Christ Formed In Us!

The message of the kingdom of God is not always completely understood by the Church; it is not just a message of salvation from hell but rather it is a message of Christ Likeness, a message of the great hope of being changed from a corruptible creature to a holy man or woman of God. Not holy in ourselves but holiness which comes from a total conversion to the nature of Jesus Christ. Some today are content to hold onto their salvation without embracing the full message of Christ Likeness.

Generally it is because in order for Him to come forth in His fullness we have to die to ourselves. It is very easy to say "We are embracing the Great Commission" and feel as though you are being a great Christian, however, Jesus Himself cuts this down as the litmus test when He rebukes the Ephesian Church (which was fulfilling this commission, See Rev 2:2-3) for losing their first love. Also, He demonstrates this is not the full message when He tells of the Great White Throne Judgment: Mat 7:21-23  "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Let's consider some opening verses to support these comments:

Col 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

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

Rom 13:14 "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

Christ in you... Until Christ be formed in you... Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is one thing to have Christ birthed in us at salvation but another thing altogether to have Him formed in us (developed, matured, strong in us). Sin wants one thing but Christ wants something altogether different. Sin (in us) wants to be satisfied and is powerful bending our will at times to its demands, even as believers. As a pastor I have had good men and women break down and weep in front of me because they could not get the victory over sin. Christ and the Holy Spirit, however, have only one objective and it is to completely break sin so that we may walk in all pleasing before our heavenly Father as He did. This is only possible in reality as sin is defeated and Christ is formed is us. Our very calling is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ (See Rom 8:29), the only way this is possible is to have Christ formed in us, strengthened in us and developed in us. Consider the following verses which support this:

Rom 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Eph 4:11-13 "11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

In the text from Romans 8:29 we see we are called to be confirmed to His image. A calling which Paul charts for us through Romans Chapter 6 (The Crucified Life); Chapter 7 (The Old Nature and the Law); Chapter 8 (The New Life in the Spirit). We are conformed to His image first by exposure of old nature which does not reflect Christ, the old nature is exposed through the law in Romans chapter 7. Then, crucifying that same old nature by the cross in chapter 6 of Romans. Finally, coming forth as mature sons of God reflecting Christ in chapter 8 of Romans. This is the process whereby Christ is formed in us AND the old man is put to death (the two should be synonymous). 

In Ephesians he tells us that we might come to the fullness of the stature of Christ. Neither one of these states (conformed completely to His image and coming to the fullness of His stature) happen at salvation but indicate growth and development and so Paul says in Galatians 4, I travail until Christ be formed in you. From time to time we observe different levels of maturity, for some it very well may be that Christ had never developed beyond the infancy stage He was born in them at salvation but they have never let Him develop or form in them (little children, young men and father's -  1 John 2).

Let's consider this another way using the mathematics given to use in Matthew 13. We have three divisions, 30 fold, 60 fold and 100 fold. Let's consider these as measurements of influence, how influenced are we by Christ who is "The New Man" and how influenced are we by the fallen nature who is the "old man"?

·         Little Children - 30 fold are 70% old man and 30% new man - they are the least fruitful

·         Young Men - 60 fold are 40% old man and 60% new man - a more fruitful category.

·         Father's -100 fold are 0% influenced by the old man and 100% influenced by the new man, this is the most fruitful category.

This really is a question of mixture, what are we most influenced by? Christ and the Holy Spirit or the old man? Paul gives warning about mixture, mixing our walk with Christ and with idols or the world or humanistic thinking. These are things that will impede the development of Jesus Christ in one’s life. Let's consider one final verse to close: 2Co 6:16-18 "16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." Verse 18, the Father and son/daughter relationship is not based on the act of salvation but is based on coming out or being sanctified. Let’s embrace a fuller scope of the kingdom of God, not just salvation but having Christ come to fullness in us, eradicating the old man and under the complete influence of Christ and the Holy Spirit.