1 Brothers, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are spiritual should go to him and help make him right again. You should do this in a gentle way. But be careful! You might be tempted to sin, too.
2 Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks that he is important when he is really not important, he is only fooling himself.
4 He should not compare himself with others. Each person should judge his own actions. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done.
5 Each person must be responsible for himself.
6 Anyone who is learning the teaching of God should share all the good things he has with his teacher.
7 Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. A person harvests only what he plants.
8 If he plants to satisfy his sinful self, his sinful self will bring him eternal death. But if he plants to please the Spirit, he will receive eternal life from the Spirit.
9 We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up!
10 When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.
11 I am writing this myself. See what large letters I use.
12 Some men are trying to force you to be circumcised. They do these things so that the Jews will accept them. They are afraid that they will be treated badly if they follow only the cross of Christ.
13 Those who are circumcised do not obey the law themselves, but they want you to be circumcised. Then they can brag about what they forced you to do.
14 I hope I will never brag about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for bragging. Through the cross of Jesus my world was crucified and I died to the world.
15 It is not important if a man is circumcised or not circumcised. The important thing is being the new people God has made.
16 Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule—to all of God’s people.
17 So do not give me any more trouble. I have scars on my body. These show I belong to Christ Jesus.