The end of Galatians captures the essence of Christianity. Paul pulls together the prevailing gospel message. John Stott’s commentary has this to say:

What, then, does Paul emphasize? He emphasizes the principal theme of the Christian gospel. Once again he contrasts himself with the Judaizers, and so the two religious systems they represented. As he does so, he pinpoints the vital issues at stake. Reading his words, we are lifted out of the controversy between Paul and the Judaizers in the first century AD and are brought right into the twentieth century. We even catch a glimpse of the course of church history down the ages, in which these issues have been continuously debated. Here are two questions about the essence of the Christian religion.

  1. Outward or inward? (verses 12, 13)
  2. Human or divine (verses 13-16)

Furthermore, Paul teaches three great truths about the church:

  1. The church is the Israel of God.
  2. The church has a rule to direct it.
  3. The church enjoys peace and mercy only when it walks by this rule.

Source: John Stott, The Message of Galatians.