Christ in Us, Our Hope of Glory

Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

April 7, 2010



To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of
this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of
glory. (Colossians 1:27)

We have been considering the wondrous truth that we who believe in
Jesus are in Christ. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the
heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). All that God has for us is
ours "in Christ." We can now enjoy the benefits of who Christ is and
all that He has accomplished for us, because we are in Him. Our present
verse adds another extraordinary dimension. Not only are we "in
Christ," but Christ is also in us: "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

God wants to make something known among all the nations: "to make known
....among the Gentiles." The message He desires to reveal is glorious in
spiritual richness: "the riches of the glory of this mystery." However,
it truly is a mystery, in the New Testament use of that term. A
biblical mystery is something that can only be known by the revealing
work of God. The mysteries of the Scriptures cannot be discovered or
understood by intellectual investigation or personal experience. God
Himself must make them known. The Lord does this through the
grace-empowered, Spirit-empowered proclamation of His word. Here, the
great mystery God wants to unfold is "Christ in you, the hope of glory."

What a grand hope this message brings! Jesus, the Son of God, is
willing to come and dwell within us to assure us of making it to glory
(heaven) some day. Meanwhile, Christ wants to reside at the very core
of our being: "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith"
(Ephesians 3:17). As we are trusting in Him, He is living in, and
working through, our hearts. Then, from this strategic point of
intimacy and access, He gives us heavenly hope. That confident
expectation includes the joyous fact that He is coming again: "looking
for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior
Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). Yet, His return is not our only hope. He
Himself is our day by day hope: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by
the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope"
(1 Timothy 1:1). Jesus is our comprehensive hope!

Lord Jesus, my hope, I praise You for the hope You give--anticipation
of Your return, assurance of heaven, and daily confidence in Your
working in me. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I place my hope and
confidence elsewhere. Teach me, help me to put my hope in You alone, in
Your faithful name I pray, Amen.