Summary
Paul urges the Galatian Christians to stand firm in the liberty brought by Christ and not to be re‑subjugated to the yoke of the law. He rebukes circumcision as useless for those justified by faith and emphasizes that justification comes through the Spirit, not legal works. Paul warns against the corrupting influence of the flesh and urges believers to walk in the Spirit, producing its fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self‑control—while rejecting worldly passions. He stresses that true liberty must be exercised in love toward one another, not as an excuse for sinful behavior. The passage contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit, declaring that the former will disqualify one from inheriting God’s kingdom, while the latter are the marks of a Spirit‑led life.