Galatians 5:13-24

Expanded Bible

¹³ My brothers and sisters, God called you to ·be free [^Lfreedom], but do not use your freedom as an ·excuse to do what pleases [opportunity/occasion for] your ·sinful self [sinful nature; flesh]. [^LBut; Rather] Serve each other with love. ¹⁴ [^LFor] The whole law is ·made complete [summed up; fulfilled] in this one command: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself [Lev. 19:18].” ¹⁵ [^LBut] If you go on ·hurting each other and tearing each other apart [^Lbiting and devouring one another], be careful, or you will completely ·destroy [or consume] each other.

The Spirit and Human Nature

¹⁶ So I tell you: ·Live [Walk] ·by following [guided by; in the power of; ^Lby] the Spirit. Then you will not do what your ·sinful self [sinful nature; ^Tflesh] ·wants [desires; craves]. ¹⁷ Our ·sinful self [sinful nature; ^Tflesh] ·wants [desires] what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit ·wants [desires] what is against our ·sinful self [sinful nature; ^Tflesh]. [^LFor] The two are ·against [opposed to; or hostile toward] each other, so you cannot do just what you ·please [want]. ¹⁸ But if the Spirit is leading you, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ The ·wrong things the sinful self does [works of the flesh/sinful nature] are ·clear [evident; obvious]: ·being sexually unfaithful [sexual immorality], ·not being pure [impurity], ·taking part in sexual sins [depravity; promiscuity], ²⁰ ·worshiping gods [idolatry], ·doing witchcraft [sorcery], ·hating [hostility; antagonism], ·making trouble [discord; strife], being jealous, ·being angry [rage], ·being selfish [rivalries], ·making people angry with each other [dissensions], ·causing divisions among people [factions], ²¹ feeling envy, being drunk, ·having wild and wasteful parties [carousings; orgies], and doing other things like these. I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom. ²² But the ·Spirit produces the fruit of [^Lfruit of the Spirit is] love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, ·faithfulness [or faith], ²³ gentleness, self-control. ·There is no law that says these things are wrong [or No law can oppose such things]. ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified ·their own sinful selves [the sinful nature; the flesh]. They have given up ·their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do [^Lits passions and desires].