Follow the Spirit

(A)It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore (B)keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a (C)yoke of slavery.

Look! I, (D)Paul, tell you that if you have yourselves (E)circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I (F)testify again to every man who has himself (G)circumcised, that he is obligated to (H)keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who [a]are seeking to be justified by the [b]Law; you have (I)fallen from grace. For we, [c]through the Spirit, [d]by faith, are (J)waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in (K)Christ Jesus (L)neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but (M)faith working through love.

You were (N)running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from (O)Him who calls you. (P)A little [e]leaven leavens the whole lump of dough. 10 (Q)I have confidence [f]in you in the Lord, that you (R)will adopt no other view; but the one who is (S)disturbing you will bear the punishment, whoever he is. 11 But as for me, brothers and sisters, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still (T)persecuted? Then (U)the stumbling block of the cross has been eliminated. 12 I wish that (V)those who are troubling you would even [g](W)emasculate themselves.

13 For you were called to (X)freedom, brothers and sisters; (Y)only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but (Z)serve one another through love. 14 For (AA)the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “(AB)You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you (AC)bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

16 But I say, (AD)walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out (AE)the desire of the flesh. 17 For (AF)the desire of the flesh is against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, (AG)in order to keep you from doing whatever you want. 18 But if you are (AH)led by the Spirit, (AI)you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: (AJ)sexual immorality, impurity, indecent behavior, 20 idolatry, (AK)witchcraft, hostilities, (AL)strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, (AM)selfish ambition, dissensions, (AN)factions, 21 envy, (AO)drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not (AP)inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But (AQ)the fruit of the Spirit is (AR)love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, (AS)self-control; against such things (AT)there is no law. 24 Now those who [h]belong to (AU)Christ Jesus (AV)crucified the flesh with its passions and (AW)desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s follow (AX)the Spirit as well. 26 Let’s not become (AY)boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Bear One Another’s Burdens

(AZ)Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are (BA)spiritual are to (BB)restore such a person (BC)in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. (BD)Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill (BE)the law of Christ. For (BF)if anyone thinks that he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must (BG)examine his own work, and then he will have reason for (BH)boasting, but [i]to himself alone, and not [j]to another. For (BI)each one will bear his own load.

(BJ)The one who is taught (BK)the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. (BL)Do not be deceived, (BM)God is not mocked; for (BN)whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. (BO)For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap (BP)destruction from the flesh, but (BQ)the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. (BR)Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we (BS)do not become weary. 10 So then, [k](BT)while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the (BU)household of (BV)the faith.

11 See with what large letters I have written to you (BW)with my own hand! 12 All who want (BX)to make a good showing in the flesh try to (BY)compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they (BZ)will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who [l]are circumcised do not even (CA)keep [m]the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may (CB)boast in your flesh. 14 But (CC)[n]far be it from me to boast, (CD)except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, (CE)through [o]which the world has been crucified to me, and (CF)I to the world. 15 For (CG)neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a (CH)new [p]creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the (CI)Israel of God.

17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the [q](CJ)marks of Jesus.

18 (CK)The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be (CL)with your spirit, (CM)brothers and sisters. Amen.

Footnotes

  1. Galatians 5:4 Or would be
  2. Galatians 5:4 Or law
  3. Galatians 5:5 Lit by
  4. Galatians 5:5 Lit out of
  5. Galatians 5:9 I.e., fermented dough
  6. Galatians 5:10 Lit toward
  7. Galatians 5:12 Or cut themselves off
  8. Galatians 5:24 Lit are of Christ Jesus
  9. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  10. Galatians 6:4 Or in regard to
  11. Galatians 6:10 Or as
  12. Galatians 6:13 Two early mss have been
  13. Galatians 6:13 Or law
  14. Galatians 6:14 Lit may it never be for
  15. Galatians 6:14 Or whom
  16. Galatians 6:15 Or creature
  17. Galatians 6:17 I.e., scars and other evidence of persecution

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