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.
基督徒的自由
1基督释放了我们，好让我们得自由。所以，要站稳了，不要再被奴仆的轭辖制。
2听着！我保罗郑重地告诉你们，如果你们接受割礼，基督对你们就毫无益处。 3我再次警告所有接受割礼的人，他们必须遵守全部的律法。 4你们若想靠遵行律法被称为义人，就与基督隔绝了，并且离开了上帝的恩典。 5但我们要靠着圣灵，凭信心热切等候所盼望的义。 6因为在基督耶稣里，受不受割礼根本无关紧要，借着爱表现出来的信心才至关重要。
7你们本来在信心的路上一直跑得很好。现在是谁拦阻了你们，叫你们不再信从真理呢？ 8这种劝导当然不是出于呼召你们的上帝！ 9“一点面酵能使整团面发起来。” 10我在主里深信你们不会有二心，但无论谁搅扰你们，都必受惩罚。
11弟兄姊妹，我如果仍旧主张行割礼，怎么还会受迫害呢？如果是那样，十字架冒犯人的地方就被消除了。 12我恨不得那些搅扰你们的人把自己阉了5:12 “把自己阉了”或作“与你们隔离”。！
13弟兄姊妹，你们蒙召得了自由，但不要以自由为借口来放纵本性，要本着爱心互相服侍， 14因为全部的律法可以总结成一句话：“要爱邻如己。”5:14 利未记19:18。 15你们要谨慎，如果你们相咬相吞，恐怕会同归于尽。
顺从圣灵
16因此，我劝你们行事为人要顺从圣灵的引导，这样就不会放纵本性的私欲。 17因为人本性的私欲与圣灵作对，圣灵也与人本性的私欲作对，两者势不两立，使你们不能做自己想做的事。 18但你们如果顺从圣灵的引导，就不在律法之下。 19顺从本性去做的事显而易见，如淫乱、污秽、邪荡、 20拜偶像、行邪术、仇恨、争斗、忌恨、恼怒、纷争、冲突、分裂5:20 “分裂”或译“异端”。、 21嫉妒、凶杀、醉酒和荒宴无度等。我从前警告过你们，现在再一次警告你们：行这些事的人必不能承受上帝的国。
22但圣灵所结的果子是仁爱、喜乐、和平、忍耐、恩慈、良善、信实、 23温柔、自制。没有律法会禁止这些事。 24那些属基督耶稣的人，已经把本性及其邪情私欲都钉在十字架上了。 25我们如果是靠圣灵生活，就当凡事顺从圣灵的引导。 26我们不要自高自大，彼此惹气，互相嫉妒。
