"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:15-16 KJV)
Have you ever wondered why Paul would single out "the Israel of God" with a special blessing right after declaring that nothing avails but a new creature? This verse sits at the end of Galatians, a letter written to defend the pure grace gospel against those trying to bring believers back under the law and circumcision. When we rightly divide the word of truth according to the pattern delivered to the Apostle Paul, the meaning becomes clear and liberating.
The Two Distinct Programs in Scripture
From the beginning of Acts we see two programs operating side by side during a transitional period:
- The kingdom / prophetic program (spoken since the world began) – This was the message preached by John the Baptist, Jesus, and the Twelve. It offered the earthly kingdom to Israel if the nation would repent and receive their King (Matthew 3:2; 4:17; Acts 3:19-21).
- The mystery program (kept secret since the world began) – This was revealed later to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ. It forms one new man where Jew and Gentile are made completely one with a heavenly calling (Ephesians 3:1-9; Colossians 1:25-27).
The little flock (Luke 12:32) and the churches of Judaea (Galatians 1:22) belong to the kingdom program. These were the believing Jewish remnant who trusted Jesus as the Messiah under the gospel of the kingdom.
In contrast, the churches of the Gentiles (Romans 16:4) are the fruit of Paul's ministry under the mystery. These assemblies operate on the truth that "in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature" (Galatians 6:15). They form the one Body where Jew and Gentile are made completely one:
"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles…" (1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV)
"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace." (Ephesians 2:15 KJV)
Paul drew this distinction plainly:
"But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter… they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision." (Galatians 2:7-9 KJV)
The Little Flock and Churches of Judaea
The little flock was the small believing remnant of Israel during Christ's earthly ministry and early Acts. Jesus spoke of them this way:
"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32 KJV)
Even after Paul's conversion and the revelation of the mystery, many in these churches remained zealous for the law. In Acts 21 the elders in Jerusalem tell Paul:
"And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law." (Acts 21:20 KJV)
This shows the overlap period. God was patient with them while the mystery was being fully revealed through Paul.
The little flock was "in Christ" as branches in the vine that Jesus described in John 15 — an organic, fruit-bearing relationship under the kingdom program. It is different from the positional, spiritual baptism into the one Body that Paul describes for this dispensation.
The New Creature — Paul's Distinct Mystery Revelation
The phrase "new creature" is a specific mystery truth revealed through Paul for this dispensation of grace:
"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 KJV)
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature." (Galatians 6:15 KJV)
Paul describes the new creature in key ways: spiritually circumcised (Colossians 2:11), dead to the law (Romans 7:4), quickened and seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:5-6), complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), one new man (Ephesians 2:15). These blessings belong exclusively to the dispensation of the grace of God.
Who Is "the Israel of God" in Galatians 6:16?
Right after stating the new-creature rule, Paul writes:
"And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God." (Galatians 6:16 KJV)
The Israel of God is the Jewish remnant who embraced Paul's gospel and began walking according to the new-creature rule. They are the portion of the little flock that stepped out of the old law/kingdom program and into the liberty of the mystery. They are genuine members of the one Body of Christ with the same standing, blessings, and heavenly hope as Gentile believers.
Examples include Barnabas, Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy, and various Jewish co-workers mentioned in Paul's greetings — Jews who fully embraced Paul's gospel, ministered to the Body of Christ, and walked according to the new-creature rule.
Paul also shows his care for three distinct groups in 1 Corinthians 10:32:
"Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God." (1 Corinthians 10:32 KJV)
- The Jews = the little flock / churches of Judaea still under the kingdom program.
- The Gentiles = the new believers coming in under Paul's ministry.
- The church of God = the one Body of Christ, which includes the Israel of God along with Gentiles.
Peter and the Twelve — Their Distinct Kingdom Role
Peter was genuinely saved during Christ's earthly ministry. He respected Paul and called his epistles scripture (2 Peter 3:15-16). However, Peter's primary commission remained "to the circumcision" (Galatians 2:7-9). Jesus promised the Twelve:
"Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matthew 19:28 KJV)
This promise stands. Peter and the Eleven have a special future role in the earthly kingdom. They were not transferred into the full new-creature / one-Body mystery program in the same way as the Jews who became the Israel of God.
The Romans 11 Remnant
Paul explains the current situation of Israel in Romans 11:
"Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5 KJV)
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved." (Romans 11:25-26 KJV)
The remnant according to the election of grace is the faithful Jewish portion that has believed in this present age. Some of this remnant have embraced Paul's gospel and become the Israel of God — part of the one Body with a heavenly calling. The broader nation remains blinded until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in, after which all Israel shall be saved nationally in the future earthly kingdom.
Inheritance — Earthly Kingdom or Heavenly Calling?
Jews who fully embraced Paul's gospel and became part of the Israel of God are members of the one Body. Their hope and inheritance are heavenly:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." (Ephesians 1:3 KJV)
"For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20 KJV)
God keeps both programs intact without contradiction. The earthly kingdom promises to Israel will be fulfilled in the future when "all Israel shall be saved." The Israel of God today has the heavenly inheritance of the Body of Christ.
Equality in the One Body
In the Body of Christ there is no higher or lower standing between Jewish and Gentile believers:
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28 KJV)
The Jewish believers who are part of the Israel of God have exactly the same position, blessings, and hope as Gentile believers. The label "Israel of God" simply identifies the faithful Jewish remnant who accepted the grace truth — it does not give them superior standing.
Conclusion — The Beauty of Right Division
God is doing something brand new in this dispensation through Paul: forming the one Body of Christ with its heavenly calling. At the same time, He has preserved a faithful Jewish remnant (the Israel of God) who have embraced the new-creature rule and now enjoy the same blessings we do. The broader little flock that remained in the kingdom program still has its earthly hope, and Peter and the Twelve retain their promised role in the future kingdom.
This distinction is one of the most beautiful truths in the Bible. It shows God's perfect wisdom and faithfulness. He has not cast away His people Israel — a remnant is being formed now according to grace, and the nation as a whole will be saved in the future. In the meantime, He has revealed the mystery to us through Paul so that we can enjoy our heavenly position in the one Body today.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)
May the Lord give us all grace to walk according to this rule, holding fast the form of sound words we have heard from Paul. Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
© 2026 Edward R. Cross
