Galatians 5

1  IN [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].2  Notice, it is I, Paul, who tells you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no profit (advantage, avail) to you [for if you distrust Him, you can gain nothing from Him].3  I once more protest and testify to every man who receives circumcision that he is under obligation and bound to practice the whole of the Law and its ordinances.4  If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).5  For we, [not relying on the Law but] through the [Holy] Spirit’s [help], by faith anticipate and wait for the blessing and good for which our righteousness and right standing with God [our conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action, causes us] to hope.6  For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith activated and energized and expressed and working through love.7  You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?8  This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who invited you to freedom in Christ].9  A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or misleads the whole church].10  [For my part] I have confidence [toward you] in the Lord that you will take no contrary view of the matter but will come to think with me. But he who is unsettling you, whoever he is, will have to bear the penalty.11  But, brethren, if I still preach circumcision [as some accuse me of doing, as necessary to salvation], why am I still suffering persecution? In that case the cross has ceased to be a stumbling block and is made meaningless (done away).12  I wish those who unsettle and confuse you would [go all the way and] cut themselves off!13  For you, brethren, were [indeed] called to freedom; only [do not let your] freedom be an incentive to your flesh and an opportunity or excuse [for selfishness], but through love you should serve one another.14  For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is complied with in the one precept, You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. 15  But if you bite and devour one another [in partisan strife], be careful that you [and your whole fellowship] are not consumed by one another.16  But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).17  For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.18  But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.19  Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,20  Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),21  Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.22  But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,23  Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].24  And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.25  If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]26  Let us not become vainglorious and self-conceited, competitive and challenging and provoking and irritating to one another, envying and being jealous of one another.

GÁLATAS 5

III.— LA VERDADERA LIBERTAD CRISTIANA (5,1—6,10)

Libres en Cristo

1 Cristo nos ha liberado para que disfrutemos de libertad. Manténganse, pues, firmes y no permitan que los conviertan de nuevo en esclavos.t 2 Yo, Pablo, lo digo: si se dejan circuncidar, de nada les servirá ya Cristo. 3 Solemnemente se lo aseguro una vez más: quien se hace circuncidar, debe cumplir enteramente la ley de Moisés. 4 Y querer alcanzar la amistad de Dios mediante el cumplimiento de la ley, significa romper con Cristo, quedarse fuera de la acción de la gracia. 5 Por eso, nosotros abrigamos la esperanza de ser restablecidos en la amistad divinat por la fe, mediante la acción del Espíritu.t

6 Como cristianos, en efecto, da lo mismo estar circuncidados que no estarlo; lo que cuenta es la fe, que actúa por medio del amor.t
7 Ustedes iban por el buen camino. ¿Quién les impidió seguir la verdad? 8 Desde luego, no fue el Dios que los llamó. 9 Un poco de levadura hace fermentar toda la masa.

10 Cierto que el Señor me hace confiar en que ustedes no cambiarán de comportamiento; pero el que los está perturbando tendrá su merecido, sea quien fuere.
11 En cuanto a mí, hermanos, si fuera cierto que todavía recomiendo la circuncisión, ¿en razón de qué me siguen persiguiendo? ¡El misterio de Cristo crucificadot no sería ya motivo de polémica!t

12 Y en cuanto a esos que los están soliviantando, ¡más valiera que se castrasen de una vezt!
13 Hermanos, han sido llamados a disfrutar de libertad. ¡No utilicen esa libertad como tapadera de apetencias puramente humanast! Al contrario, háganse esclavos los unos de los otros por amor. 14 Toda la ley se cumple, si se cumple este solo mandamiento: Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo.t

15 Pero si andan mordiéndose y devorándose unos a otros, terminarán por destruirse mutuamente.

La vida según el Espíritu

18 Pero si los guía el Espíritu, ya no están bajo el dominio de la ley.
19 Sabido es cómo se comportan los que viven sometidos a sus apetitos desordenados: son adúlteros, lujuriosos, libertinos,t 20 idólatras, supersticiosos; alimentan odios, promueven contiendas, se enzarzan en rivalidades, rebosan rencor; son egoístas, partidistas, sectarios,

21 envidiosost, borrachos, amigos de orgías, y otras cosas por el estilo. Ya se lo advertí a ustedes en su día y ahora vuelvo a hacerlo: esos tales no heredarán el reino de Dios.
22 En cambio, el Espíritu produce amor, alegría, paz, tolerancia, amabilidad, bondad, lealtad,t 23 humildad y dominio de sí mismo. Ninguna ley existe en contra de todas estas cosas. 24 Y no en vano los que pertenecen a Cristo Jesús han crucificado lo que en ellos hay de apetitos desordenados, junto con sus pasiones y malos deseos.t 25 Si, pues, vivimos animados por el Espíritu, actuemos conforme al Espíritu. 26 No busquemos vanaglorias, enzarzándonos en rivalidades y envidiándonos unos a otros.