Forming Christ In The Sons

True ministry is to form Christ in another.

John 12:24

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Here Jesus speaks of Himself, foreshadowing the formation of the Church. The Church is the end product of the procreation, reproduction and glorification of Christ. Therefore, the formation of the Church made Christ the first of many brethren (Rom 8:29). If Christ is indeed the first of many others to come it must then mean that all others must be exactly as Christ.

Colossians 3:9-11

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Thus, the first operation of ministry is the giving of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has the power to make a son of God that is as Jesus is. The union of body, soul and spirit with the Holy Ghost, is the creation of that new creature which is an anointed one, (Christ).

Colossians 2:6

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

However, once someone has received the Holy Ghost, there is a responsibility on their part to walk in the newness of life they have received. Though they are as Jesus is, they are called to walk accordingly.

This is where choice comes into the matter. Though an individual has the Holy Ghost, that individual can choose to walk contrary to their very nature. Moreover, the born-again experience is indeed a birth. The individual is born a spiritual babe, who needs to grow and mature as a son of God. In order to mature, however, that babe would have to learn and experience a few things.

These are:

1. The Word of God: This newborn babe must learn the truth about salvation and what God has achieved in them. By being taught the Word of God, this would bring about clarity to the many things that are being experienced and the purpose for past experiences.
2. The Wisdom of God: How the Word of God is applied to the situations, circumstances and relationships they face.
3. The Wiles of the Devil: What tactics does the devil use in an attempt to cause the believer to return to sin and/or unbelief.

The fact that a son of God is expected to move from being a babe to a mature son in Christ, causes us to attest that this too is a forming of Christ, or rather an establishment of Christ in the individual.

Romans 16:25

Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

ESTABLISH - To render immoveable, to build up and settle.

Though Christ already dwells in the sons of God, they also need to be established in the Faith. The gospel of Jesus Christ (which is the revelation of the Mystery of Christ) is the power of God to establish the saints of God in the Christian faith. Being established in the faith ensures that there is no difference or present variation between the individual and Christ. This establishment is accomplished by the labor of the Holy Ghost through His ministers.

This should be the mind and heart of every minister, especially every pastor in the body of Christ. It is the pastors that labor with the flock. It should be a mandate and a resolve to bring the people of God to the mind and heart of God. You should not be content with simply babysitting the children of God. It is your responsibility to teach them the gospel according to the revelation of the Mystery of Christ. Therefore, your heart should be fully open to understanding the mystery.

Galatians 4:19

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Here, Paul speaks of forming Christ or establishing the saints of God in Christ. The scripture vividly reveals the ‘posture of heart’ a son of God must have to truly establish someone in the Faith.

My little children…

• A statement of endearment.
• This statement speaks to the fact that it was through Paul’s ministry that the Church was birthed into sonship.

However, it also displays His heart towards them. Even as a parent, a leader is responsible for the flock. A true leader must watch the diet and the lifestyle of those they lead, and must by word and discipleship grow them up into the full stature of their measure in Christ. They must have vision concerning the gifts of God within the people of God, and nurture them according to their needs.

Of whom I travail in birth…

• Travail means to engage in painful or laborious effort. To suffer birth pangs.
• The pains of childbirth come naturally to the mother at the appointed time. So must it be natural for a leader to feel concern/grief at the lack of manifestation of Christ amongst the flock.
• This grief will encourage the leader to intercede for the people, that they would walk in the life of holiness necessary to please God, as well as actively labor in their lives so that they may be developed spiritually.
• The pains of childbirth (travail) also refers to the suffering appointed to ministers who allow the anointing to execute ministry.

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Steadfastness in Christ incurs suffering. However, the sufferings of Christ is the evidence that we have been counted worthy of the ministry and the Kingdom of God. Being counted worthy of the ministry means that God has trusted you with the power of Christ to work through you to form and establish Christ in others.

again, until Christ be formed in you…

Being counted worthy of the ministry is a privilege one cannot take upon himself, as it is given by God. Thus, one must be steadfast in righteousness as they long-suffer, that they may continue to be counted worthy. This steadfastness in Christ is also called abiding in Christ.

John 15:4-5

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the

vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

A leader’s love will cause him or her to abide in Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings in expectation that the same will cause Christ to be formed in the people us abide in weakness that Christ may be strong in us and in others.