The Israel of God

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. – Galatians 6:16

The word “Israel” is found 2,576 times in the King James Bible. Of the 2,576 times mentioned, all 2,576 times it refers to physical Israel, or the literal person named Israel, or Jacob. Yet, there are many experts in the “Theological Industrial Complex” that would say that Israel means Israel 2,575 times. 

That means that there is but one place that Israel means something different.  Hmmm… That is incredibly confounding.  The sound of “One of These Things is not Like the Other” is now echoing in my brain. 

What about that one occurrence?  Do the scholars know better than the revelation of God Himself?

Let’s look at the lone verse:

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. – Galatians 6:16

Yes, this is the one place in all of Scripture that the word “Israel” means something other than “Israel.”  This “something other” (according to the “brain trust” of Churchianity) is – the drum roll please – the Church! You heard it right, and perhaps you still hear it, and quite possibly still believe this line of thinking that you have had drilled into your cranium?

To set the record straight – and it is rather straight thinking – Israel MEANS Israel.  There is absolutely no deviation from that particular definition.

Just who, or what, is the Israel of God?

Many would look at this particular passage, not applying the three rules of hermeneutics (Context, Context, Context), and say, “Haha, the Israel of God must now be the church.”  After all Israel rejected the Messiah, so the church has taken it’s place as the head, rather than the tale (another are taken completely out of context).

The blessings, they say, which once belonged to Israel, have now been transferred to the church!

Well, rather than disproving that thinking, I would simply like to point out the actual meaning, as shown in Galatians 6 itself.

We have to remember that Paul wrote to the Galatians about those that were going there after Paul laid the foundation, and were trying to bring the people under the law, by bringing in another Gospel.  That other Gospel was based on the death, burial, and resurrection Of Jesus Christ, but they would add to the Good News works of the Law, as well as circumcision.

By the way, the same thing actually takes place in the modern church today by making the Lord’s Supper and / or water baptism commands, or ordinances in order to be part of the Body of Christ.

I am so happy for the “baptism of the Spirit,” a true work of God Himself, that places  one into the Body of Christ!

For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. – 1 Corinthians 12:13

Now, let’s go to Galatians 6.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. – Galatians 6:16

The key word is a simple three letter word – and!

And as many as walk according to this rule…

This rule, boundary, or limit, is found in the preceding verse:

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. – Galatians 6:15

When a person believes the Gospel he is IN Christ.  Because of that belief it does not rely on circumcision, or no circumcision.  He is in fact a new creature!

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17

The rule is faith! Not works at all!

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. – Galatians 2:16

and upon the Israel of God…

If “and upon” were missing from the text there maybe a case for meaning being the church..  Peace and mercy are upon those that walk according to the “rule,” which is the faith of the Son of God, rather than any works..

The ending of Galatians 6:16 is simply a prayer that Israel would have peace and mercy.  Nothing more, nothing less! This simple, yet profound, truth is also illustrated in Romans 10, verses 1-4:

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.  – Romans 10:1-4   

In conclusion:

The Apostle  Paul  maintained a love for his brethren.  His desire for them was that they would also have the peace and mercy which comes today from trusting the Gospel of the Grace of God.

Romans 11:26-32:   
And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:  27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.  28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.  29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:  31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. – Romans 11:26-32

Bob Picard
Pastor, God’s Grace Bible Church, Millbury, Massachusetts
http://www.godsgracebc.org / info@godsgracebc.org