1 Dear friends,My name is Paul and I have been commissioned as an apostle of the Lord Jesus, the Messiah. My apostleship was not granted to me by any council of men, for I was appointed by Jesus, the Anointed One, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.
2 I am joined by all the brothers and sisters who are here with me as I write you this letter, which is to be distributed to the churches throughout the region of central Turkey.
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5 All the glory will go to God alone, throughout time and eternity. Amen!
6 I am shocked over how quickly you have strayed away from the Anointed One who called you to himself by his loving mercy. I’m frankly astounded that you now embrace a distorted gospel!
7 That is a fake “gospel” that is simply not true. There is only one gospel — the gospel of the Messiah! Yet you have allowed those who mingle law with grace to confuse you with lies.
8 Anyone who comes to you with a different message than the grace gospel that you have received will have the curse of God come upon them! For even if we or an angel appeared before you, to give you a different gospel than what we have already proclaimed, God’s curse will be upon them.
9 I will make it clear: Anyone, no matter who they are, that brings you a different gospel than the grace gospel that you have received, let them be condemned and cursed!
10 I’m obviously not trying to flatter you or water down my message to be popular with men, but my supreme passion is to please God. For if all I attempt to do is please people, I would not be the true servant of the Messiah.
11 Beloved ones, let me say emphatically that the gospel entrusted to me was not given to me by any man.
12 No one taught me this revelation, for it was given to me directly by the unveiling of Jesus the Anointed One.
13 By now you have heard stories of how severely I harassed and persecuted Christians and did my best to systematically destroy God’s church, all because of my radical devotion to the Jewish religion.
14 My zeal and passion for the doctrines of Judaism distinguished me among my people, for I was far more advanced in my religious instruction than others my age.
15 But then God called me by his grace; and in love, he chose me from my birth to be his.
16 God’s grace unveiled his Son in me so that I would proclaim him to the non-Jewish people of the world. After I had this encounter I kept it a secret for some time, sharing it with no one.
17 And I chose not to run to Jerusalem to try to impress those who had become apostles before me. Instead, I went away into the Arabian Desert for a season until I returned to Damascus, where I had first encountered Jesus.
18 I remained there for three years until I eventually went up to Jerusalem and met the apostle Peter and stayed with him for a couple of weeks so I could get to know him better.
19 The only other apostle I met during that time was James, the Lord’s brother.
20 Everything I’m describing to you I confess before God is the absolute truth.
21 After my stay in Jerusalem, I went to Syria and southeast Turkey,
22 but remained unknown to the Jewish believers in Judea.
23 The only thing they heard about me was this: “Our former enemy, who once brutally persecuted us, is now preaching the good news of the faith that he was once obsessed with destroying!”
24 Because of the transformation that took place in my life, they praised God even more!
1 Fourteen years later I returned to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas and Titus, my coworkers.
2 God had given me a clear revelation to go and confer with the other apostles concerning the message of grace I was preaching to the non-Jewish people. I spoke privately with those who were viewed as senior leaders of the church. I wanted to make certain that my labor and ministry for the Messiah had not been based on a false understanding of the gospel.
3 They even accepted Titus without demanding that he follow strict Jewish customs before they would receive him as a brother since he was a Syrian and not a Jew.
4 I met with them privately and confidentially because false “brothers” had been secretly smuggled into the church meetings. They were sent to spy on the wonderful liberty and freedom that we have in Jesus the Anointed One. Their agenda was to bring us back into the legalistic bondage of religion.
5 But you must know that we did not submit to their religious shackles not even for a moment, so that we might keep the gospel of grace unadulterated for you.
6 Even the most honored and esteemed among the brothers were not able to add anything to my message. Who they are before men makes no difference to me, for God is not impressed by the reputations of men.
7 So they concluded that I was entrusted with taking the gospel to the non-Jewish people just as Peter was entrusted with taking it to the Jews.
8 For the same God who anointed Peter to be an apostle to the Jews also anointed me as an apostle to those who are not Jewish.
9 When they all recognized this grace operating in my ministry, James, Peter, and John, the esteemed followers of Jesus, extended to me the warmth of Christian fellowship and honored my calling to minister to the non-Jewish people.
10 They simply requested one thing of me: that I would remember the poor and needy, which was the burden I was already carrying in my heart.
11 But when Peter visited Antioch, he began to mislead the believers and caused them to stumble over his behavior, so I had to confront him to his face over what he was doing.
12 He enjoyed being with the non-Jewish believers who didn’t keep the Jewish customs, eating his meals with them — up until the time the Jewish friends of James arrived from Jerusalem. When he saw them, he withdrew from his non-Jewish friends and separated himself from them, acting like an orthodox Jew — fearing how it would look to them if he ate with the non-Jewish believers.
13 And so because of Peter’s hypocrisy, many other Jewish believers followed suit, refusing to eat with non-Jewish believers. Even Barnabas was led astray by their poor example and condoned this legalistic, hypocritical behavior!
14 So when I realized they were acting inconsistently with the revelation of grace, I confronted Peter in front of everyone:“You were born a Jew and yet you’ve chosen to disregard Jewish regulations and live like a gentile. Why then do you force those who are not Jews to conform to the regulations of Judaism?
15 “Although we’re Jews by birth and not non-Jewish ‘sinners,’
16 we know full well that we don’t receive God’s perfect righteousness as a reward for keeping the law, but by the faith of Jesus, the Messiah! His faithfulness, not ours, has saved us, and we have received God’s perfect righteousness. Now we know that God accepts no one by the keeping of religious laws!
17 “If we are those who desire to be saved from our sins through our union with the Anointed One, does that mean our Messiah promotes our sins if we still acknowledge that we are sinners? How absurd!
18 For if I start over and reconstruct the old religious system that I have torn down with the message of grace, I will appear to be one who turns his back on the truth.
19 “But because the Messiah lives in me, I’ve now died to the law’s dominion over me so that I can live for God.
20 “My old identity has been co-crucified with Messiah and no longer lives; for the nails of his cross crucified me with him. And now the essence of this new life is no longer mine, for the Anointed One lives his life through me — we live in union as one! My new life is empowered by the faith of the Son of God who loves me so much that he gave himself for me, and dispenses his life into mine!
21 “So that is why I don’t view God’s grace as something minor or peripheral. For if keeping the law could release God’s righteousness to us, the Anointed One would have died for nothing.”
1 What has happened to you Galatians to be acting so foolishly? You must have been under some evil spell! Didn’t God open your eyes to see the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion? Wasn’t he revealed to you as the crucified one?
2 So answer me this: Did the Holy Spirit come to you as a reward for keeping all the Jewish laws? No, you received him as a gift because you believed in the Messiah.
3 Your new life in the Anointed One began with the Holy Spirit giving you a new birth. Why then would you so foolishly turn from living in the Spirit by trying to finish by your own works?
4 Have you endured all these trials and persecutions for nothing?
5 Let me ask you again: What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life, and the miracles of God’s tremendous power, have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith, not by keeping the law!
6 Abraham, our father of faith, led the way as our pioneering example. He believed God and the substance of his faith released God’s righteousness to him.
7 So those who are the true children of Abraham will have the same faith as their father!
8 God’s plan all along was to bring this message of salvation to the nations through the revelation of faith. Long ago God prophesied over Abraham, as the Holy Scriptures say: “Through your example of faith all the nations will be blessed!” 9 And so the blessing of Abraham’s faith is now our blessing too!
10 But if you choose to live in bondage under the legalistic rule of religion, you live under the law’s curse. For it is clearly written: “Utterly cursed is everyone who fails to practice every detail and requirement that is written in this law!” 11 For the Scriptures reveal, and it is obvious, that no one achieves the righteousness of God by attempting to keep the law, for it is written: “Those who have been made holy will live by faith!” 12 But keeping the law does not require faith, but self-effort. For the law teaches, “If you practice the principles of law, you must follow all of them.” 13 Yet, Christ paid the full price to set us free from the curse of the law. He absorbed it completely as he became a curse in our place. For it is written: “Everyone who is hung upon a tree is doubly cursed.” 14 Jesus, our Messiah, was cursed in our place and in so doing, dissolved the curse from our lives, so that all the blessings of Abraham can be poured out upon even non-Jewish believers. And now God gives us the promise of the wonderful Holy Spirit who lives within us when we believe in him.
15 Beloved friends, let me use an illustration that we can all understand. Technically, when a contract is signed, it can’t be changed after it has been put into effect; it’s too late to alter the agreement.
16 Remember the royal proclamation God spoke over Abraham and to Abraham’s child? God said that his promises were made to pass on to Abraham’s “Child,” not children. And who is this “Child?” It’s the Son of promise, Jesus, the anointed Messiah!
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19 Why then was the law given? It was meant to be an intermediary agreement added after God gave the promise of the coming One! It was given to show men how guilty they are, and it remained in force until the Seed was born to fulfill the promises given to Abraham. When God gave the law, he didn’t give it to them directly, for he gave it first to the angels; they gave it to Moses, his mediator, who then gave it to the people.
20 Now, a mediator does not represent just one party alone, but God fulfilled it all by himself!
21 Since that’s true, should we consider the written law to be contrary to the promise of new life? How absurd! Truly, if there was a law that we could keep which would give us new life, then our salvation would have come by law-keeping.
22 But the Scriptures make it clear that since we were all under the power of sin, we needed Jesus! And he is the Savior who brings the promise to those who believe.
23 So until the revelation of faith for salvation was released, the law was a jailer, holding us as prisoners under lock and key until the “faith,” which was destined to be revealed, would set us free.
24 The law becomes a gateway to lead us to the Messiah so that we would be saved by faith.
25 But when faith comes the law is no longer in force, since we have already entered into life.
26 You have all become true children of God by the faith of Jesus the Anointed One!
27 It was faith that immersed you into Jesus, the Anointed One, and now you are covered and clothed with his anointing.
28 And we no longer see each other in our former state — Jew or non-Jew, rich or poor, male or female — because we’re all one through our union with Jesus Christ with no distinction between us.
29 And since you’ve been united to Jesus the Messiah, you are now Abraham’s “child” and inherit all the promises of the kingdom realm!
1 In a similar way, God has promised our ancestors something better, but as long as an heir is a minor, he’s not really much different than a servant, although he’s the master over all of them.
2 For until the time appointed by the father when he comes of age, the child is under the domestic supervision of the guardians of the estate.
3 So it is with us. When we were juveniles we were enslaved under the hostile spirits of the world.
4 But when that era came to an end and the time of fulfillment had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the written law.
5 Yet all of this was so that he would redeem and set free all those held hostage to the written law so that we would receive our freedom and a full legal adoption as his children.
6 And so that we would know for sure that we are his true children, God released the Spirit of Sonship into our hearts — moving us to cry out intimately, “My Father! You’re our true Father!”
7 Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters! And because we’re his, we can access everything our Father has — for we are heirs of God through Jesus, the Messiah!
8 Before we knew God as our Father and we became his children, we were unwitting servants to the powers that be, which are nothing compared to God.
9 But now that we truly know him and understand how deeply we’re loved by him, why would we, even for a moment, consider turning back to those weak and feeble principles of religion, as though we were still subject to them?
10 Why would we want to go backwards into the bondage of religion — scrupulously observing rituals like special days, celebrations of the new moon, annual festivals, and sacred years?
11 I’m so alarmed about you that I’m beginning to wonder if my labor in ministry among you was a waste of time!
12 Beloved ones, I plead with you, follow my example and become free from the bondage of religion. I once became as one of you, a gentile, when I lived among you — now become free like me. When I first came to minister to you, you did me no wrong. I can’t believe you would do wrong to me now!
13 You are well aware that the reason I stayed among you to preach the good news was because of the poor state of my health.
14 And yet you were so kind to me and did not despise me in my weakness, even though my physical condition put you through an ordeal while I was with you.Actually, you received me and cared for me as though I were an angel from God, as you would have cared for Jesus, the Messiah himself!
15 Some of you were even willing, if it were possible, to pluck out your own eyes to replace mine! Where is that kindhearted and free spirit now?
16 Have I really become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 Can’t you see what these false teachers are doing? They want to win you over so you will side with them. They want you divided from me so you will follow only them. Would you call that integrity?
18 Isn’t it better to seek excellence and integrity always, and not just only when I’m with you?
19 You are my dear children, but I agonize in spiritual “labor pains” once again, until the Anointed One will be fully formed in your hearts!
20 How I wish I could be there in person and change my tone toward you, for I am truly dumbfounded over what you are doing!
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23 Ishmael, the son of the slave girl, was a child of the natural realm. But Isaac, the son of the freewoman, was born supernaturally by the Spirit — a child of the promise of God!
24 These two women and their sons express an allegory and become symbols of two covenants. The first covenant was born on Mt. Sinai, birthing children into slavery — children born to Hagar.
25 For “Hagar” represents the law given at Mt. Sinai in Arabia. The “Hagar” metaphor corresponds to the earthly Jerusalem of today who are currently in bondage.
26 In contrast, there is a heavenly Jerusalem above us, which is our true “mother.” She is the freewoman, birthing children into freedom!
27 For it is written: “Burst forth with gladness, O barren woman with no children! Break through with the shouts of joy and jubilee, for you are about to give birth! The one who was once considered desolate and barren now has more children than the one who has a husband!” 28 Dear friends, just like Isaac, we’re now the true children who inherit the kingdom promises.
29 And just as the son of the natural world at that time harassed the son born of the power of the Holy Spirit, so it is today.
30 And what does the Scripture tell us to do? “Expel the slave mother with her son! The son of the slave woman will not be a true heir — for the true heir of the promises is the son of the freewoman.” 31 It’s now so obvious! We’re not the children of the slave woman; we’re the supernatural sons of the freewoman — sons of grace!
1 Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free — not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past.
2 I, Paul, tell you: If you think there is benefit in circumcision and Jewish regulations, then you’re acting as though Jesus the Anointed One is not enough.
3 I say it again emphatically: If you let yourselves be circumcised you are obliged to fulfill every single one of the commandments and regulations of the law!
4 If you want to be made holy by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh — you have cut yourselves off from the Anointed One and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!
5 But the Holy Spirit convinces us that we have received by faith the glorious righteousness of the Anointed One.
6 When you’re placed into the Anointed One and joined to him, circumcision and religious obligations can benefit you nothing. All that matters now is living in the faith that is activated and brought to perfection by love.
7 Before you were led astray, you were so faithful to Messiah. Why have you now turned away from what is right and true? Who has deceived you?
8 The One who enfolded you into his grace is not behind this false teaching that you’ve embraced. Not at all!
9 Don’t you know that when you allow even a little lie into your heart, it can permeate your entire belief system?
10 Deep in my heart I have faith that the Lord Jesus the Anointed One, who lives in you, will bring you back around to the truth. And I’m convinced that those who agitate you, whoever they think they are, will be brought under God’s judgment!
11 Dear friends, why do you think the religious system persecutes me? Is it because I preach the message of being circumcised and keeping all the laws of Judaism? Not at all! Is there no longer any offense over the cross?
12 To tell you the truth, I am so disgusted with all your agitators — I wish they would go even further and cut off their legalistic influence from your lives!
13 Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit. But don’t view this wonderful freedom as an opportunity to set up a base of operations in the natural realm. Freedom means that we become so completely free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do.
14 For love completes the laws of God. All of the law can be summarized in one grand statement: “Demonstrate love to your neighbor, even as you care for and love yourself.” 15 But if you continue to criticize and come against each other over minor issues, you’re acting like wild beasts trying to destroy one another!
16 As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self - life.
17 For your self - life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit’s intense cravings hinder your old self - life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self - life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.
18 But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit of grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law, but soaring above it!
19 The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography,
20 chasing after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions,
21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties, and all other similar behavior.Haven’t I already warned you that those who use their “freedom” for these things will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
22 joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. 23
24 Keep in mind that we who belong to Jesus, the Anointed One, have already experienced crucifixion. For everything connected with our self - life was put to death on the cross and crucified with Messiah.
25 We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him.
26 So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original. We must forsake all jealousy that diminishes the value of others.
1 My beloved friends, if you see a believer who is overtaken with a fault, may the one who overflows with the Spirit seek to restore him. Win him over with gentle words, which will open his heart to you and will keep you from exalting yourself over him.
2 Love empowers us to fulfill the law of the Anointed One as we carry each other’s troubles.
3 If you think you are too important to stoop down to help another, you are living in deception.
4 Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.
5 Every believer is ultimately responsible for his or her own conscience.
6 And those who are taught the Word must share all good things with their teacher; a sharing of wealth takes place between them.
7 Make no mistake about it, God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest.
8 The harvest you reap reveals the seed that was planted. If you plant the corrupt seeds of self - life into this natural realm, you can expect to experience a harvest of corruption. If you plant the good seeds of Spirit-life you will reap the beautiful fruits that grow from the everlasting life of the Spirit.
9 And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming!
10 Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!
11 I’ve written this letter to you with my own handwriting — see how large I have to make the letters?
12 All those who insist that you be circumcised are recruiting you so they can boast in their own works. They are attempting to avoid the persecution that comes with preaching the liberating message of the cross of Messiah!
13 Not even those who are circumcised keep every detail of the written law. Yet they push you to be circumcised so that they can boast that you have become like them.
14 My only boast is in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus, our Messiah. In him I have been crucified to this natural realm; and the natural realm is dead to me and no longer dominates my life.
15 Circumcision doesn’t mean a thing to me. The only thing that really matters is living by the transforming power of this wonderful new creation life.
16 And all those who live in agreement with this standard will have true peace and God’s delight, for they are the Israel of God.
17 From now on, let no one bring me trouble or criticism, for I am carrying the very scars of our Lord Jesus in my body.
18 Finally my beloved ones — may the wonderful grace of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One, be flowing in your spirit. So shall it be!In Messiah’s love,Paul
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