[QUOTE="And as many as walk according to this rule,
peace be on [epi] them,
and mercy,
and upon [
epi]
the Israel of God."
--"And as many as walk according to this rule,
peace be on [epi] them [ONE ITEM],
and mercy [
between the two items],
and upon [epi] the Israel of God [SECOND of the TWO ITEMS; *THIS* one being, "those of Israel WHO BELIEVED (or even, 'those of Israel who WILL BELIEVE')]."[/QUOTE]
Lets not leave out the point of the conversation:
Galatians 6
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 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. 13 For not even those who are circumcised keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh. 14 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. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy
be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
To answer about Covenant Theologians if they become "spiritual Jews" or "spiritual Israel"
The answer is NO.
Jews and Gentiles are 1 in the body of Christ through the karbanot of the one true lamb
Ἰησοῦς.
Our God established the covenant between Israel and Himself and if you are not Jewish then you do not belong to the same covenant, however, ALL find salvation through Christ Jesus alone, NOT BY WORKS, or THE LAW.
Genesis 17
3 Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4 “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram[
a]; your name will be Abraham,[
b] for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
Now to answer the confusion:
Although Paul states his circumcision is to no avail to him, IT IS the commandment, or mitzvot of God to be circumcised (in perpetual for all our generations) if you are of Israeli descent.
THIS IS OUR REQUIRED COVENANT - NOT YOURS.
9 Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. 11 You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
We as "Jews" are required to follow the mitzvah - you as gentiles are not.
This burden is not placed upon you, as you are not Jews, and is why Paul says,
"Why would you place this burden upon the pagans when we as Jews cannot follow the commands?"
This does not nullify an Israeli following the mitzvot - we are obligated - you are not.
As Jesus said,
Matthew 5
17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you,
till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches
them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
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(It is an important point, not to be missed... and many ppl do miss it.)
