The Israel Of God

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Galatians 6:7-16

Galatians 6:7–16 NKJV

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

The Book of Galatians is indeed one which ignites controversy. And nothing ignites more controversy, even in the Church than the meaning of “The Israel of God.” Is the Church Israel? Is the Church a replacement of Israel? Is the Church the continuation of Israel? Or is Israel a separate entity represented by the current nation of Israel? If they are two separate entities, which has priority?

When we examine the Epistle of Paul to the Galatians, we are informed of how Paul sees Israel. As Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit, what he says is not based upon Paul’s thinking but that of God, So the argument which leads up to the statement “The Israel of God” needs to be examined.

First of all, Paul addresses a controversy which created great distress in the Church. This dispute started when the Lord through Peter was directed to preach to the Gentile Cornelius and his household who were uncircumcised. The Book of Acts tells us that the seal of the Holy Spirit fell upon them while they were still uncircumcised. This was followed by water baptism. There was no compulsion to be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses and Judaic traditions, realizing, of course, that the Law is from God and not Moses and, therefore, the very words of God Himself. Seeing that the Holy Spirit affirmed that these Gentiles were Christians without this commitment to keeping the Law and circumcision, and confirmed by none less than James, Peter, and the Jerusalem Church, even those who were purported to be from James would not have denied that these Gentiles were Christians. But were they on par with the Jewish Christians. To see and example from the Book of Joshua, were these Christians Gibeonites who would draw water and hew wood for the superior Jewish Christians. After all, does not a kingdom need slaves and servants? The thinking here is that if the Gentiles were to be accorded the full rights as the sons of God under the Covenant. So why not become a Jew as well as a Christian end enjoy the benefits of both. And if Judaism is in the superior position, why not convert to Judaism directly and forget about becoming a Christian at all?

Anyone who reads Galatians, Paul’s writings, Jesus’s words, and the Old Testament could come to this conclusion, Paul is adamant that anyone who preaches this gospel is not preaching a gospel at all but is rather anathema (accursed and cut off from Israel). Paul says that following this non gospel leads to bondage instead of liberty. Christians are not to be the slaves of an earthly Israeli nation or the religion of Judaism. Christ died to set both Jew and Gentile free from slavery to a Law that no one could keep. the Law, not even a scrupulous Jew like Saul the Pharisee.

Some might make a distinction between Israel and the Church by parsing the blessings of mercy and peace in Galatians 6:16 to those who walk according to this rule and unto the Israel of God as though these were separate entities, that God offers blessings on two separate entities, the Church and the Jewish nation and Judaism. But this is to destroy Paul’s entire argument in Galatians. Paul sees the Israel of the Old Testament as being the same entity as the Church of the New, not as a replacement Israel but as the continuation of Israel.