You, MY BROTHERS, were CALLED to be FREE. But do not use YOUR FREEDOM to INDULGE the SINFUL NATURE; rather serve one another in LOVE. The entire LAW is summed up in a single command: "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." If YOU keep on BITING and DEVOURING each other, watch out or YOU will be DESTROYED by each other.
So I say, LIVE by the SPIRIT, and YOU will not GRATIFY the DESIRES of the SINFUL NATURE. For the SINFUL NATURE DESIRES what is CONTRARY to the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT what is CONTRARY to the SINFUL NATURE. They are in CONFLICT with each other, so that YOU do not do what YOU want. But if YOU are led by the SPIRIT, YOU are not under LAW.
The acts of the SINFUL NATURE are OBVIOUS: SEXUAL IMMORALITY, IMPURITY and DEBAUCHERY; IDOLATRY and WITCHCRAFT; HATRED, DISCORD, JEALOUSY, FIT OF RAGE, SELFISH AMBITION, DISSENSIONS, FACTIONS and ENVEY; DRUNKENNESS, ORGIES and the like. I WARN YOU, as I did before, that those who LIVE like this will NOT INHERIT the KINGDOM of GOD.
But the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS and INNER SELF CONTROL. Against such things there is no LAW. Those who BELONG to CHRIST JESUS have CRUCIFIED the SINFUL NATURE with its PASSIONS and DESIRES. Since WE LIVE by the SPIRIT, let US keep in STEP with SPIRIT. Let US NOT BECOME CONCEITED, PROVOKING AND ENVYING EACH OTHER.
DOING GOOD TO ALL
BROTHERS, if SOMEONE is caught in a SIN, YOU who are SPIRITUAL should RESTORE HIM GENTLY. But WATCH YOURSELF, or YOU also may BE TEMPTED. Carry each other's BURDENS, and in this way YOU WILL FULFILL the LAW of CHRIST. If anyone THINKS HE is SOMETHING when HE is NOTHING, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF. Each ONE SHOULD TEST HIS OWN ACTIONS. Then HE CAN TAKE PRIDE in HIMSELF, without COMPARING HIMSELF to SOMEBODY ELSE, for each ONE SHOULD CARRY HIS OWN LOAD. Anyone who RECEIVES INSTRUCTION in the WORD MUST SHARE ALL GOOD THINGS WITH HIS INSTRUCTOR.
Do not be DECEIVED: GOD CANNOT BE MOCK. A MAN REAPS WHAT HE SOWS. THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE HIS SINFUL NATURE, FROM THAT NATURE WILL REAP DESTRUCTION; THE ONE WHO SOWS TO PLEASE THE SPIRIT, FROM THE SPIRIT WILL REAP ETERNAL LIFE. LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP. THEREFORE, AS WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY, LET US DO GOOD TO ALL PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF BELIEVERS. AMEN!
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