4. Those of you who try to earn God’s approval by obeying his laws have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen out of God’s favor.
5. However, in our spiritual nature, faith causes us to wait eagerly for the confidence that comes with God’s approval.
6. As far as our relationship to Christ Jesus is concerned, it doesn’t matter whether we are circumcised or not. But what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.
7. You were doing so well. Who stopped you from being influenced by the truth?
8. The arguments of the person who is influencing you do not come from the one who is calling you.
9. A little yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough.
10. The Lord gives me confidence that you will not disagree with this. However, the one who is confusing you will suffer God’s judgment regardless of who he is.
11. Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching that circumcision is necessary, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the cross wouldn’t be offensive anymore.
12. I wish those troublemakers would castrate themselves.
13. You were indeed called to be free, brothers and sisters. Don’t turn this freedom into an excuse for your corrupt nature to express itself. Rather, serve each other through love.
14. All of Moses’ Teachings are summarized in a single statement, “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.”