Gal 5-6 | ESV | STEP | For freedom Christ has set us free ; stand firm therefore , and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery .

Galatians 5

Christ Has Set Us Free

1 For ^afreedom Christ has ^bset us free; ^cstand firm therefore, and do not submit again to ^da yoke of ^eslavery.

2 Look: I, Paul, say to you that ^fif you accept circumcision, ^gChrist will be of no advantage to you. 3 I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that ^hhe is obligated to keep the whole law. 4 You are ⁱsevered from Christ, ^jyou who would be justified ^{▼▼Or counted righteous} by the law; ^lyou have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we ourselves eagerly ^mwait for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus ⁿneither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but ^oonly faith working through love.

7 ^pYou were running well. Who hindered you from obeying ^qthe truth? 8 This persuasion is not from ^rhim who calls you. 9 ^sA little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 ^tI have confidence in the Lord that you will ^utake no other view, and ^vthe one who is troubling you will bear the penalty, whoever he is. 11 But if I, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 13} still preach ^{▼▼Greek proclaim} circumcision, ^ywhy am I still being persecuted? In that case ^zthe offense of the cross has been removed. 12 I wish ^aathose who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!

13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. ^abOnly do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love ^acserve one another. 14 For ^adthe whole law is fulfilled in one word: ^ae“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you ^afbite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

Keep in Step with the Spirit

16 But I say, ^agwalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify ^ahthe desires of the flesh. 17 For ^aithe desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, ^ajto keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are ^akled by the Spirit, ^alyou are not under the law. 19 Now ^amthe works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, ^andivisions, 21 envy, ^{▼▼Some manuscripts add murder} drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that ^apthose who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But ^aqthe fruit of the Spirit is ^arlove, joy, peace, patience, ^askindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 ^atgentleness, ^auself-control; ^avagainst such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus ^awhave crucified the flesh with its ^axpassions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, ^aylet us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 ^azLet us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6

Bear One Another’s Burdens

1 Brothers, ^{▼▼Or Brothers and sisters; also verse 18} ^bbif anyone is caught in any transgression, ^bcyou who are spiritual should restore him in ^bda spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 ^beBear one another’s burdens, and ^bfso fulfill ^bgthe law of Christ. 3 For ^bhif anyone thinks he is something, ^biwhen he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one ^bjtest his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For ^bkeach will have to bear his own load.

6 ^blLet the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches. 7 ^bmDo not be deceived: God is not mocked, for ^bnwhatever one sows, that will he also reap. 8 For ^bothe one who sows to his own flesh ^bpwill from the flesh reap corruption, but ^bqthe one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. 9 And ^brlet us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, ^bsif we do not give up. 10 So then, ^btas we have opportunity, let us ^budo good to everyone, and especially to those who are ^bvof the household of faith.

Final Warning and Benediction

11 See with what large letters I am writing to you ^bwwith my own hand. 12 ^bxIt is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh ^bywho would force you to be circumcised, and only ^bzin order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast ^caexcept in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which ^{▼▼Or through whom} the world ^cchas been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For ^cdneither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but ^cea new creation. 16 And as for all who walk by this rule, ^cfpeace and mercy be upon them, and upon ^cgthe Israel of God.

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

18 ^chThe grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^ciwith your spirit, brothers. Amen.