Freedom in Christ

1Stand firm, and do not be willing to be again held by the yoke of servitude.

2Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if you have been circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3For I again testify, about every man circumcising himself, that he is obligated to act according to the entire law. 4You are being emptied of Christ, you who are being justified by the law. You have fallen from grace. 5For in spirit, by faith, we await the hope of justice. 6For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails over anything, but only faith which works through charity.

7You have run well. So what has impeded you, that you would not obey the truth? 8This kind of influence is not from him who is calling you. 9A little leaven corrupts the whole mass. 10I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will accept nothing of the kind. However, he who disturbs you shall bear the judgment, whomever he may be. 11And as for me, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still suffering persecution? For then the scandal of the Cross would be made empty. 12And I wish that those who disturb you would be torn away.

13For you, brothers, have been called to liberty. Only you must not make liberty into an occasion for the flesh, but instead, serve one another through the charity of the Spirit. 14For the entire law is fulfilled by one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not consumed by one another!

Walking by the Spirit
(Ezekiel 36:16–38; Romans 8:9–11)

16So then, I say: Walk in the spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And since these are against one another, you may not do whatever you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest; they are: fornication, lust, homosexuality, self-indulgence, 20the serving of idols, drug use, hostility, contentiousness, jealousy, wrath, quarrels, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, murder, inebriation, carousing, and similar things. About these things, I continue to preach to you, as I have preached to you: that those who act in this way shall not obtain the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance, 23meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things. 24For those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, along with its vices and desires.

25If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit. 26Let us not become desirous of empty glory, provoking one another, envying one another.