Christ In You, the Hope of Glory
Colossians
1:27 (ESV)
To
them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the
glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
I can think of no
greater promise than this in scripture. It is so simple, yet multifaceted, like
most things related to God. First of all, “God chose to make known …” He
created mankind for the purpose of fellowship. He has shown, and does show, His
love, character, and nature to us every day. We do not have to live in
isolation wondering if there is a god. He has given us His names, which reveal
so much about Himself.
Secondly, God chose to
include everyone, both Hebrew and Gentile. The same “riches” God gave to His
chosen ones, Israel, has now been made available to all people through Christ.
These riches are given through the New Covenant written and enacted by Jesus
through His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension to the Father.
Thirdly, Christ now
indwells the Believer through the Person of the Holy Spirit, sent as Jesus
promised to indwell us forever! Once a person is saved, the pursuit begins to
be conformed to the image of Christ; primarily by the renewing of the mind.
Philippians
2:5-8 (ESV)
Have
this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was
in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but
emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of
men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to
the point of death, even death on a cross.
This renewal occurs by
reading and meditating on the Word of God. It comes during seasons of prayer
and worship with the Father. It is further developed by having fellowship with
other Believers, becoming accountable to one another in the Body of Christ.
This “hope of glory” we
have because of Christ is described more fully by Paul in his writing to the
Church at Ephesus:
Ephesians
1:11-12 (ESV)
In
him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the
purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so
that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his
glory.
We have the hope of
bringing glory to Christ! Let us help the Father by exposing the Kingdom of
Heaven to our world. This is the heart of evangelism. “Be” to the praise of His
glory by sharing Christ, who is in you, with your world around you.
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