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Galatians 5

World English Bible

WEB

1Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing. 3Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace. 5For we through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision amounts to anything, but faith working through love. 7You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth? 8This persuasion is not from him who calls you. 9A little yeast grows through the whole lump. 10I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed. 12I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off. 13For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. 14For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don’t consume one another. 16But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19Now the deeds of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness, 20idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies, 21envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s Kingdom. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. 26Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

Galatians Chapter 5 emphasizes the theme of Christian freedom and the importance of living by the Spirit. The chapter begins with a powerful declaration that Christ has set us free, urging believers not to return to the bondage of the law (#Galatians 5:1). The Apostle Paul warns against the dangers of legalism, stating that if one accepts circumcision as a means of justification, they fall away from grace. This highlights the central message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ alone, rather than adherence to the law (#Galatians 5:2-4). Paul passionately encourages the Galatians to stand firm in their freedom and not be entangled again in a yoke of slavery, reminding them that true righteousness comes through faith and love (#Galatians 5:5-6).

The chapter continues by contrasting the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit. Paul lists the acts of the flesh, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, and jealousy, warning that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (#Galatians 5:19-21). In contrast, he describes the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (#Galatians 5:22-23). This fruit is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit's work in the lives of believers, demonstrating that a life led by the Spirit produces godly character. Paul concludes the chapter by encouraging the Galatians to live by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit, fostering a community marked by love and mutual support (#Galatians 5:25-26).

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Referenced by

  1. Deuteronomy 18:10-12v19Deuteronomy 18:10-12 prohibits practices like divination and sorcery. Galatians 5:19-21 lists similar practices as works of the flesh, warning that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  2. Proverbs 6:16-19v19Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, which parallels the works of the flesh described in Galatians 5:19-21, both emphasizing behaviors that are contrary to God's will.
  3. Proverbs 16:32v22Proverbs 16:32 values self-control over conquering a city, aligning with Galatians 5:22-23, which lists self-control as a fruit of the Spirit.
  4. Proverbs 25:28v23Proverbs 25:28 compares a person without self-control to a city without walls, which is complemented by Galatians 5:23 where self-control is listed as a fruit of the Spirit, emphasizing the importance of self-discipline.
  5. Ezekiel 36:27v16Ezekiel 36:27 speaks of God putting His Spirit within His people to enable them to follow His decrees. Galatians 5:16 encourages believers to walk by the Spirit, emphasizing the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding and empowering believers.
  6. Romans 1:32v19Romans 1:32 lists sins deserving of death, similar to the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21, which also lead to exclusion from the kingdom of God.
  7. Romans 6:11v24Romans 6:11 encourages believers to consider themselves dead to sin but alive to God, similar to Galatians 5:24 where those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
  8. Romans 6:14v18Romans 6:14 states that sin will not have dominion over believers because they are under grace, not law, which is echoed in Galatians 5:18 where being led by the Spirit means not being under the law.
  9. Romans 13:8v14Romans 13:8 emphasizes that love fulfills the law, a concept also found in Galatians 5:14, which states that the whole law is fulfilled in the command to love your neighbor as yourself.
  10. Romans 14:17v22Romans 14:17 describes the kingdom of God as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, which is similar to the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
  11. 1 Corinthians 5:6v91 Corinthians 5:6 uses the metaphor of leaven to describe how sin can spread within a community, a concept also found in Galatians 5:9, emphasizing the need for purity and vigilance against sin.
  12. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10v19Both passages list behaviors that are contrary to inheriting the kingdom of God, emphasizing the call to holiness and transformation in Christ.
  13. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7v221 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes the characteristics of love, which align with the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
  14. Ephesians 5:18v16Ephesians 5:18 contrasts being filled with the Spirit with drunkenness, similar to Galatians 5:16 which encourages walking by the Spirit to avoid gratifying the desires of the flesh.
  15. James 3:17v22James 3:17 describes the wisdom from above as pure, peaceable, gentle, and full of mercy, which parallels the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
  16. Revelation 9:21v19Revelation 9:21 lists sins such as murders and sorceries, which are also mentioned in Galatians 5:19-21 as works of the flesh, highlighting the persistent sinfulness of humanity.

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