Galatians 6:16

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

As many as shall walk by this rule ... that is, the Law of Christ, not regarding merely the portions of it stressed in this final chapter, but all of it.

Peace ... and mercy ... The apostolic blessing is invoked upon those who will walk under the Law of Christ, as distinguished from them that desire to cling to the Law of Moses.

And upon the Israel of God ... It is surprising that any could misunderstand this, as if Paul were, in any manner, invoking a blessing upon racial Jews. "Israel of God," in the true sense, with Paul, was never racial Israel, but the spiritual Israel. See Romans 2:28,29; Romans 4:13-16 and Romans 9:6-8. This meaning of "spiritual Israel," of course, included all of every race, including Jews, who accepted Christ. "Israel of God," according to Wesley, means "the church of God, which consists of all those, and only those, of every nation and kindred, who walk by this rule."[28]

This benediction is not addressed to two distinct sets of persons (those who walk by this rule, and upon the Israel of God) but upon the same set of persons addressed in two ways, as if he had said, "Yea, upon the Israel of God.[29]

[28] John Wesley, op. cit., in loco.

[29] William Sanday, op. cit., p. 463.