‘Christ in You, the Hope of Glory’

“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.” –Colossians 1:27 (ESV).

‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’  No doubt we have heard this phrase in both Bible teachings and sermons.  We know it is a deep biblical truth, one that perhaps we have a little knowledge about but which seems at the same time to have a truth that evades us.  Let us look at the context of the verse, which tells of Paul’s ministry to the church at Colossae and elsewhere.  In this context, he is speaking of “the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints.” We need to understand that the “mystery” Paul speaks of is not some eerie, dark secret that is hard to decipher.  “Mystery” in Paul’s day referred to God’s unfolding plan for the world, and specifically His revelation of His plan of redemption through Christ Jesus the Lord, the Messiah.  Although the prophets of old had already made known some of the aspects of the mystery, still much of it was "hidden for ages and generations.”  Paul wants the Christians at Colossae to whom he had addressed his letter (and us) to know assuredly that the mystery has been revealed through the amazing new covenant which includes “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”  This is a concept almost too marvelous for us to grasp:  God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, is personally present in the lives of everyone who believes in Him.  Through the indwelling Holy Spirit of Christ, the believer is given full assurance of a present life to be lived abundantly in Him and a future life with Him when He returns.  And Christ Jesus opened up this “hope of glory” for both Jews and Gentiles who believe.

A word of explanation about the “old” and the “new” dispensation is in order.  Under the “old” dispensation, the Jews held the “mystery” or revelation of God in the law and prophets.  Anyone not born a Jew had to go through a ritual of becoming a Jew (submit to the laws of circumcision and other requirements) in order to partake of the blessings of the covenant.  But Christ broke down all the walls that divided the kingdom.  “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:2-30, ESV).  Thus was the “mystery” revealed, the “new dispensation” that all regardless of birth, nationality, or station in life, can come, believing, and become a part of the family of God.  In this truth is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

Paul had a calling and commission to help people understand the great mystery of Christ’s inclusive sacrifice and love for humanity.  “For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me” (Colossians 1:29).  It is a holy calling Paul has to help people see that Christ is everyone’s ‘hope of glory.’  He wants everyone who hears and believes to grow into a strong, mature Christian.  He goes further in this letter to the Colossians to warn the people not to be deceived by “philosophy and empty deceit” (2:8) but that “as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving” (2:8).  In our day, as in Paul’s, we need to beware of ‘philosophy and empty deceit’ that would entice us to ways that are not of the Lord.  Let hope that is in us, Christ, the hope of glory,’  keep our focus on Him and on the things of the Spirit.