Can you explain Galatian 4:19 about Christ being formed in us?
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian believers (and us) in Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
Paul is addressing justified but immature believers who, under the influence of legalistic teachers, now “desire to be under the law,” as he writes in Galatians 4:21, “Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?” Some had come among these believers and preached salvation according to the Law. Paul wrote in Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”
His are words of instruction and correction to these dear ones. Let’s dissect Galatians 4:19 to see what the Lord is teaching us.
MY LITTLE CHILDREN – Paul writes to these saints as his own children, those who came to know the Lord Jesus Christ through his ministry. Their conversion to God had been the fruit of much labor, prayers, and tears, so he felt towards them as his children. He writes similarly to the saints in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 4:15, “For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.”
OF WHOM I TRAVAIL IN BIRTH AGAIN – Paul compares his efforts, struggles, and pain in leading these Galatians to Christ to a woman’s laboring in birth. He uses the word ‘again’ for he had mentioned his sufferings on their behalf in verse 13, “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.” So, Paul continued in deep anguish for these dear saints who were being led astray from the truth of the Gospel. Paul writes with the tenderness of a father and the authority of an apostle.
UNTIL CHRIST BE FORMED IN YOU – Paul longed for that day when the Galatian believers were mature, and Christ reigned wholly in their hearts; until they wholly and completely embraced his doctrines. We read in Ephesians 4:13, “Till 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.” We read in Colossians 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.” He desired for these dear ones that they lived nothing but Christ, thought nothing but Christ (Galatians 2:20), and gloried in nothing but Christ.
Galatians 4:20, “I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.” Paul longed to be with these people, and he desired to be able to “change my voice” towards them. He wanted to go from complaint and correction, to tones of assurance and confidence.
I STAND IN DOUBT OF YOU – The word ‘doubt’ is better translated as ‘perplexed’. Namely, Paul was perplexed as to how to address them, what kind of words to use, gentle or severe, to bring them back to the right path. Seeing them in person is the best way to assess what is going on and how to properly minister to their needs.
Paul’s concerns for these saints and for the truth of the scriptures weighed heavily on him. He was concerned for them, and he longed to see them honor the Lord by walking in the truth. The Apostle John would later write, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” (3 John 4). What pleases the Lord the most is when we, as redeemed ones, learn, understand, and walk in the truth of God’s Word. Do you have a desire to please the Lord? Learn His truth and practice His truth by living according to them. (CC) (609.2)