Doing Good to All
1Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5for each one should carry their own load. 6Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. 14May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which6:14 Or whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. 16Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to6:16 Or rule and to the Israel of God.
17From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
18The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Do Good to Everyone
1Brothers and sisters, what if someone is caught in a sin? Then you who live by the Spirit should correct that person. Do it in a gentle way. But be careful. You could be tempted too. 2Carry one another’s heavy loads. If you do, you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks they are somebody when they are nobody, they are fooling themselves. 4Each person should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves. They won’t be comparing themselves to someone else. 5Each person should carry their own load. 6But those who are taught the word should share all good things with their teacher.
7Don’t be fooled. You can’t outsmart God. A man gathers a crop from what he plants. 8Some people plant to please their desires controlled by sin. From these desires they will harvest death. Others plant to please the Holy Spirit. From the Spirit they will harvest eternal life. 9Let us not become tired of doing good. At the right time we will gather a crop if we don’t give up. 10So when we can do good to everyone, let us do it. Let’s try even harder to do good to the family of believers.
Not Circumcision but the New Creation
11Look at the big letters I’m using as I write to you with my own hand!
12Some people are worried about how things look on the outside. They are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do it for only one reason. They don’t want to suffer by being connected with the cross of Christ. 13Even those who are circumcised don’t obey the law. But they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what has been done to your body. 14I never want to brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Through that cross the ways of the world have been crucified as far as I am concerned. And I have been crucified as far as the ways of the world are concerned. 15Circumcision and uncircumcision don’t mean anything. What really counts is that the new creation has come. 16May peace and mercy be given to all who follow this rule. May peace and mercy be given to the Israel that belongs to God.
17From now on, let no one cause trouble for me. My body has marks that show I belong to Jesus.
18Brothers and sisters, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
