Christ Formed In You
Charles Pennington

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

Paul had spoken in very strong terms to these Galatians who had professed faith in Christ Jesus but were now seeking to add their own works of the law to the righteousness of Christ for justification and/or sanctification (3:1-3). Now, he calls them “My little children,” by which he shows his genuine affection for them while at the same time rebuking them for their lack of understanding. He had preached the gospel of Christ to them before but his efforts were evidently in vain (4:11) not resulting in the new birth. Now, he labors in birth again toward this one objective, “till Christ be formed in you.”

Here then in few words is the character of the new birth. It is not a mere profession, system of morality, or doctrinal position - it is Christ formed in you! Paul had referred to his own experience in this epistle. “It pleased God…to reveal His Son in me” (1:15-16). “…I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me” (2:20). As he closes this epistle he states, “In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation” (6:15). The new birth is not a result of something we do but what God does.

Now, he illustrates this by the allegory of Hagar and Sarah. These two women represent the two covenants and the children they produce (Gal. 4:22-27).

Hagar is the covenant of works. She is a bondwoman, she genders to bondage. She produces sons, but they are in bondage with her because they are born of the flesh; of the will, works, and strength of the flesh. That which is born of the flesh is flesh!

Sarah is the covenant of grace. She is the true wife and is the mother of all true sons and heirs. Her children are born of grace not works; by the word and promise of God and not the will of man; they are born after the Spirit and not after the flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. It is a new creation, a new man, a new spirit and nature - It is Christ formed in us! The result is, we worship God in spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh.