Freedom in Christ

5 In the freedom with which Christ has set us free stand firm, then, and {do} not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery.

2 Take notice: I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you {at all}. 3 Again I testify to every man who gets himself circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 {You} who are [trying] to be justified by [the] law have been severed from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

5 [But] by faith we eagerly await through [the] Spirit [the] hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value All that matters is faith expressing itself through love.

7 You were running so well. Who has obstructed you from obeying the truth? 8 [Such] persuasion [does] not [come] from the [One] who calls you. 9 A little leaven works through the whole batch [of dough]. 10 I am confident in [the] Lord that you will take no other view The [one who is] troubling you will bear the judgment, whoever he may be.

11 Now, brothers, if I {am} still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those who are agitating you, I wish they would proceed to emasculate themselves!

13 For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but [do] not [use] [your] freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love. 14 The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[fn] 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out, [or] you will be consumed by one another.