 1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty with which Christ has made us free, and do not become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold I Paul say to you, that if you become+ circumcised~ out of obedience to the law, Christ will bring you no benefit+. 3 For I testify again to everyone+ who is thus circumcised~, that in so doing one becomes+ obligated+ to do the whole law. 4 Whoever among you are endeavoring to be justified within the law are deprived+ of any benefit+ from Christ. Rather, such as these have fallen from grace. 5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith, wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but only faith working through love. 7 You have run well. Who hindered you and caused you to not obey the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you through the Lord, that you will not be otherwise minded. But whoever has troubled you will bear the judgment, whoever it may be. 11 But I, family+, if I still proclaim+ circumcision, then why do I still suffer persecution from the Jews? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I wish+ those who trouble you were cut off. 13 For, family+, you have been called to liberty. Only do not use liberty for an occasion for weakness in the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14 For the whole+ law is fulfilled in one word, in this: Love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 19:19 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take heed so that you are not consumed by one another. 16 This I say then: Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. These are contrary the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you should do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit then you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are revealed+ as these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, filthiness+, Matthew 15:19 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, contentiousness+, jealousy+, wrath, strife, rebellion+, heresies~, 21 envies, murders, drunkenness, riots+, and such like. I told you about all this before and as I have also told you in time past: Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 meekness, and temperance. There is no law against these things. 24 Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions+ and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be overtaken by selfcentered pride+, provoking one another, or envying one another.
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