Spiritual Formation: Being Conformed to Christ by Grace

A Vision of Growth, Discipline, and Transformation

Spiritual formation, rightly understood, is not the self-directed improvement of the religious individual, nor is it the accumulation of spiritual experiences or disciplines. Spiritual formation is the lifelong work of God by His Spirit, through His Word, conforming believers into the image of Jesus Christ. Scripture frames this clearly:

“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” (Romans 8:29)

Spiritual formation, therefore, is not optional, peripheral, or reserved for elite Christians. It is the necessary fruit of salvation, flowing from God’s eternal purpose and accomplished through union with Christ. To be spiritually formed is to be shaped—mind, heart, will, and affections—by the life of Christ, so that the believer increasingly reflects His character, desires His will, and lives under His lordship.

Formation Is Not Self-Construction, but Divine Transformation

Spiritual formation is fundamentally God’s work before it is ours. The same grace that justifies also sanctifies. We are not justified by grace and then formed by effort; rather, formation unfolds within grace.

“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” (Philippians 1:6)

This guards us from two errors:

• Legalism, which treats formation as self-achieved holiness

• Passivity, which denies the necessity of disciplined obedience

Biblical spiritual formation is neither self-salvation nor spiritual inertia. It is Spirit-empowered cooperation, rooted in grace and expressed through obedience.

Union with Christ: The Foundation of All Formation

At the heart of spiritual formation is union with Christ. Believers are not merely followers of Christ; they are in Christ. His death is our death. His resurrection is our life. His righteousness is our standing before God.

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Formation flows from this union. We are not trying to become something foreign to us; we are growing into what we already are in Christ. Sanctification is the gradual alignment of our lived experience with our redeemed identity.

The Goal: Christlikeness in Every Dimension of Life

Spiritual formation is comprehensive. It involves:

• The Mind (Renewed Thinking – Romans 12:2)

• The Heart (Ordered Loves – Psalm 37:4)

• The Will (Obedient Action – John 14:15)

• The Affections (Holy Desires – Colossians 3:1–3)

The goal is not merely moral improvement but Christlike maturity—a life increasingly shaped by humility, holiness, love, truth, and obedience.

“Until Christ is formed in you.” (Galatians 4:19)

The Ordinary Means of Grace: God’s Chosen Instruments

We are to place great emphasis on the ordinary means of grace—the primary instruments God uses to form His people.

These include:

• The Word of God (Preached, Read, Studied)

• The Sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper)

• Prayer

• The Gathered Life of the Church

These are not optional add-ons. They are God’s appointed pathways for transformation.

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

The Power and Necessity of Spiritual Disciplines

Spiritual disciplines are not techniques for earning God’s favor; they are means by which believers place themselves under the transforming influence of God’s grace. As Calvin wisely noted, discipline trains us to “yield ourselves wholly to the Lord.”

Key Biblical Disciplines in Spiritual Formation

• Word Immersion

  
  

  The Scriptures shape our thinking, expose our sin, renew our minds, and reveal Christ. Formation without Scripture is impossible.

• Prayer

  
  

  Prayer forms dependence, humility, and intimacy with God. It reorients the heart from self-rule to God-rule.

• Silence and Solitude

  
  

  These disciplines quiet the soul, confront disordered desires, and cultivate attentiveness to God (Psalm 46:10).

• Fasting

  
  

  Fasting trains the body and desires to submit to the Spirit, reminding us that we do not live by bread alone (Matthew 4:4).

• Confession and Repentance

  
  

  Regular confession keeps the heart tender and responsive to the Spirit’s convicting work (1 John 1:7–9).

• Corporate Worship and Fellowship

  
  

  Spiritual formation is never merely individual. God shapes us in the body of Christ through shared worship, accountability, and love.

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works.” (Hebrews 10:24)

Best Practices for Spiritual Formation (Biblically Defined)

The best practice for spiritual formation includes:

• Consistency Over Intensity: Faithful obedience in ordinary rhythms

• Means Before Emotions: Trusting God’s appointed instruments rather than chasing experiences

• Community Over Isolation: Growth within the covenant community

• Grace-Driven Effort: Obedience empowered by gratitude, not fear

“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” (Philippians 2:12–13)

This paradox captures the heart of spiritual formation: we labor precisely because God is at work.

Formation as Preparation for Glory

Spiritual formation is not an end in itself. It prepares us for eternal communion with God.

“We all… are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The Spirit is shaping believers now for the life they will live forever. Formation is glory begun.

A Pastoral Conclusion

Spiritual formation is not about becoming impressive Christians, but about becoming faithful disciples. It is not about self-exaltation, but Christ-exaltation. Not about earning favor, but living out grace.

God forms His people slowly, deeply, and faithfully—through Word, sacrament, prayer, discipline, suffering, and joy—until Christ is fully revealed in them.

The invitation is simple, but costly: abide in Christ, submit to His Word, walk in the Spirit, and trust the God who is forming you for glory. “May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)