Dec 9 - Galatians 4-6
Galatians
1But I say that, during the time an heir is a child, he is no different from a servant, even though he is the owner of everything2For he is under tutors and caretakers, until the time which was predetermined by the father3So also we, when we were children, were subservient to the influences of the world4But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law5so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons6Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba, Father.7And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God8But then, certainly, while ignorant of God, you served those who, by nature, are not gods9But now, since you have known God, or rather, since you have been known by God: how can you turn away again, to weak and destitute influences, which you desire to serve anew10You serve the days, and months, and times, and years11I am afraid for you, lest perhaps I may have labored in vain among you12Brothers, I beg you. Be as I am. For I, too, am like you. You have not injured me at all13But you know that, in the weakness of the flesh, I have preached the Gospel to you for a long time, and that your trials are in my flesh14You did not despise or reject me. But instead, you accepted me like an Angel of God, even like Christ Jesus15Therefore, where is your happiness? For I offer to you testimony that, if it could be done, you would have plucked out your own eyes and would have given them to me16So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth17They are not imitating you well. And they are willing to exclude you, so that you might imitate them18But be imitators of what is good, always in a good way, and not only when I am present with you19My little sons, I am giving birth to you again, until Christ is formed in you20And I would willingly be present with you, even now. But I would alter my voice: for I am ashamed of you21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, have you not read the law22For it is written that Abraham had two sons: one by a servant woman, and one by a free woman23And he who was of the servant was born according to the flesh. But he who was of the free woman was born by the promise24These things are said through an allegory. For these represent the two testaments. Certainly the one, on Mount Sinai, gives birth unto servitude, which is Hagar25For Sinai is a mountain in Arabia, which is related to the Jerusalem of the present time, and it serves with her sons26But that Jerusalem which is above is free; the same is our mother27For it was written: "Rejoice, O barren one, though you do not conceive. Burst forth and cry out, though you do not give birth. For many are the children of the desolate, even more than of her who has a husband.28Now we, brothers, like Isaac, are sons of the promise29But just as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now30And what does Scripture say? "Cast out the woman servant and her son. For the son of a servant women shall not be an heir with the son of a free woman.31And so, brothers, we are not the sons of the servant woman, but rather of the free woman. And this is the freedom with which Christ has set us free
1Stand firm, and do not be willing to be again held by the yoke of servitude2Behold, I, Paul, say to you, that if you have been circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you3For I again testify, about every man circumcising himself, that he is obligated to act according to the entire law4You are being emptied of Christ, you who are being justified by the law. You have fallen from grace5For in spirit, by faith, we await the hope of justice6For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails over anything, but only faith which works through charity7You have run well. So what has impeded you, that you would not obey the truth8This kind of influence is not from him who is calling you9A little leaven corrupts the whole mass10I have confidence in you, in the Lord, that you will accept nothing of the kind. However, he who disturbs you shall bear the judgment, whomever he may be11And as for me, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still suffering persecution? For then the scandal of the Cross would be made empty12And I wish that those who disturb you would be torn away13For you, brothers, have been called to liberty. Only you must not make liberty into an occasion for the flesh, but instead, serve one another through the charity of the Spirit14For the entire law is fulfilled by one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.15But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you are not consumed by one another16So then, I say: Walk in the spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh17For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And since these are against one another, you may not do whatever you want18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law19Now the works of the flesh are manifest; they are: fornication, lust, homosexuality, self-indulgence20the serving of idols, drug use, hostility, contentiousness, jealousy, wrath, quarrels, dissensions, divisions21envy, murder, inebriation, carousing, and similar things. About these things, I continue to preach to you, as I have preached to you: that those who act in this way shall not obtain the kingdom of God22But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance23meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things24For those who are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, along with its vices and desires25If we live by the Spirit, we should also walk by the Spirit26Let us not become desirous of empty glory, provoking one another, envying one another
1And, brothers, if a man has been overtaken by any offense, you who are spiritual should instruct someone like this with a spirit of leniency, considering that you yourselves might also be tempted2Carry one another’s burdens, and so shall you fulfill the law of Christ3For if anyone considers himself to be something, though he may be nothing, he deceives himself4So let each one prove his own work. And in this way, he shall have glory in himself only, and not in another5For each one shall carry his own burden6And let him who is being taught the Word discuss it with him who is teaching it to him, in every good way7Do not choose to wander astray. God is not to be ridiculed8For whatever a man will have sown, that also shall he reap. For whoever sows in his flesh, from the flesh he shall also reap corruption. But whoever sows in the Spirit, from the Spirit he shall reap eternal life9And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail10Therefore, while we have time, we should do good works toward everyone, and most of all toward those who are of the household of the faith11Consider what kind of letters I have written to you with my own hand12For as many of you as they desire to please in the flesh, they compel to be circumcised, but only so that they might not suffer the persecution of the cross of Christ13And yet, neither do they themselves, who are circumcised, keep the law. Instead, they want you to be circumcised, so that they may glory in your flesh14But far be it from me to glory, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world15For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision prevails in any way, but instead there is a new creature16And whoever follows this rule: may peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God17Concerning other matters, let no one trouble me. For I carry the stigmata of the Lord Jesus in my body18May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen