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
What does this verse convey? God desires to unveil the supernatural mystery of Christ within you and me. Since the Lord aims to reveal this, it is no longer a mystery; it has been unsealed.
In Ephesians 1:15-23, Paul prays for the Ephesians to understand the mystery revealed with God's love in Christ: the new life that Jesus has given them. We are also called to receive a revelation from the Holy Spirit about who we are in Christ.
In Colossians 1:26, Paul states that this mystery, which has been hidden, is now revealed to the saints. In Colossians 1:27, Paul notes that God wants us to understand not only this mystery but also "the riches of the glory of this mystery." This is more than just a superficial understanding; we must seek the fullness of this revelation.
In 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Paul states that we are called "to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
God desires His New Testament saints to understand the revelation that Old Testament saints could not comprehend: "Christ in you, the hope of glory." The coming of the Messiah was foretold in the Old Testament, but the realization that He would truly indwell us was beyond anyone's vision.
The New Testament clearly states that Christ dwells in all believers through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The Lord's commitment to reside within us and never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) should be a testament to His immense love for us.
How could we ever feel desolate or downhearted if we consistently reflect on God's overwhelming love for us and all its implications? Depression and self-pity would fade away. What does it matter what others think of us if we truly grasp how much Jesus values us? Our fearful attitudes reveal that the truth of "Christ in us" is not deeply rooted in many believers. However, this verse stresses that our Father desires to reveal "the riches of the glory of this mystery" to us. We should all strive for a deeper understanding of this truth.
The Amplified Bible translates Colossians 1:27 as: "God [in His eternal plan] chose to make known to them how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in and among you, the hope and guarantee of [realizing the] glory.
"Hope" was translated from the Greek word "Elpis" and translates as "to anticipate, usually with pleasure" (Strong's Concordance). We have the anticipation and guarantee of understanding God's glory. It was God's eternal plan for us to understand the mystery of Christ living in us. And that plan has been unsealed so that we might realize "Christ in us, the hope of glory." Paul said the Holy Spirit was the earnest, or down payment, sealing our inheritance in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:21-22, Ephesians 1:13-14). What Paul was saying in Colossians 1:27 is that "Christ in you" is a taste and a guarantee of what is to come.
Thank You, Jesus, for continuing to unveil what it means for You to live inside me and to change me. It is no longer a mystery; it has been unsealed, yet there is still so much more for me to understand and obtain. I will keep studying, meditating, asking, seeking, listening, and finding. Faith comes from hearing Your revelation in my heart. You never stop revealing Yourself. You never stop showing the qualities of who You are in me. I am the one who sometimes doesn't listen. I want my faith to keep growing! I will listen and hear You—not others or the world. Just You. Renew my mind again and again to all of You invested in me. Until I draw my last breath, You are my taste and guarantee of what is to come. You will always be revealing Yourself to me. Until that moment arrives, keep creating a deep hunger in me. Keep opening my spiritual eyes to see the revelation of Your glory. Praise You, Jesus, for Your gift that is too wonderful for words! You are Christ in me, the hope of glory!
No comments:
Post a Comment