Is there something for us to consider in Paul's saying he is again in birth pains till Christ is formed in the Galatian churches?
When a child is born, it has the characteristics of its parents, or at least they are presently to develop.
As believers, we are given the characteristics of our Father and our Lord Jesus.
God does this, conforming us to the image of His Son, just as God gives us faith to believe in the first place.
Christ formed in us, as it relates here in this passage, says a few things to me...
there is NO righteousness to be obtained through keeping the Law.
it's through faith in The Promise, as it has always been, which is clearly stated in chapter 3:
Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ.
What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise.
For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.
Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made. Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be!
For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. (vs 15-29)
we are zealous for good works, all the while knowing we may never depend on them for justification.
like little ones, we rely solely on the Cross of Christ and rest in Him because God has given us faith to believe The Promise.
we trust that we will be sanctified by the Blood of the Lord, and the One Who authored our faith will complete it.
we glory in Jesus, and never, ever anything we do.
Christ formed in us totally relies on HIS righteousness. (we have none of our own 
)
We embrace that we were saved by His grace, and we stand by His grace, and nothing else.
sorry to be so disjointed...and I don't even have little ones to get lunch for!
looking forward to hearing your thoughts, crossnote.
-ellie
