occasion to the flesh, but through love be servants one to another.14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary the one to the other; that ye may not do the things that ye would.18 But if ye are led by the Spirit, ye are not under the law.19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,21 envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practise such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.24 And they that are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with the passions and the lusts thereof.25 If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk.26 Let us not become vainglorious, provoking one another, envying one another.