Galatians 4-6

New King James Version

Sons and Heirs Through Christ

4 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, ² but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. ³ Even so we, when we were children, ^(A)were in bondage under the elements of the world. ⁴ But ^(B)when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, ^(C)born^{[a] (D)}of a woman, ^(E)born under the law, ^5 (F)to redeem those who were under the law, ^(G)that we might receive the adoption as sons.

⁶ And because you are sons, God has sent forth ^(H)the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ^[b]“Abba, Father!” ⁷ Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, ^(I)and if a son, then an heir ^[c]of God ^[d]through Christ.

Fears for the Church

⁸ But then, indeed, ^(J)when you did not know God, ^(K)you served those which by nature are not gods. ⁹ But now ^(L)after you have known God, or rather are known by God, ^(M)how is it that you turn again to ^(N)the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? ^10 (O)You observe days and months and seasons and years. ¹¹ I am afraid for you, ^(P)lest I have labored for you in vain.

¹² Brethren, I urge you to become like me, for I became like you. ^(Q)You have not injured me at all. ¹³ You know that ^(R)because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me ^(S)as an ^[e]angel of God, ^(T)even as Christ Jesus. ^15 [f]What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?

¹⁷ They ^(U)zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them. ¹⁸ But it is good to be zealous in a good thing always, and not only when I am present with you. ^19 (V)My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you, ²⁰ I would like to be present with you now and to change my tone; for I have doubts about you.

Two Covenants^(W)

²¹ Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not hear the law? ²² For it is written that Abraham had two sons: ^(X)the one by a bondwoman, ^(Y)the other by a freewoman. ²³ But he who was of the bondwoman ^(Z)was born according to the flesh, ^(AA)and he of the freewoman through promise, ²⁴ which things are symbolic. For these are ^[g]the two covenants: the one from Mount ^(AB)Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar— ²⁵ for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children— ²⁶ but the ^(AC)Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all. ²⁷ For it is written:

²⁸ Now ^(AE)we, brethren, as Isaac was, are ^(AF)children of promise. ²⁹ But, as ^(AG)he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, ^(AH)even so it is now. ³⁰ Nevertheless what does ^(AI)the Scripture say? ^(AJ)“Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for ^(AK)the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” ³¹ So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.

Christian Liberty

5 ^(AL)Stand^[h] fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a ^(AM)yoke of bondage. ² Indeed I, Paul, say to you that ^(AN)if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. ³ And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised ^(AO)that he is ^[i]a debtor to keep the whole law. ^4 (AP)You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; ^(AQ)you have fallen from grace. ⁵ For we through the Spirit eagerly ^(AR)wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ⁶ For ^(AS)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but ^(AT)faith working through love.

Love Fulfills the Law

⁷ You ^(AU)ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ⁸ This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. ^9 (AV)A little leaven leavens the whole lump. ¹⁰ I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgment, whoever he is.

¹¹ And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, ^(AW)why do I still suffer persecution? Then ^(AX)the offense of the cross has ceased. ^12 (AY)I could wish that those ^(AZ)who trouble you would even ^[j]cut themselves off!

¹³ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only ^(BA)do not use liberty as an ^(BB)opportunity for the flesh, but ^(BC)through love serve one another. ¹⁴ For ^(BD)all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ^(BE)“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

Walking in the Spirit

¹⁶ I say then: ^(BF)Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For ^(BG)the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, ^(BH)so that you do not do the things that you wish. ¹⁸ But ^(BI)if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now ^(BJ)the works of the flesh are evident, which are: ^[k]adultery, ^[l]fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, ^[m]murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that ^(BK)those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

²² But ^(BL)the fruit of the Spirit is ^(BM)love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, ^(BN)goodness, ^(BO)faithfulness, ^23 [n]gentleness, self-control. ^(BP)Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ’s ^(BQ)have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ^25 (BR)If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ^26 (BS)Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Bear and Share Burdens

6 Brethren, if a man is ^[o]overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of ^(BT)gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. ^2 (BU)Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill ^(BV)the law of Christ. ³ For ^(BW)if anyone thinks himself to be something, when ^(BX)he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But ^(BY)let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and ^(BZ)not in another. ⁵ For ^(CA)each one shall bear his own load.

Be Generous and Do Good

^6 (CB)Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for ^(CC)whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap ^(CD)everlasting life. ⁹ And ^(CE)let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap ^(CF)if we do not lose heart. ^10 (CG)Therefore, as we have opportunity, ^(CH)let us do good to all, ^(CI)especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Glory Only in the Cross

¹¹ See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! ¹² As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, ^(CJ)only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But God forbid that I should boast except in the ^(CK)cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by ^[p]whom the world has been crucified to me, and ^(CL)I to the world. ¹⁵ For ^(CM)in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Blessing and a Plea

¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

¹⁸ Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.