1So stand firm in the freedom that Christ has given us, and do not let yourselves be tied down again by a yoke of slavery.
2Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you get circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you.
3And I declare again to every man who gets circumcised that he is obligated to obey the entire Law.
4You are separated from Christ, you who want to be made right with God through following the law. You have lost your connection to God's grace.
5Because of the Spirit, we eagerly wait for the righteousness we hope for, which comes through faith.
6In Christ Jesus, it doesn't matter whether you are circumcised or not. What matters is faith that expresses itself through love.
7You were doing so well! Who got in your way and stopped you from obeying the truth?
8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who called you.
9Just a little yeast makes the whole batch of dough rise.
10I am confident in the Lord that you will not think any other way. But the person who is causing you trouble will face judgment, whoever they are.
11But brothers, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? If that were true, then the cross would no longer be offensive.
12I wish that those who are upsetting you would go all the way and castrate themselves.
13For you, brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to give in to your sinful desires, but instead, serve one another in love.
14For the entire law is summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."
15But if you hurt and attack each other, be careful that you don't destroy each other.
16But I tell you, live by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desires of your sinful nature.
17For your sinful nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to your sinful nature. These two are in conflict with each other, so you are not able to do whatever you want.
18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19Now the actions of the sinful nature are very clear. They include sexual immorality, impurity, indecency, lustful desires,
20worshiping idols, witchcraft, hatred, fighting, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, disagreements, divisions, false teachings,
21envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and other similar things. I warn you now, as I warned you before, that people who do these kinds of things will not inherit God's Kingdom.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
24Those who belong to Christ have crucified their sinful desires and passions.
25If the Holy Spirit gives us life, let’s follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in everything.
26Let’s not become conceited, making each other angry, or envying each other.