Colossians 1:27 - Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory.
Colossians 1:27 - Christ In You, The Hope Of Glory.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV) 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:
Colossians 1:27 (CWR) God wants to use you to attract others to
Him with the glorious riches of what has been revealed and which is
seen by Christ living in you, who is our only hope of glory.
Colossians 1:27 (TLB) and the riches and glory of his plan are
for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ in your hearts
is your only hope of glory.
WORD STUDY
This mystery spoken of here is the regenerated heart which
results from the conversion process. [Pastor Cook at Okmulgee SDA
Church in OK]
Christ in you. The indwelling presence of Jesus in the human
heart is the manifestation of the eternal mystery [SDA Bible
Commentary]
Christ in you takes place at conversion, continues through
sanctification and climaxes/culminates at glorification. (source unknown)
To be in Christ is to have Christ in you. Communion with Christ
is our hope of eternal life here and hereafter. Life in Christ is
the goal toward which God pointed creation from the beginning.
[Disciple SB]
God's secret plan is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" - God
planned to have his Son, Jesus Christ, live in the hearts of all who
believe in him - even Gentiles like the Colossians. Do you know Christ?
He is not hidden if you will come to him. [Life Application SB]
Hope of glory. The hope of restoration to the divine
presence. The indwelling of Christ in the individual heart gives evidence
that the power of grace is working to transform the character. This
makes real the hope of glorification. [SDA Bible Commentary]
INTRODUCTION
The fact is that the only thing in this world which is for every
man is Christ. It is not every man who can be a thinker. There are
gifts which are not granted to every man. Not every man can master
every craft, or even every game. There are those who are color-blind
and to whom the loveliness of art means nothing. There are those who
are tone-deaf and for whom the glory of music does not exist. Not
every man can be a writer or a student or a preacher or a singer. Even
human love at its highest is not granted to all men. There are gifts a
man will never possess; there are privileges a man will never enjoy;
there are heights of this world's attainment which a man will never
scale; but to every man there is open the good news of the gospel, the
love of God in Christ Jesus and the transforming power which can
bring holiness into life. [Barclay Commentary]
COMMENTARY
As we contemplate the great things of God's word, we look
into a fountain that broadens and deepens beneath our gaze. Its
breadth and depth pass our knowledge. As we gaze, the vision widens;
stretched out before us we behold a boundless, shoreless sea.
Such study has vivifying power. The mind and heart acquire
new strength, new life.
This experience is the highest evidence of the divine
authorship of the Bible. We receive God's word as food for the soul,
through the same evidence by which we receive bread as food for the
body. Bread supplies the need of our nature; we know by experience
that it produces blood and bone and brain. Apply the same test to the
Bible; when its principles have actually become the elements of
character, what has been the result? what changes have been made in the
life? "Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17. In its power, men and women have broken the
chains of sinful habit. They have renounced selfishness. The profane
have become reverent, the drunken sober, the profligate pure. Souls
that have borne the likeness of Satan have been transformed into the
image of God. This change is itself the miracle of miracles. A change
wrought by the word, it is one of the deepest mysteries of the word. We
cannot understand it; we can only believe, as declared by the
Scriptures, it is "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27.
ED171-172
Here is the heart of Christianity, which distinguishes it
from every other religion in the world. It is not simply some
universal spirit of goodness dwelling in humanity that we must strive to
realize. Nor is it a set of rules and regulations that will bring us into
union with our creator. The only hope and assurance we have of that
eternal life, that object of the human quest, is what God himself has
given us in Christ.
If we have accepted the gift of our Maker, forgiveness of
sin and new life through Jesus Christ, we can begin to live each day
in intimate fellowship with him. That goal is no longer
unattainable or hindered by our human weakness. It is an accomplished
reality. Because of Christ, God's dwelling place is not somewhere on
the other side of the cosmos. He inhabits the spirits of those who
have been "born of God," and continually calls to us, "Come unto
me."
Dear GOD, as I walk through this day, may I be aware of the
fact that Jesus is actually living in me by his Spirit. I don't begin
to understand how that can be, but help me to realize that your
presence in me is a reality and my only life and hope. In that knowledge,
grant me the freedom to enjoy this time together with you. [Praying
Through The Bible By Fuller]
The heavenly Fathers plan from the beginning of time was
to place His eternal Son in every believer. If you are a Christian,
all the fullness of God dwells in you. Christs life becomes your
life. When Christ lives in you, He brings every divine resource with
Him. Every time you face a need, you meet it with the presence of the
crucified, risen, and triumphant Lord of the universe inhabiting you. When
God invites you to become involved in His work, He has already
placed His Son in you so that He can carry out His assignment through
your life.
This has significant implications for your Christian life.
Discipleship is more than acquiring head knowledge and memorizing Scripture
verses. It is learning to give Jesus Christ total access to your life so
He will live His life through you. Your greatest difficulty will be
believing that your relationship with Christ is at the heart of your
Christian life. When others watch you face a crisis, do they see the risen
Lord responding? Does your family see the difference Christ makes
when you face a need? What difference does the presence of Jesus
Christ make in your life?
God wants to reveal Himself to those around you by working
mightily through you. He wants your family to see Christ in you each day.
God wants to express His love through your life. There is a great
difference between living the Christian life and allowing Christ to
live His life through you. [Experiencing God Day by Day by Henry and
Richard Blackaby]
Some Christians believe that God doesn't speak today because
the Bible is complete. Of course, nearly every believer accepts the
authority of God's Word in matters of doctrine, but Scripture itself
demonstrates God's desire to converse with His people and guide them. In
Paul's words to the Colossians, this kind of relationship is confirmed.
The Son of God - elsewhere called "the Word" - is in us. Would the
Word be put within us only to remain silent? Of course not. God is a
revealer of mysteries, and this one is perhaps most profound. The Word
long desired before the coming of the Messiah was planted by faith
inside of us after the Resurrection.
A promise is implied in this truth. God has secrets, but He
shares them with His people. He is the Word, but He also lets us embody
the Word. The much desired voice of God is no longer "out there,"
it's "in here." We are carriers of the divine mysteries, and as such,
we are now revealers of them too. The secrets of God unfold in His
people, especially as we maintain a vibrant, dynamic, intimate
relationship with His Spirit. If it is no longer we who live, but Christ who
lives within us (Galatians 2:20), then it is also Christ who speaks
within us, because He does not live without speaking. The Word is
living and breathing in us.
This is not only our hope of glory, as Paul goes on to say,
but also the world's hope of glory. God is made manifest in Christ,
and Christ is made manifest in us. We may shrink back at such an
awesome role, but we do so at great cost. The world needs Jesus and His
voice. And it gets them through us.
Dare I believe this, Lord? On second thought, dare I not
believe it? If it were not Your Word, it would be arrogant and
presumptuous. But I don't want to fall short of Your Word. Help me, in every
way possible, to be a revelation of Jesus. [The One Year Hearing His
Voice Devotional by Chris Tiegreen]
The New Testament contains quite a few verses that we often
"believe" without really believing. One of them is that the same Jesus who
walked this planet two millennia ago is actually alive in us, moving
and working through us now. It's a great theological principle that
slips from our consciousness quickly and easily, in part because it's
such a mystery. We're more comfortable with concrete, practical
reality, not invisible realms we can only access by diving into spiritual
depths. We affirm the principle of the mystical union between Jesus and
us while shying away from the actual experience of it.
There's a cost to not consciously and constantly embracing
"Christ in you, the hope of glory" (NIV). We miss His Presence
Our only hope of truly knowing the glory God has given us -
the beauty and weight of His goodness - is in becoming aware that
Jesus is in us without fear of the supernatural or mystical aspects of
this truth. The actual Being who walked dusty roads with His
disciples, unveiled His glory on a mountain, and did miracles that stunned
those around Him is in those who believe. Right now. And though it's
always true, we only experience it when we know it and believe it. It's
our responsibility and privilege to know and believe it well.
Jesus, You really are in me. I know that. But I want to know
it in actual experience every day - to see the evidence of You in
me and to know the hope of glory. Please display this mystery in
me. [The One Year Experiencing Gods Presence Devotional by Chris
Tiegreen]
PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
I speak to you from the depths of eternity. Before the world
was formed, I AM! You hear Me in the depths of your being, where I
have taken up residence. I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. I,
your Lord and Savior, am alive within you. Learn to tune in to My
living Presence by seeking Me in silence.
As you celebrate the wonder of My birth in Bethlehem,
celebrate also your rebirth into eternal life. This everlasting gift was
the sole purpose of My entering your sin-stained world. Receive My
gift with awe and humility. Take time to explore the vast dimensions
of My Love. Allow thankfulness to flow freely from your heart in
response to My glorious gift. Let My Peace rule in your heart and be
thankful. (Psa. 90:2; Col. 1:27; 3:15) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
Learn to live from your true Center in Me. I reside in the
deepest depths of your being, in eternal union with your spirit. It is
at this deep level that My Peace reigns continually. You will not
find lasting peace in the world around you, in circumstances, or in
human relationships. The external world is always in flux - under the
curse of death and decay. But there is a gold mine of Peace deep
within you, waiting to be tapped. Take time to delve into the riches of
My residing Presence. I want you to live increasingly from your
real Center, where My Love has an eternal grip on you. I am Christ in
you, the hope of Glory. (Col. 3:15; 1:27) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
Be still in My presence, even though countless tasks clamor
for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with
Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you:
transforming you by the renewing of your mind. If you skimp on this time with
Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the
richness of what I have planned for you.
Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember
that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart
to you. Though I delight in blessing My children, I am deeply
grieved when My blessings become idols in their hearts. Anything can be
an idol if it distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am
the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of
idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all:
Christ in you, the hope of Glory! (Rom. 12:2; Rev. 2:4; Col. 1:27)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
I am Christ in you, the hope of Glory. The One who walks
beside you, holding you by your hand, is the same One who lives within
you. This is a deep, unfathomable mystery. You and I are intertwined
in an intimacy involving every fiber of your being. The Light of My
Presence shines within you, as well as upon you. I am in you, and you are
in Me; therefore, nothing in heaven or on earth can separate you
from Me!
As you sit quietly in My Presence, your awareness of My Life
within you is heightened. This produces the Joy of the Lord, which is
your strength. I, the God of hope, fill you with all Joy and Peace as
you trust in Me, so that you may bubble over with hope by the power
of the Holy Spirit. (Col. 1:27; Isa. 42:6; Neh. 8:10; Rom. 15:13)
[Jesus Calling by Sarah Young]
You are in Me, and I am in you. This is a profound mystery. I
am the infinite Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe. You
are a finite, fallen human being. Yet you and I live not just with
each other but also in each other. You are filled with My divine
Presence. This is a deeper, fuller union than you can find in any human
relationship. Even people who have been married many decades cannot know all
the thoughts and feelings of their spouse. But I know everything
about you - from your deepest thoughts and feelings to the events you
will encounter tomorrow. For My children, aloneness is really just an
illusion. The whole world is alive with My vibrant Presence!
In Me you live and move and have your being. Every step you
take, every word you speak, every breath you breathe - all is done in
My watchful, embracing Presence. You are totally immersed in My
invisible yet ever-so-real Being! The more aware of Me you are, the more
alive and complete you will feel. Your union with Me makes every
moment of your life meaningful. (John 14:20; Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:17, 19;
Acts 17:28) [Jesus Today by Sarah Young]
I am Christ in you, the Hope of Glory. The Messiah " the
Savior of the world " lives in you!
This promise is for all who have faith in Me: I dwell in your
hearts through faith. This amazing blessing is a work of My Spirit in
your inner being. The more you trust Me, the more you can enjoy My
indwelling Presence " and the more effectively I can live through you.
In a world that may seem increasingly hopeless, remember that
I am the hope of Glory.
This hope is ultimately about Heaven, where you will live
with Me forever. But the Light of Heavens Glory is so brilliant
that some of its rays can reach you even in the present " no matter
how dark your circumstances may appear. I am the Light that shines
on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it. As
you follow Me along your life-path, clothed in My righteousness,
this Light shines brighter and brighter until full day.
Think of it " the universe knows no greater Power than Me,
and I live in you! Celebrate My indwelling Presence. It is your gift
to enjoy. (Col. 1:27; Eph. 3:16, 17; John 1:5; Pro. 4:18) [Jesus
Today Devotional Journal by Sarah Young]
I speak to you from the depths of your being. Hear Me saying
soothing words of Peace, assuring you of My Love. Do not listen to voices
of accusation, for they are not from Me. I speak to you in
love-tones, lifting you up. My Spirit convicts cleanly, without crushing
words of shame. Let the Spirit take charge of your mind, combing out
tangles of deception. Be transformed by the truth that I live within
you.
The Light of My Presence is shining upon you, in benedictions
of Peace. Let My Light shine in you; don't dim it with worries or
fears. Holiness is letting Me live through you. Since I dwell in you,
you are fully equipped to be holy. Pause before responding to people
or situations, giving My Spirit space to act through you. Hasty
words and actions leave no room for Me; this is atheistic living. I
want to inhabit all your moments - gracing your thoughts, words, and
behavior. (Rom. 8:1-2; Col. 1:27; 1Co. 6:19) [Jesus Calling by Sarah
Young]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The Incarnation meant that God expressed His supreme power in
this world of space and time in the person of Jesus. Christ in
you means that God still expresses His supreme power in this
world"through us! [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
The living presence of Christ in us, of God still present in the
world of here and now, opens up our future to glorious possibilities.
We are not yet all we could be. But because Christ is in us, we are
becoming. As we go on in full commitment to Christ, we will become
perfect [mature] in Christ. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Heaven is more than a destination; it is a motivation because
Christ lives within. It is a living hope (l Pet. 1:3) that affects how
we think and act all day long. [Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary
by Warren Wiersbe]
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782
Music Devotional On Christian Living:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcotY5K7T0c
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDY:
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Discover Bible Studies: http://studies.itiswritten.com/discover/
LINKS FOR PROPHECY SEMINARS:
Revelation Today by Pastor John Bradshaw:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JI4n4NU-C0Q
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
