Christ Is Formed In Us

Not a slave, or even just a son, but an heir.

Being trained to reign through one Christ Jesus.

What is the purpose of all this?

Galatians 4:8–20 (ESV)

8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years! 11 I am afraid I may have labored over you in vain.

12 Brothers, I entreat you, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong. 13 You know it was because of a bodily ailment that I preached the gospel to you at first, 14 and though my condition was a trial to you, you did not scorn or despise me, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. 15 What then has become of your blessedness? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them. 18 It is always good to be made much of for a good purpose, and not only when I am present with you, 19 my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! 20 I wish I could be present with you now and change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.

Rhetorical questions to Galatians

vs. 9 How can you turn back to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world whose slaves you want to be once more?

vs. 15 What then has become of your blessedness?

vs. 16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

vs. 9 Don’t go back to the weak and worthless elementary things of the world.

2 Peter 2:22 “What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.””

vs. 15 Keep your blessedness

Once received him as an angel of God

Would have gouged their eyes out for him.

Sons believe, receive, and are led by the Spirit

vs. 16 Listen To Truth, not satan, job’s comforters,

neg -They make much of you, but for no good purpose.

neg -Shut you out that you may make much of them.

Positive - I’m with you during anguish until Christ is formed in you.

Galatians 4:19 “my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you!”

Christ is formed in you. As Paul wrote in 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (nkjv). Becoming conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29) emphasizes the personal changes necessary to become like Jesus. At the same time, Paul said that Christ takes form in us. As a Christian becomes conformed and transformed (Romans 12:1; 2 Corinthians 3:18) in relation to Christ, Christ’s attitudes and character are “formed” in him or her (Philippians 2:5–9; 3:10). We become like Christ even as his life and teaching become visible in us.