Galatians
Summary
Christian Liberty and the Fruit of the Spirit: Galatians Chapter 5 is a seminal passage on Christian ethics and the life of the Spirit. Paul warns that those who seek justification through circumcision are "fallen from grace." He reminds believers that their freedom is not "an opportunity for the flesh," but rather an opportunity to "serve one another through love." The chapter famously contrasts the "works of the flesh", including immorality, idolatry, and division, with the "fruit of the Spirit": love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul exhorts the church to "walk in the Spirit," for those who belong to Christ have crucified the passions and desires of the flesh.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing.
And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you.
A little leaven leavens the whole lump.
I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will have no other mind; but he who troubles you shall bear his judgement, whoever he is.
And I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offence of the cross has ceased.
I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off!
For you, brothers, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself."
But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practise such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.