The Book of Colossians Pt. 16 Rejoicing In The Hope of Glory: Christ In Us!

Colossians 1:24-26  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: 25)  Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26)  Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 

The apostle Paul firmly established the preeminence of Jesus Christ because Gnostics were promoting secret knowledge and were adding things to Jesus Christ's redemptive work. 

We learned in the last few posts that all things we need are given to us in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. There is no need for secret knowledge or for some rigid law keeping to ensure salvation. 

Our salvation is entirely the grace work of God and reflects His great mercy and love for those who trust Him.

While the Gnostics were promoting special knowledge and secrets, God through His apostles was opening up His mysteries and making them known to all. 

Christ in us, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

While speaking of the wonderful mysteries of God that were now made known, Paul tells us that this was the pleasure and goodness of God in action. God chose to let us learn of these wonderful truths. It pleased Him to do so.

The word "riches" means a full abundance of possessions. In this case, we are speaking of the full abundance of God's possessions. 

The word "glory" is contained in the word "doxology." In Christian worship, a doxology is a hymn in praise given to the Godhead, It is a distinctive and a particular form of giving glory to God.

Glory is having a good opinion of God and His mighty works, that results in praise to Him. It also refers to all the possessions of God and includes His kingly majesty and right to govern His creation. 

The word "glory" also means the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ Jesus. It is most importantly, the glorious condition of blessedness that is appointed and promised to us. 

All the born again members of God's family shall enter fully into these glorious blessings after the return of Christ. 

What is the glory of this mystery among the Gentile people of the world? It is how effectual the doctrine of Christ crucified is to the salvation of multitudes. 

The main blessing of the glorious mystery God revealed to the world "is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Gentiles used to be alienated from God, but now all who believe on Jesus Christ with repentant faith, have Jesus Christ in them. We are said to be "in Christ." 

Hope of the Comforter from Christ. 

John 14:16-18  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17)  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18)  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 

Jesus taught His disciples that He would not leave them to carry on kingdom ministry by themselves. First, Jesus told the disciples that He would pray to the Father and the Father would give them another Comforter. 

The word "another" means another of a like kind, in other words, the Comforter is part of the Godhead. The Comforter would be like the Father and like the Son. Jesus identified the Comforter and the "Spirit of truth" which is another name for the Holy Spirit of God. 

The world will not see or know the Comforter, but Christ's disciples and all who believe on Jesus Christ, will have the indwelling presence of the Spirit of truth. 

The Comforter will "abide with us" which is in the present tense, meaning that He will stay with us permanently. The words "with us" means not merely standing beside us, but that the Spirit of God will be at home with us, in our midst. 

Thus, the Spirit of God connects us with both the Father and Jesus Christ, for Jesus made it clear that "I and my Father are one." (John 10:30). Therefore, Jesus said He will come to us through the indwelling Spirit of God.

This is one portion of the "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Jesus has all the treasures of Divine Wisdom (Colossians 2:3), therefore, it is both unnecessary and foolish to seek for a different, secret wisdom as the Gnostics advocated. 

The hope of glory includes the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:8) and the riches of His abundant grace and mercy (Ephesians 1:7). 

Peace with God through faith in Christ. 

Romans 5:1,2  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2)  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Here is clear doctrine from God. Those who turn to Jesus Christ with repentant faith, are justified. The word "justified" means that each believer is declared innocent of all charges of sin. 

All guilt and punishment for our sins is removed. We receive a full and complete pardon from the Father, because of the perfect redemptive work of Jesus Christ on the cross. 

We are accepted as righteous before the throne of God because we are "in Christ" and partakers of His righteousness. 

Since these things are true, we also have peace with God because His wrath for our sins has been satisfied in the cross death of His Son. 

Even more blessing is that as we grow in our faith and walk with our Lord, we will receive peace from God that passes all understanding. 

Peace amidst much affliction or chaos. Peace while we suffer the loss of a loved one, or when we are besieged with problems. A peace the world cannot comprehend.

We have access to the abundant grace of God through our new relationship of faith with Jesus Christ. Grace means that God did everything necessary in order to save men from the condemnation of their sins. 

God has done all that could be done to secure eternal salvation for us. This is why it is offensive to God to add anything to the work of Christ on the cross.

What is the end result of all this wonderful  truth about our standing before God "in Christ?" It is that we have the hope of glory of God. 

We have hope that Jesus is preparing a home for us in heaven (John 14:1-6). 

We have hope that we will be among the worshipers of God in Spirit and in truth before His throne in heaven (John 4:23-24; Revelation 5:8-14; 7:9-17; 11:15-19; 14:1-5; 19:1-10). 

We have hope of living in the new heavens, the new earth and the new Jerusalem (Revelation 21-22).

Hope of a new, glorified body.

Philippians 3:20,21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21)  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

We have hope of receiving a new, glorified body that will not have any sin nature and that will never be sick again. Hope turns our thoughts heavenward with anticipation of seeing Jesus Christ. 

We have hope that Jesus will change our vile body. All the warring between our new man in Christ and our old man of sin, will be done away with. We will no longer have any old nature from the first Adam.

We have hope that we will be transformed completely into the image of Jesus Christ.

Hope of no more pain, sorrows or sufferings. 

Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

We have hope that all the pain, suffering, sorrows of this life will be ended. God is going to wipe away our tears. 

Hope of being conformed to Christ. 

1 John 3:1-3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2)  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3)  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 

We have hope that we will be made like Jesus when He returns at the Rapture to take His church home to heaven. 

This glorious peace is through our faith in Jesus Christ. 

What is the impact of a believer having "Christ in you, the hope of glory?" John says that all believers who rejoice in this precious hope, will seek to live a pure and holy life, because Jesus is pure and holy. We will want to live this way for His glory. 

Hope helps us endure all things in Christ.

Romans 5:3-5  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 

Because we have such hope, we can endure or even rejoice when we suffer tribulation, because this suffering works patience into our souls. 

It causes us to experience God more intimately, for as we suffer, we call out to Him and He draws near to assist and comfort us. 

Hope is the byproduct of God's refining fires. As He purifies us through various means, we will have hope. 

Hope in Jesus Christ makes us not ashamed because the Holy Ghost sheds abroad, literally, pours out like a river overflowing during a flood, the love of God in our hearts. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

As we conclude Colossians 1, we see why Paul was motivated with passion to preach this gospel. Then, as now, the world is hopeless and helpless. The gospel of Jesus Christ must go forth!! 

Paul preached the gospel of Christ to every  person that he possibly could. He warned all people about the sin of Christ rejection and the eternal consequences for those who refuse to heed the call of the gospel.

He preached so that as people heard and heeded the gospel, he could give them sound doctrine like the one we are studying, because he knew one day all believers will be made perfect in Christ.

May we also have the heart and passion of Paul, and be faithful witnesses of the gospel. May "Christ in us, the hope of glory" motivate us to live for Jesus Christ and to serve Him with all of our hearts.

Bob

Colossians 1:28,29  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29)  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.