SCRIPTURE READING Galatians 5:1-26
1 For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not
submit again to a yoke of slavery.
The Nature of Christian Freedom
2 Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you let yourselves be circumcised,
Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 Once again I testify to every man
who lets himself be circumcised that he is obliged to obey the entire
law. 4 You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off
from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit,
by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ
Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything; the
only thing that counts is faith working through love. 7 You were running
well; who prevented you from obeying the truth? 8 Such persuasion does
not come from the one who calls you. 9 A little yeast leavens the whole
batch of dough. 10 I am confident about you in the Lord that you will not
think otherwise. But whoever it is that is confusing you will pay the
penalty. 11 But my friends, why am I still being persecuted if I am still
preaching circumcision? In that case the offense of the cross has been
removed. 12 I wish those who unsettle you would castrate themselves!
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use
your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love
become slaves to one another. 14 For the whole law is summed up in a
single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 If,
however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not
consumed by one another.
The Works of the Flesh
16 Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the
flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the
Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other,
to prevent you from doing what you want. 18 But if you are led by the
Spirit, you are not subject to the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are
obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, 20 idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, 21 envy,
drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I
warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
The Fruit of the Spirit
22By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is
no law against such things. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the
Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited,
competing against one another, envying one another.