As a result of revelation, Saul of Tarsus experienced a tremendous upheaval in his personal life

Throughout Galati= ans, Paul has contrasted religion to Christ, the flesh to the Spirit, law to fai= th, and curse to blessing. As we = reach the end of the epistle, the ultimate contrast is the old creation (implied) versus the new creation in 6:15. Verse 14 says that the world has been crucified to me and I to the w= orld through the cross of Christ. = In effect, the cross became a door through which we permanently passed from the old creation to the new creation.

The ol= d creation included the old “I” (Gal. 2:20) and the world – both sec= ular and religious - with its sin, sins, elements, traditions, rituals, rules and its ruler. These have all been crucified. In Christ, they ar= e no more! Now, to us, what “is,” is the new creation.&nbs= p; The new creation includes all of the rescued “I’s” with God added to them. =

The new creation is entirely unprecedented and eternally fresh. God is in it, and it is in God. In Christ, we are a new creation.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Whether we know, feel or act like = it or not, we are God’s masterpiece, His new creation created through Christ’s work on the cross. Now only the new creation is relevant. Neither circumcision (religious observance) nor uncircumcision (being “unreligious”) have anyth= ing to do with us, nor do we have anything to do with them. The new creation is not a matter of better philosophy, teaching, regulations or ethical practices, but a produc= t of God Himself added to His creation and bringing this new creation into Himse= lf as its sphere of existence.

So the= new creation is what is real, what matters.&nb= sp; How do we apply this? = By walking in it. Paul says, “Peace and mercy upon those who will walk by this rule.” The rule referred to is the new creation. The word “walk” indicates an orderly, progressive and purposeful walk. It is in the future tense meaning a continual walk from now onward. The word “rule” means a rod to which something is fastened to keep it straight, a carpenter or surveyor’s line, or a measuring rod. It indicates a principle of living= , or sphere of activity. All= of the appeals, and contrasts made throughout this epistle to the troubled Galatians ended with a simple “invitation” and blessing.

As we are GodR= 17;s new creation, we purposefully walk according to His life and nature within us, = in the environment into which He has placed us. Such a walk keeps us connected to = God in life and aligned with God and His new creation in movement. The living Spirit leads us to walk= by Him, rather than by our ideology or observance of external rules of religio= n or ethics.

Paul d= oes not elaborate or give us a “step by step” procedure to follow. Instead, we must rely on God, and = walk by Him as our source, energy and direction. Such a walk is necessarily fresh a= nd results in peace and mercy being supplied not merely to us but upon us. The mention of the Israel of God indicates that this is something corporate, and its source is God, not our human birth.

Paul adds a personal note in verse 17. He walked by the new creation, and labored as a slave of our Lord Jesus Christ. He suffered persecution on account= of Christ’s cross. He had = the personal brands, both physical and spiritual, to testify of whom he served.= He had peace in the new creation himself.&nbs= p; “Henceforth, let no one trouble me.” This was a stark contrast to those = not walking by the new creation, who make a show in others’ flesh (6:12-1= 3), avoid persecution for the cross, and bring trouble and questionings rather = than peace and mercy. <= /o:p>

The final greeting in v.18 is a corollary to walking by the new creation – “The grace of our Lord Jesus Chri= st is with your spirit, brothers.” We have the Lord Jesus connected permanently to our spirit. This is the new creation. This is who we are, this is where = we are, and this is how we continually walk.&= nbsp; In this walk, despite weakness or failing, we are brothers, dear to = our God, the apostle and one another.