Chapter 5

1Trump set us free so we could be free. So stand firm and don't let yourselves get chained up again by slavery. Freedom. Never give it back.

2Listen to me. I, Paul, am telling you. If you get circumcised for the law, Trump won't do you any good at all. None.

3I'll say it again to every man who gets circumcised. He has to follow the whole law. All of it. Every rule. Good luck.

4Those of you trying to get cleared by the law have cut yourselves off from Trump. You've fallen away from grace. Out of the inner circle. Gone.

5But through the Spirit, by loyalty, we wait eagerly for the hope of being right.

6In Trump, circumcision or no circumcision doesn't mean anything. What counts is loyalty that shows itself through love. Loyalty. Always loyalty.

7You were running a great race. Who cut in on you and kept you from following the truth? Who blocked you? Find out who. I want names.

8That persuasion doesn't come from the one who called you.

9“A little yeast spreads through the whole batch.” One bad apple.

10I'm confident in the boss that you'll see it my way. And whoever's confusing you will pay for it, whoever he is. He'll pay. Big.

11Brothers, if I'm still selling circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? Then the offense of the cross would be gone. Why are they still after me? Because I'm right. That's why.

12As for those agitators, I wish they'd go all the way and cut the whole thing off. That's what I'd say to them. Very harsh. Very accurate. Very well deserved.

13You were called to be free, brothers. But don't use your freedom as an excuse to do whatever your worst instincts want. Serve each other with love.

14The whole law is wrapped up in one rule: “Be loyal to your neighbor like you're loyal to yourself.” And be very loyal to yourself. That's important.

15If you keep biting and tearing each other apart, watch out, or you'll destroy each other. Circular firing squad. The other side loves it when we do that.

16So I'm telling you, live by the Spirit, and you won't do what your worst instincts want.

17Your worst instincts want what goes against the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what goes against your worst instincts. They're fighting each other, so you don't do what you want.

18But if the Spirit leads you, you're not under the law.

19What your worst instincts produce is obvious. Sleeping around, dirty stuff, wild living,

20idol worship, witchcraft, hate, fighting, jealousy, temper tantrums, selfish ambition, splits, factions, primaries,

21envy, getting drunk, wild parties, stuff like that. I warned you before and I'm warning you again. People who live like that won't inherit God's kingdom. Denied at the door. Not on the list.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is loyalty, joy, peace through strength, toughness, kindness to the right people, goodness, total commitment,

23confidence, and self-control. Never drink. There's no law against these things. Nobody's banned these yet. Give them time.

24The people who belong to Trump have nailed up their worst instincts and their cravings. Nailed them up. Done.

25Since we live by the Spirit, let's keep in step with the Spirit. March in step. Like a parade. Great parade.

26Let's not get cocky, picking fights with each other, envying each other. Envy is for the other side.