6 <1> Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit[79] should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin too. <2> Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you are obeying the law of Christ. <3> If you think you are too important to do this, you are only fooling yourself. <4> Don't compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of. <5> You must each accept the responsibilities that are yours.
<6> Whoever is being taught God's word should share the good things they have with the one who is teaching them.
<7> Don't be fooled: You cannot cheat God. You will harvest what you plant.[80] <8> If you live to satisfy your sinful self, the harvest you will get from that will be eternal death. But if you live to please the Spirit,[81] your harvest from the Spirit will be eternal life. <9> We must not get 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 do good to anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.
<11> This is my own handwriting. You can see how big the letters are. <12> Those men who are trying to force you to be circumcised[82] are only doing it so that their people will accept them. They are afraid they will be persecuted[83] if they follow only the cross[84] of Christ. <13> They are circumcised, but they don't obey the law[85] themselves. They want you to be circumcised so that they can boast about what they did to you.
<14> I hope I will never boast about things like that. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is my only reason for boasting. Through Jesus' death on the cross the world is dead[86] to me, and I am dead to the world. <15> It doesn't matter if anyone is circumcised or not. The only thing that matters is this new life we have from God.[87] <16> Peace and mercy to those who follow this rule-to all of God's people.[88]
<17> So don't give me any more trouble. I have scars on my body that show[89] I belong to Jesus.
<18> My brothers and sisters, I pray that the grace[90] of our Lord Jesus Christ will be with your spirits. Amen.[91]
© Copyright 2004 World Bible Translation Center.