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Christ Has Set Us Free

¹ For ^(a)freedom Christ has ^(b)set us free; ^(c)stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^(d)a yoke of ^(e)slavery.

² Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^(f)if you accept circumcision, ^(g)Christ will be of no advantage to you. ³ I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^(h)he is obligated to keep the whole law. ⁴ You are ⁽ⁱ⁾severed from Christ, ^(j)you who would be justified^[a] by the law; ^(k)you have fallen away from grace. ⁵ For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^(l)wait for the hope of righteousness. ⁶ For in Christ Jesus ^(m)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ⁽ⁿ⁾only faith working through love.

^7 (o)You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^(p)the truth? ⁸ This persuasion is not from ^(q)him who calls you. ^9 (r)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ^10 (s)I have confidence in the Lord that you will ^(t)take no other view, and ^(u)the one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. ¹¹ But if I, brothers,^[b] still preach^[c] circumcision, ^(v)why am I still being persecuted? In that case ^(w)the offense of the cross has been removed. ¹² I wish ^(x)those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

¹³ For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^(y)Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^(z)serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(aa)the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^(ab)"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁵ But if you ^(ac)bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

¹⁶ But I say, ^(ad)walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^(ae)the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(af)the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^(ag)to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are ^(ah)led by the Spirit, ^(ai)you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now ^(aj)the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^(ak)divisions, ²¹ envy,^[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^(al)those who do^[e] such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But ^(am)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(an)love, joy, peace, patience, ^(ao)kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ^23 (ap)gentleness, ^(aq)self-control; ^(ar)against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^(as)have crucified the flesh with its ^(at)passions and desires.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, ^(au)let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ^26 (av)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.