From Paul, an apostle (not from men, nor by human agency, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead)

Grace and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

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

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ!

For you have heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I was savagely persecuting the church of God and trying to destroy it.

Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and get information from him, and I stayed with him fifteen days.

I assure you that, before God, I am not lying about what I am writing to you!

They were only hearing, "The one who once persecuted us is now proclaiming the good news of the faith he once tried to destroy."

So they glorified God because of me.

But from those who were influential (whatever they were makes no difference to me; God shows no favoritism between people) -- those influential leaders added nothing to my message.

But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God's law.

For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God.

I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

I do not set aside God's grace, because if righteousness could come through the law, then Christ died for nothing!

Does God then give you the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law or by your believing what you heard?

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

And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel to Abraham ahead of time, saying, "All the nations will be blessed in you."

Now it is clear no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous one will live by faith.

What I am saying is this: The law that came four hundred thirty years later does not cancel a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to invalidate the promise.

For if the inheritance is based on the law, it is no longer based on the promise, but God graciously gave it to Abraham through the promise.

Now an intermediary is not for one party alone, but God is one.

Is the law therefore opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that was able to give life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law.

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

But when the appropriate time had come, God sent out his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls "Abba! Father!"

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God.

Formerly when you did not know God, you were enslaved to beings that by nature are not gods at all.

But now that you have come to know God (or rather to be known by God), how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless basic forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again?

and though my physical condition put you to the test, you did not despise or reject me. Instead, you welcomed me as though I were an angel of God, as though I were Christ Jesus himself!

They court you eagerly, but for no good purpose; they want to exclude you, so that you would seek them eagerly.

However, it is good to be sought eagerly for a good purpose at all times, and not only when I am present with you.

envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Now the one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches it.

Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows,

So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.

Those who want to make a good showing in external matters are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do so only to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ.

And all who will behave in accordance with this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on the Israel of God.