Galatians
Chapter 5: 1-12
Freedom in Christ
1It is for
freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be
burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2Mark my
words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no
value to you at all. 3Again I declare to every man who lets
himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4You
who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen
away from grace. 5But by faith we eagerly await through the
Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6For in Christ
Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is
faith expressing itself through love.
7You were
running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
9"A little yeast works through the whole batch of
dough." 10I am confident in the Lord that you will take
no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he
may be. 11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why
am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and
emasculate themselves!
