And as many as walk according to this rule, peace [be] on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with your spirit. Amen. [Gal 6:16-18]

We are now at the closing remarks of this epistle. Paul limits his bidding of peace and mercy to those that walk according to the rule of glorying only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the new creation that is made by him. The matter of circumcision or uncircumcision is irrelevant, for

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Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand. As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. [Gal 6:11-15]

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Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all [men], especially unto them who are of the household of faith. [Gal 6:6-10]

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For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. [Gal 6:3-5]

Now some might say that Paul certainly thought an awful lot of himself. In reading 2 Corinthians chapter 11, we might think that Paul is boasting about all that he has accomplished. In Romans 11, he says that he magnifies his office. But this is where rightly dividing the Word of Truth is necessary. We must distinguish between Paul as the man who was once known as Saul of Tarsus, and Paul, the called apostle of Jesus Christ and the apostle of the gentiles. His office was, and is a high calling and a high position. When speaking from that office, it is important that he speaks and writes with the authority of that apostolic office. We see the two aspects of Paul in the following:

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Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. [Gal 6:1-2]

The last chapter ended with a challenge, that if we live in the Spirit to also walk in the Spirit. Then, the opposite of this was to desire “vain glory”, and to provoke and envy one another. If we recall back to 5:19-21, the vain glory is very much in accord with the works of the flesh. And there is nothing like law-keeping religion to excite the works of the flesh. But this does not need to be, and Paul does not call on the Galatian believers to shun those operating in the energy of the flesh. He is seeking their restoration. He is not seeking restitution. In this call, it is instructional and an example for us all living under grace, that whether doctrinal faults as in Galatia, or behavioral faults as in Corinth, there should be spiritual believers who take it upon themselves to restore the ailing brother. That was the entire point of this epistle that the Lord gave to Paul to write, and He has preserved it for our edification and instruction. Those overtaken by the false doctrine of the false apostles needed to be restored to the place from which they had fallen. They needed to be restored to grace.

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