THE CHRIST FORMED WITHIN

       "My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you" (Gal 4:19, NASB) KJV

The objective of God for those in Christ will not be realized to any measurable degree until Christ is "formed" within them. His purpose for them involves more than getting rid of their sin and helping them with their problems. Those are essential to the realization of His purpose, but are not the objective itself. Neither, indeed, is the Lord's goal for us to simply keep a set of finely defined rules. In God's kingdom, character, or participating in the Divine nature, can produce rule keeping; but rule keeping can never result in conformity to the Divine image, or godly character. 1,500 years of the administration of Law confirms this to be the case.

The formation of Christ within, in its ultimate sense, involves the ultimate eradication of "flesh," or the Adamic nature. In the progressive sense, it is "growing up into Him in all things" (Eph 4:15), and being "changed from glory unto glory" (2 Cor 3:18). No progress is made in spiritual life where likeness to Christ is not found. Jesus' other-worldly frame of mind, continual attentiveness to the Father, and aggressive desire for the will of God to be done in Him, is absolutely essential. That is the goal for every child of God. This is something of the involvements of Christ being "formed" in us.

Notice what is said! It is Christ formed in us, not us working ourselves into His likeness! It is God Himself that accomplishes this work through the Spirit. It is He who "works in us both to will and to do of His own good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). It is the Father who has placed us in Christ and makes Him our "wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor 1:20).  If God does not do the work, it will not be done! Faith relies upon Him "performing" this glorious work "until the day of Christ" (Phil 1:6). Jesus, in this case, is the "Author and Perfecter" (Finisher) of the work started in us (Heb 12:2). The outcome of that work is the formation of Christ within — the domination of our entire personality with the Divine mind and character. All of this is accomplished with our full consent. Our wills are not violated, and the Divine nature is not compromised! The unity of those two factors in our salvation is remarkable.

Bringing the saints to maturity is like giving birth to them again. It is attended with great difficulty, or labor. Paul travailed in birth AGAIN until Christ would be formed in the Galatians. This is the most challenging aspect of our salvation. The work is difficult because of the proliferation of zealous teachers of the Law, as evidenced in Galatia. Law, you see, will not let God do His work! It insists upon us doing it ourselves. The Law promises life to those who "DO," not to those who believe. Under Law, it is the "DOERS" who are justified, not those who, by faith, allow God to do the work, entering into that work by His grace and through their faith.

No person can be justified apart from Christ. At no point are we freed from Him, or liberated from the necessity of being like Him. Those who imagine they can walk before God without being like Jesus are in the grip of delusion. If that were remotely possible, there would have been no need for Jesus to be sent into the world in the first place. His work in heaven, and His presence within the believer, are necessary from the beginning to the end.

Because the righteousness of the Law relies upon men, not God, it forbids the formation of Christ within! Christ will never be "formed" in the person who sees justification through works. It simply is not possible. Faith, however, enables that formation to take place. The predestinated purpose of God is our conformity to the image of His Son (Rom 8:29). That is what will be finalized when Jesus comes again. Then we will "be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:1-2). Christ's formation in us now prepares us for that glorious day. It is taking place by degrees through the instrumentality of the Holy Spirit. As it is written, "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit" (2 Cor 3:18, NRSV).

PRAYER POINT: Father, I know it is your desire and purpose for Christ to be formed in me. By faith I consent to that work, and ask that it be accomplished through Jesus Christ in such a way as will glorify You and produce confidence and assurance in me.

-- Monday: THE RELEVANCE OF THIS --