7Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest. 8If you plant in [the soil of] your corrupt nature, you will harvest destruction. But if you plant in [the soil of] your spiritual nature, you will harvest everlasting life. 9We can't allow ourselves to get tired of living the right way. Certainly, each of us will receive [everlasting life] at the proper time, if we don't give up. 10Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what is good for everyone, especially for the family of believers. 11Look at how large the letters [in these words] are because I'm writing this myself. 12These people who want to make a big deal out of a physical thing are trying to force you to be circumcised. Their only aim is to avoid persecution because of the cross of Christ. 13It's clear that not even those who had themselves circumcised did this to follow Jewish laws. Yet, they want you to be circumcised so that they can brag about what was done to your body. 14But it's unthinkable that I could ever brag about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his cross my relationship to the world and its relationship to me have been crucified. 15Certainly, it doesn't matter whether a person is circumcised or not. Rather, what matters is being a new creation. 16Peace and mercy will come to rest on all those who conform to this principle. They are the Israel of God. 17From now on, don't make any trouble for me! After all, I carry the scars of Jesus on my body. 18May the good will of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters! Amen.
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