Something as challenging as pursuing life to look like Christ must have a good reason to do so, right? It cannot only be something that is said because it sounds good. So why do believers need to pursue a life of becoming more like Christ? Here is the answer to why spiritual formation is essential in the first paragraph of this blog: Christ commands it, it is good for us, and it is good for others. God is not trying to trick people into something; it is just a cool concept. He commanded it because He knows the importance of how it impacts believers individually and collectively. Thankfully, it is not only up to believers for spiritual formation, but the Holy Spirit empowers it through personal choices.[1] The likelihood of keeping up with it diminishes if we do not understand why we should do something. This is why knowing what God said about spiritual formation in the Bible is essential to living in spiritual formation.
Christ Commanded It
In Matthew 16:24-26 it says, “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” In these few verses, Jesus gives three commands. A warning follows those three commands; a blessing is offered from that warning. All pointing toward the goal of losing one’s life for the sake of Christ gives new life, a life for Christ. In 1 John 2:6 (NIV), John wrote, “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.” A command from John to live and become like Christ. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:21, “To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” He instructed believers to live according to the example set before them by Christ. It is not just a great idea but a necessary part of Christianity. Each of these verses talks of the explicit instruction for believers that if you do believe, a sign will be that you pursue a life to look like Christ. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:16-17 an instruction not to live according to the fleshly desires but according to the Spirit. The flesh is in contrast to the spirit and vice versa. A command to purposefully develop one’s spiritual formation to help avoid living by the flesh.
Christ and his apostles were not shy about the command to live differently from the world, to live like Christ, set apart. This principle is not confined to a few verses here and there but is a prevailing theme throughout the scriptures (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, Jude 20, 2 Peter 3:18). Christ even emphasized in John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commands.” Therefore, if a believer seeks to understand why spiritual formation is essential, the most significant reason is that Christ died for us to live and to live for Him. He asked us to do so, and if we love Him, we will keep His commandments.
It is Good for Us
Beyond Christ’s command for a life change, the Bible speaks of many great benefits for believers when we seek Him. Philippians 1:6 states, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” God finishes what He starts and has placed a purpose in all people for his work. He seeks out believers and wants all to seek Him (Ps. 27:8). In Romans 12:2, Paul reminds believers to be set apart again because it aligns Christians with God’s will. Matthew 5:8 talks about how those with a pure heart will see God. John 15:10 says that the obedient to God’s commands will abide in Him. One of the most critical things believers should desire in life is for the moment at that judgment seat to hear what is said in Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” This is the best possible thing for people, so to be more like Christ is to be obedient. Obedience is abiding, and abiding is knowing Him, which leads to those great words.
On the other hand, beyond the blessings that come from spiritual formation, there are warnings or dangers from not doing so. As stated earlier, the flesh and spirit are at war, so if we are not living by the spirit, we are, by definition, living according to the flesh. Hebrews 10:26 says, “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left.” God cannot be toyed with; if we understand this, other things become more straightforward.
It is Good for Others
Richard Averbeck concluded that there are three encompassing spiritual formation processes: “in us, among us, and through us.”[2] Understanding that these three aspects concern the individual, the church, and the world gives insight into the importance of personal spiritual formation concerning others. Spiritual formation is not an individual endeavor; as believers, we must not forget that our formation is also for others. One of the characteristics of Christ that should be desired is selflessness, which sets others before ourselves. 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” It is a heart position that frees us from the burden of selfishness, and it is this position that sets us up to bless others with our lives.[3] John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” Jesus modeled this better than anyone when he died on the cross for all mankind (Matt 27:49-50). Although using one’s life is extreme, it sets the standard of what believers are called to and to what level. God wants believers to be spiritually formed so that when the time comes for God to call people according to their purpose, they are prepared for the requirements of their calling in life.[4] It is good for others for you to seek spiritual formation in your life.
[1] Steven L Porter. “The Future of the Spiritual Formation Movement.” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. 12 (2019): 173–76.
[2] Richard E. Averbeck, “Spirit, Community, and Mission: A Biblical Theology for Spiritual Formation,” in Journal of Spiritual Formation & Soul Care 1 (2008): 27–53.
[3] Steven L Porter, “Mentally Healthy and Healing Church: Spiritual Formation and Soul Care as Ecclesiology.” Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. 15 (2022): 3–5.
[4] Steve L. Porter, “The Future of Christian Spiritual Formation.” in Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. 16 (2023): 3–13.