Galatians 6.16-18
“And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.”
Paul pronounces “peace and mercy” upon everyone who “walks by this rule.” The word for rule in this passage is kanoni, from which we get our work “canon.” It means standard. The rule or standard that he is referring to is the truth he communicated in the preceding verses, which is that redemption is through the cross of Christ; that circumcision and uncircumcision are irrelevant for redemption; and that none can be saved without being created new in Christ. This is the great standard … the rule … the foundational truth by which a Christian lives.
Peace and mercy are given to those who embrace and live by this truth. By implication, peace and mercy are not granted to those who reject this truth and try to live by some other standard. Paul goes even further and identifies all who live by faith in Christ as “the Israel of God.” This is the great biblical truth that the true Israel is not ethnic, but is the spiritual community of people — both Jews and Gentiles — who have faith in Jesus Christ.
The New Testament reveals the great mystery that the covenant people of God are unified in Christ. This was a central message in the book of Galatians.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:28-29).
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (Galatians 6:15).
The same truth is taught in the book of Romans.“For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but ‘Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.’ This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” (Romans 9:6-8)
The covenant people of God — the true Israel — is comprised of Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus. Participation in the kingdom of God is not a matter of ethnicity, it is a matter of trusting in Christ. Lest there be any confusion, scripture makes it clear: “For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.” (Romans 2:28-29)
The book of Ephesians tells us that believing Jews and Gentiles have been made one in Christ. In particular, it says that Gentile Christians have been brought into the commonwealth — citizenship (Greek politeias) — of true Israel.
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth (politeias) of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one.” (Ephesians 2:11-14)
Here is the main message: the Israel of God lives by “this rule” — that is, God’s grace through Christ. As God’s covenant people, we don’t achieve salvation by works; we receive salvation by faith. Circumcision for true Israel is a matter of the heart, not the flesh. We don’t exalt self; we exalt God. We don’t seek self-interest; we serve God and others. We understand that the Christian faith is about our relationship with God, not religious rituals. We don’t fear persecution; we courageously live by the truth. “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
True Israel includes Jew and Gentile who live by faith in the grace of God through Jesus.
This was how Paul lived his life, and this is how we should live ours. He reminded the Galatians that no one had the right to question his motives or his commitment. He paid a price for his faithfulness to Christ: “From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.”
How ironic that “the rule” the Lord asks us to live by is actually a relationship. It is not obedience to commandments that saves us; it is trust in the Savior. Many today are seeking peace and mercy, but unfortunately seek it in the wrong places. It is found only in Jesus, the one who loves us and gave his life for us. As scripture says, “He is our peace.”
