Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not! Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. 28 But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that 29 was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless, what 30 saith the scripture? "Cast out the bond-woman and her son: for the son of the bond-woman shall not be heir with the son of the free-woman." So then, brethren, we 31 are not children of the bond-woman, but of the free. STAND fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath 5 made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, 2 Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man 3 that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are 4 justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through 5 the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in 6 Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well; 7 who did hinder you, that ye should not obey the truth? This per- 8 suasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leav- 9 eneth the whole lump. I HAVE confidence in you through the Lord, that ye will be 10 none otherwise minded: but he that troubleth you shall bear his judgment whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach 11 circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the of fence of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off which 12 trouble you! FOR, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not 13 liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this, "Thou shalt 14 love thy neighbor as thyself." But if ye bite and devour one an- 15 other, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. This 16 I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit 17 against the flesh and these are contrary the one to the other; so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led by 18 the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the 19 flesh are manifest, which are these, Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,' idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, 20 emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,' envyings, murders, 21 drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit 22 of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 'meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. 23 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh, with the af- 24 fections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in 25 the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain-glory, provoking one 26 another, envying one another. BRETHREN, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are 6 spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's bur- 2 dens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think him- 3 self to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have 4 rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man 5 shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word, 6 communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not 7 deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of 8 the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in 9 well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As 10 we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. YE see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine 11 own hand. As many as desire to make a fair show in the flesh, 12 they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they them- 13 selves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God 14 forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any 15 thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as 16 walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God! From henceforth let no man trouble me: 17 for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, 18 the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. THE EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE EPHESIANS. PAUL, an Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the 1 saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the 2 Lord Jesus Christ. BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who 3 hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him, before the foun- 4 dation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption 5 of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved: in whom we 7 6 88 9 have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, - according to the riches of his grace, wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the full- 10 ness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being 11 predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to 12 the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ: in whom ye 13 also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of 14 our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. WHEREFORE I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord 15 Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 'cease not to give thanks for 16 you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our 17 Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the 18 eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding great- 19 ness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,' which he wrought in Christ, when he 20 raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly placés, 'far above all principality, and power, and 21 might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all 22 things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,' which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth 23 all in all. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in tres- 2 passes and sins: wherein in time past ye walked according to 2 the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in 3 times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others but God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love 4 wherewith he loved us, 'even when we were dead in sins; hath 5 quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved!) 'and 6 hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved, through faith; 8 and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, 'not of works, 9 lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, cre- 10 ated in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. WHEREFORE remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles 11 in the flesh, (who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh, made by hands;) that at that 12 time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: but now, in 13 Christ Jesus, ye, who sometime were afar off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both 14 one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of 15 commandments contained in ordinances: to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might recon- 16 cile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby and came and preached peace to you which were 17 afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both 18 have an access by one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye 19 are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the 20 foundation of the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone: in whom all the building, fitly framed 21 together, groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye 22 also are builded together, for a habitation of God through the Spirit. FOR this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you 3 Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of 2 God which is given me to you-ward: how that by revelation he 3 made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words; whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my know- 4 ledge in the mystery of Christ; which in other ages was not 5 made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should 6 be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel; whereof I was made a minister ac- 7 cording to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power: (unto me, who am less than the 8 least of all saints, is this grace given,) that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ: and to make all 9 men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ, to the intent that now unto the principali- 10 ties and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal 11 purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: in whom 12 we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, 13 which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the 14 Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in 15 heaven and earth is named, 'that he would grant you, according 16 to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by 17 faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able 18 to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, 2 and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which 19 passeth knowledge; that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly 20 above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus through- 21 out all ages, world without end! Amen.- I, therefore, the 4 prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, 'en- 3 deavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling: 'one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 'one 5,6 God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. - Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, He led captivity captive" 7 84 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first 9 into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same 10 also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. - ' And he gave some, Apostles; and some, prophets; 11 and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers, 'for the 12 perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come in the unity of the 13 faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and 14 carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive: but 15 speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ, 'from whom the whole body fitly 16 joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. THIS I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye hence- 17 forth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 'having the understanding darkened, being alienated from 18 the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who, being past feeling, have given 19 themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ, ' if so be 20 that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conver- 22 sation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 'and that ye 23 put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak 25 every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon 26 |