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 the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith 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 to keep 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, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11Brothers and sisters, 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!
Life by the Spirit
13You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh5:13 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verses 16, 17, 19 and 24; and in 6:8.; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”5:14 Lev. 19:18 15If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever5:17 Or you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Uhuru Ndani Ya Kristo
15:1 Gal 5:13; 2:4; Yn 8:32; Rum 7:4; 1Kor 16:13; Mt 23:4Kristo alitupa uhuru, akataka tubaki huru. Hivyo simameni imara wala msikubali tena kulemewa na kongwa la utumwa.
25:2 Gal 5:3; Mdo 15:1Sikilizeni! Mimi, Paulo, nawaambieni kwamba kama mkikubali kutahiriwa, basi Kristo hatawafaidia chochote. 35:3 Rum 2:25; Gal 3:10; Yak 2:10Namshuhudia tena kila mtu anayekubali kutahiriwa kwamba inampasa kushika sheria yote. 45:4 Rum 3:28; Ebr 12:15; 2Pet 3:17Ninyi mnaotafuta kuhesabiwa haki kwa njia ya sheria mmetengwa na Kristo, mko mbali na neema ya Mungu. 55:5 Rum 8:23, 24; 2Tim 4:8; 1Kor 7:19Kwa maana, kwa njia ya Roho kwa imani, tunangojea kwa shauku tumaini la haki. 65:6 Rum 16:3; 1Kor 7:19; 1The 1:3; Yak 2:22Kwa maana ndani ya Kristo Yesu, kutahiriwa au kutokutahiriwa hakuleti tofauti, bali lililo muhimu ni imani itendayo kazi kwa njia ya upendo.
75:7 1Kor 9:24; Gal 3:1Mlikuwa mkipiga mbio vizuri. Ni nani aliyewazuia msiitii kweli? 85:8 Rum 8:28; Gal 1:6Ushawishi wa namna hiyo haukutokana na yule anayewaita. 95:9 1Kor 5:6; 15:33“Chachu kidogo huchachua donge zima.” 105:10 2Kor 2:3; Flp 3:15; Gal 1:7Nina hakika katika Bwana kwamba hamtakuwa na msimamo mwingine. Mtu anayewachanganya anastahili adhabu, hata awe nani. 115:11 Gal 4:29; 6:12; Lk 2:34Lakini ndugu zangu, kama mimi bado ninahubiri kuhusu kutahiriwa, kwa nini bado ninateswa? Katika hiyo hali basi, kwazo la msalaba limeondolewa. 125:12 Gal 5:10; Yos 7:25; 1Kor 5:13; Gal 1:8, 9; Mdo 15:1, 2, 24Laiti hao wanaowavuruga wangejihasi wao wenyewe!
135:13 Gal 5:1, 24; 1Kor 8:9; 1Pet 2:16; 1Kor 9:19; 2Kor 4:5Ndugu zangu, ninyi mliitwa ili mwe huru, hivyo msitumie uhuru wenu kama fursa ya kufuata tamaa za mwili, bali tumikianeni ninyi kwa ninyi kwa upendo. 145:14 Law 19:18; Mt 5:43; Gal 6:2Kwa maana sheria yote hukamilika katika amri moja: “Mpende jirani yako kama nafsi yako.” 15Kama mkiumana na kutafunana, angalieni, msije mkaangamizana.
Maisha Ya Kiroho
165:16 Gal 5:18, 25; Rum 8:2, 4-6, 9; 14; 2Kor 5:17; Gal 5:14Kwa hiyo nasema, enendeni kwa Roho, wala hamtazitimiza kamwe tamaa za mwili. 175:17 Rum 8:5-8; 7:15-23Kwa maana mwili hutamani yale yaliyo kinyume na Roho, naye Roho hutamani yale yaliyo kinyume na mwili. Roho na mwili hupingana na kwa sababu hiyo hamwezi kufanya mnayotaka. 185:18 Rum 2:12; 6:14; Gal 5:16; 1Tim 1:9Lakini kama mkiongozwa na Roho, hamko chini ya sheria.
195:19 1Kor 6:18; 3:3; Efe 5:3; Kol 3:5; Yak 3:14, 15Basi matendo ya mwili ni dhahiri nayo ni haya: Uasherati, uchafu, ufisadi, 20kuabudu sanamu, uchawi, uadui, ugomvi, wivu, hasira, fitina, faraka, uzushi, 215:21 Rum 13:13; Mt 15:19; 25:34; 1Kor 6:9husuda, ulevi, ulafi na mambo mengine yanayofanana na hayo. Nawaonya, kama nilivyokwisha kuwaonya kabla, kwamba watu watendao mambo kama hayo, hawataurithi Ufalme wa Mungu.
225:22 Mt 7:16-20Lakini tunda la Roho ni upendo, furaha, amani, uvumilivu, utu wema, fadhili, uaminifu, 23upole na kiasi. Katika mambo kama haya hakuna sheria. 24Wote walio wa Kristo Yesu wameusulubisha mwili na shauku zake pamoja na tamaa zake. 25Kwa kuwa tunaishi kwa Roho, basi, tuenende kwa Roho. 265:26 Flp 2:3; Mt 18:15; Yak 2:19Tusijisifu bure, tukichokozana na kuoneana wivu.
