“Until Christ Be Formed in You”

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you. —Galatians 4:19

Paul calls the saints at Galatia, “My little children” because they were his new converts.  Since he won them to Christ, he was their spiritual father (1 Cor. 4:15).  Getting someone saved is similar to a natural birth in that it requires some travailing.

Now, Paul is travailing again for these new babes in Christ.  He travailed (labored) for Christ to be formed in his converts.  A Christian can have Christ IN THEM without having Christ FORMED in them.

Paul is talking about Christian maturity as the character of Christ is formed into the character of the Christian. As a Christian yields to the Spirit and walks in the Spirit, Christ is being formed in them.  As Christ is formed in you, people will “see” Christ magnified in you (Phil. 1:20).

John the Baptist said it simply, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

This is the heart’s desire of every pastor—To see Christ formed in those under his ministry.

Is Christ IN you?  Has Christ been FORMED in you?