who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.

For am I now trying to win the favor of people, or God? Or am I striving to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ.

For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation from Jesus Christ.

For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I persecuted God’s church to an extreme degree and tried to destroy it.

I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors.

But we did not give up and submit to these people for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would be preserved for you.

On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel for the uncircumcised, just as Peter was for the circumcised,

since the One at work in Peter for an apostleship to the circumcised was also at work in me for the Gentiles.

For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, because he feared those from the circumcision party.

For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ

and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Did you suffer so much for nothing—if in fact it was for nothing?

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness,

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written: Everyone who does not continue doing everything written in the book of the law is cursed.

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written: Everyone who is hung on a tree is cursed.

For if the inheritance is from the law, it is no longer from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

Now a mediator is not for just one person, but God is one.

Is the law therefore contrary to God’s promises? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly be by the law.

for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ like a garment.

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.

I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me;

You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.

What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me.

They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them.

My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you.

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman.

But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery—this is Hagar.

Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.

But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother.

For it is written:

Rejoice, childless woman,
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.

But what does the Scripture say?

Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a coheir with the son of the free woman.

Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

For through the Spirit, by faith, we eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.

For the entire law is fulfilled in one statement: Love your neighbor as yourself.

For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.

Brothers, if someone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so you also won’t be tempted.

For if anyone considers himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

But each person should examine his own work, and then he will have a reason for boasting in himself alone, and not in respect to someone else.

For each person will have to carry his own load.

Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap,

So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, we must work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.

Those who want to make a good impression in the flesh are the ones who would compel you to be circumcised—but only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

For even the circumcised don’t keep the law themselves; however, they want you to be circumcised in order to boast about your flesh.

But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

For both circumcision and uncircumcision mean nothing; what matters instead is a new creation.