who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil age in accordance with the will of our God and Father,

I went up in obedience to a revelation of God's will; and I explained to them the Good News which I proclaim among the Gentiles. To the leaders of the Church this explanation was made in private, lest by any means I should be running, or should already have run, in vain.

But when I saw that they were not living uprightly in agreement with the true words of the good news, I said to Cephas before them all, If you, being a Jew, are living like the Gentiles, and not like the Jews, how will you make the Gentiles do the same as the Jews?

Being conscious that a man does not get righteousness by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we had faith in Christ Jesus, so that we might get righteousness by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law will no flesh get righteousness.

Are you so without sense? After beginning with the Spirit, will you now end with the flesh?

Just as Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, [as conformity to God’s will and purpose—so it is with you also].

And the holy Writings, seeing before the event that God would give the Gentiles righteousness by faith, gave the good news before to Abraham, saying, In you will all the nations have a blessing.

Now that no man gets righteousness by the law in the eyes of God, is clear; because, The upright will be living by faith.

And the law is not of faith; but, He who does them will have life by them.

Brethren, I will speak after the manner of men. Though it be but a man's testament, yet no man despiseth it, or addeth anything thereto when it is once allowed.

My point is this: the Law which arose four hundred and thirty years later does not repeal a will previously ratified by God, so as to cancel the Promise.

And if you belong to Christ, then you are [truly] Abraham's seed [i.e., his spiritual descendants] and thereby [you will] inherit what was promised to him [i.e., God's blessings].

So [now], you are no longer a slave but a child, and since you are a child, you also will receive an inheritance through [the blessings of] God.

you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.

These men are courting your favor to no good purpose. They want to isolate you, so that you will be courting their favor.

Tell me, you who want to be subject to law, will you not listen to what the law says?

What then do the Writings say? Send away the servant-woman and her son; for the son of the servant-woman will not have a part in the heritage with the son of the free woman.

Listen to me! I, Paul, declare to you that if you are to continue to follow the rite of circumcision, Christ will be no profit to you.

Yes, I give witness again to every man who undergoes circumcision, that he will have to keep all the law.

For we, by the Spirit, are awaiting the hoped-for blessing which our right standing with God will bring us.

A little yeast will transform the whole dough.

As for me, I am fully trusting you in the Lord that you will be no otherwise minded; but he who is trying to unsettle you will have to bear his punishment, whoever he may be.

I wish that those causing you to doubt will cut themselves off.

But if you bite and devour one another, watch out, or you will be consumed by one another.

This is my meaning. Let your steps be guided by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

for the flesh doth desire contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit contrary to the flesh, and these are opposed one to another, that the things that ye may will -- these ye may not do;

Envy, uncontrolled drinking and feasting, and such things: of which I give you word clearly, even as I did in the past, that they who do such things will have no part in the kingdom of God.

Brothers, if a man is taken in any wrongdoing, you who are of the Spirit will put such a one right in a spirit of love; keeping watch on yourself, for fear that you yourself may be tested.

Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Let each one test his own work, and he will then have something to be proud of by comparing himself with himself, and not with any one else;

For each man will bear his own burden.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.

For the one who sows to his flesh [his sinful capacity, his worldliness, his disgraceful impulses] will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

And let us not be weary doing good, for in our own time we will reap, not desponding.

As many as are wanting to make a good showing in the flesh, these are attempting to compel you to be circumcised, only so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.

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.

On all who will govern their lives by this rule and on the Israel of God may peace and mercy rest.