Tag: Christ Formed in Us - Galatians 4-6

Galatians 4:17-19

They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!

Tag:  Christ Formed in Us!!

Paul, in his writing to the believers of Galatia, is concerned that the false teachers were leading them astray.  He was warning them that the false teachers wanted them to follow them for "no good purpose."    The false teachers were using the Galatians to build their own following ... no good purpose.  Paul wants something different for these believers. Paul thinks of these believers as his children.  But, he is fearful they will fall back from Christ.  So, he is once again in "anguish of childbirth."   He wants them to grow "until Christ is formed in" them.   This is the goal of Christ; that believers would be conformed to the image of Christ.   Note what one commentary states about this passage (UBC-NTSet):

Paul thinks the Galatians are so dangerously close to being lost from Christ that he is again in the pains of childbirth. He gave them their new life through preaching the gospel that gives life (cf. 3:21). And now he is once more in the position of giving himself entirely to the good purpose of having Christ be formed in them. Paul’s expression conveys confidence that this purpose will be accomplished.

Although this is the only place Paul uses the phrase “Christ is formed in you,” it encapsulates the basic vision of Paul’s gospel. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 the apostle puts it this way: “being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory.” Romans 8:29 also contains the idea of being conformed to Christ (cf. Phil 3:10, which speaks of being conformed to Christ’s death).

Christ is being formed in us.  We need to realize that false teachers want us to conform to their version of truth.  Paul, through his writings, wants to conform us to the image of Christ.