which gave himself for our sins, to deliver us from this present evil world, through the will of God our 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?

yet we know that a person is not justified by doing what the Law requires, but rather by the faithfulness of Jesus the Messiah. We, too, have believed in the Messiah Jesus so that we might be justified by the faithfulness of the Messiah and not by doing what the Law requires, for no human being will be justified by doing what the Law requires.

Are you so foolish? having made a start in the Spirit, will you now be made complete in 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].

Because the Scripture foresaw that God would bring the heathen into right standing with Himself on condition of faith, He beforehand proclaimed the good news to Abraham in the promise, "It is through you that all the heathen will be blessed."

Now it is evident that through the law no man is brought into right standing with God, for "The man in right standing with God will live by faith,"

and the law has nothing to do with faith, but it says, "It is the man who does these things that will live by doing 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 people who have been instructing you are devoted to you, but not in a good way. They want you to avoid me so that you will be devoted to them.

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

But what does the scripture say? "Drive out the female slave and her son, for the son of the female slave will never inherit with the son" of the free woman.

Listen! I, Paul, am telling you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, the Messiah will be of no benefit 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.

I have trust toward you in God, that ye will be none otherwise minded. He that troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whatsoever he be.

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

But if you bite one another and eat one another, take care, or you will be destroyed by one another.

I mean this: Practice living by the Spirit and then by no means will you gratify the cravings of your lower nature.

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, murder, drunkenness, wild partying, and things like that. I am telling you now, as I have told you in the past, that people who practice such things will not inherit 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.

Practice carrying each other's burdens. In this way you will fulfill the law of the Messiah.

Everyone should test his own work until it stands the test, and then he will have ground for boasting with reference to himself alone, and not with reference to someone else.

For each one will carry his own burden.

Do not be deceived anymore; God is not to be scoffed at. A person will reap just what he sows, whatever it is.

The person who sows to gratify his lower nature will reap destruction from that lower nature, and the person who sows to gratify his higher nature will reap eternal life from the Spirit.

Let's not get tired of doing what is good, for at the right time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

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.