The Goal: Christ Formed In
You
"Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” (Galatians 4:19, NLT)
Paul went to
great pains to say that the ultimate goal is to have the person of Jesus Christ
formed in us. We need to realize what it means for Christ to live in and
through us—to invite the Spirit of Christ to work as he reveals himself to us.
This
is a lifelong process; I have yet to realize major aspects of this objective.
However, I know that God wants to become more fully developed in my life and in
the lives of other believers. So let’s learn together what is involved.
One
of the first truths to realize, believe, and trust in is this fact:
“For
in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are
complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and
authority.” (Colossians 2:9–10, NLT)
Jesus
Christ is inside the believer. We are complete in him. He is the one who is the
source of life that is now lived through us.
“My
old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NLT)
“So
you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to
God through Christ Jesus.” (Romans 6:11, NLT)
Christ
can live through us as we reckon our old self DEAD to sin. The old self is
still there, but we are no longer obliged to let it rule over us:
“Therefore,
dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature
urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through
the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you
will live.” (Romans 8:12–13, NLT)
Try
placing your name in these verses to make them personally applicable to you.
Where it says “I” “self” “me” “you” etc. substitute your name. That will make a
tremendous difference in how you read these and other verses.
If
we hope for these Scripture passages to become part of our daily experience, we
need to accept, by faith, the truths stated in them.
Today,
ask yourself:
Do
I believe that my old self was crucified with Christ on the cross? What step
will I take today to trust Christ to live his life in me?
PRAYER
BOMBS
1. Thou
power of resurrection, visit my foundation in the name of Jesus
2. Thou
voice of resurrection, speak life into every dead area of my life in the mighty
name of Jesus
3. Because
He is risen, I arise out of sickness into divine health in Jesus’ name
4. Because
He is risen, I arise out of poverty into prosperity in the name of Jesus
5. Because
He is risen, I arise out of darkness into light in the name of Jesus
6. Because
He is risen, thou power of the grave, you have NO dominion over me in the mighty
name of Jesus Christ.
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