Grow With Pastor Joe

How would you define what exactly a Christian is? The world would define being a Christian as one who follows the teachings of Jesus in the Bible and lives a life of religiously motivated good works. Many Christians would have other definitions as well, many of which may be good. However, in my study I found a great definition that fits with this mystery of the gospel, the hope of glory in the life of the believer. Stephen Oldford writes, “A Christian is a man or woman who has Christ living in him or her.” It is not often that such a definition is given. Many would say that to be a Christian is to invite Jesus into your heart. I would say that being a Christian is having Christ invade and indwell your heart. Once more, our study of Colossians brings up this continual theme of union with Christ. That very language is used in defining the salvific terms of redemption and reconciliation that have been seen in the opening chapter of Paul’s letter. To be redeemed by Christ is to be reconciled to God through Christ. We, who were aliens, enemies, and outcasts, have been redeemed and reconciled to God through Christ. Now, we, who are in Christ, can enjoy the Christian life of Christ indwelling us by His Spirit as He continually encourages and enables us to live by grace through faith in Him.

            Today’s passage of study is in the middle of Col. 1:24-29 which says, “²⁴ Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: ²⁵ Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; ²⁶ Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: ²⁷ 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: ²⁸ Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: ²⁹ Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” We will be looking at Col. 1:26-27 this week. Previously we covered the ministry of the gospel in Col. 1:23-25. As we back up for a moment, notice Col. 1:23 which says, “²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” Paul here shows the importance of “the hope of the gospel,” which is the very basis of our new life in Christ through union with Jesus. There is no union with Jesus apart from the gospel. It is the hope of the gospel that is our confidence in our salvation provided by the blood of Jesus Christ, and it is that same gospel that sanctifies, satisfies, and sustains us throughout our earthly life.

This then leads us to our passage of the day. The hope of the gospel now leads us to the hope of glory. S. Lewis Johnson writes, “We have the hope now and shall soon have the glory.” The gospel gives us present confidence of a coming glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. This was a “mystery,” but is now revealed to us in Christ by the Spirit through the scriptures. In our verses of today’s study, we see the word “mystery,” used two times. The word is “musterion” which means a truth revealed that was previously concealed or unrevealed. As it has been said in various ways by many, the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, but the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. Ultimately, it is Christ who has revealed this truth to us through the holy scripture by the work of the Spirit in our life. The word “musterion” is seen 28 times in the New Testament. It is used in reference to the “mysteries of the kingdom” (Mt. 13:11), mystery of the inclusion of Gentiles and future salvation of Israel (Rom. 11:25), the will of God (Eph. 1:9), the church (Eph. 3, 5), the indwelling presence of Christ (Col. 1:26-27), wickedness (2 Th. 2:7), godliness and the incarnation (1 Tim. 3:16), and Babylon (Rev. 17). These mysteries are now revealed and only revealed by and through the supreme and sufficient person and work of Christ. Today, we will focus on Col. 1:26-27 to see the mystery of the gospel which involves the inclusion, incarnation, and indwelling of Christ. Why does this matter? Look at Col. 1:27 and see that the revealed mystery and our hope of glory is “Christ in you.” A life of communion with Christ begins and ends with our union with Christ. We have been made one. If you don’t understand the significance of reconciliation from the previous passages, then you won’t understand the wonderful life changing truth of the life of Christ in the life of the believer. Practical Christian living flows from the presence of Christ in our life. It is the outworking of His inworking. What is more practical than the presence of God in the life and very soul of the believer? Furthermore, understanding this truth will help each one of us to practically live by faith as those to whom has been revealed the riches of the glories of Christ in the gospel. We must never cease to be amazed not merely by salvation, but by the Savior Himself! As we examine the mystery of the gospel, may our eyes be opened to the riches of His gospel, grace, and glory so that we may practically live through our union with Him.

            First, we must see the mystery of the inclusion of Christ. The inclusion in Christ is seen clearly in Col. 1:20-23 which says, “²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: ²³ If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;” We, who were once alienated (Gentiles) and consumed inside and out by wickedness (enemies of God), have now been reconciled, brought into harmony and union with God through Christ by the Spirit. The inclusion of Gentiles into the blessing of salvation was prophesied in the Old Testament in many different passages including Isa. 45:22; 49:6; 52-56. In today’s two verses of interest, we see that this mystery is “now manifest to his saints,” and “among the Gentiles.” The saints are all those whether Jewish or Gentile background who are in Christ. Those who have been redeemed and reconciled have been brought in union together with and in Christ. Not all saints were Gentiles, but all saved Gentiles are saints. Paul wrote about this extensively in Gal. 3-4; Eph. 2:11-3:11 and Rom. 9-11. This complete and total reconciliation through union by way of the cross has given all saints the blessing of Christ’s presence in our life. The gospel brings us into fellowship with God so that we have the help of His presence today and the hope of His presence forevermore. The inclusion of Jews and Gentiles into the Body of Christ was inconceivable by both parties, but it leads us to the words of Paul in Rom. 11:33-36 which says, “³³ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! ³⁴ For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? ³⁵ Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? ³⁶ For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” The Old Testament saints could never see this. It was hidden. Now in Christ, it is revealed. This mystery of the inclusion of Chris through the gospel is now fully revealed and realized through the supreme and sufficient work of Christ.

            Second, we must see the mystery of the incarnation of Christ. Without the incarnation of Christ then we have no gospel, we have no salvation, and we certainly have no hope of glory. In Col. 1:27, we see that the mystery “among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The “in you” part of the mystery of the gospel can’t happen unless Christ comes to and for us. This is precisely what He did in the incarnation. The incarnation of Christ is His putting on flesh to live as the God-Man. In doing so, He came to humanity in humanity and for humanity (See John 1:1-18). Both the Jews and Gnostics that were causing problems in the church at Colosse did not believe that God could or would put on flesh and dwell among men. However, Paul makes this abundantly clear that this is what Christ did in Gal. 4:4-7; Col. 2:2-3, 9; 1 Tim. 3:15-16. Our redemption and reconciliation that has brought us into union with Christ can be seen in the incarnation in that Christ came to us and for us. Jesus is supreme because no other “god(s)” could or would do such. Furthermore, Christ is supreme because His sacrifice alone is able to redeem and reconcile those who were His enemies. Christ is sufficient because He alone is the perfect mediator between God and Man because He is the God-Man. Truly God. Truly Man. Jesus didn’t become God or, as many thought, a god. Jesus is the eternal Son of God who condescended in the incarnation to come to man to die for man so that all who trust in His supreme and sufficient work would be redeemed and reconciled through union with Him. Now, if all Christ did was come to and for us that would be incredible, but there is much more to the mystery of the gospel that is now fully revealed and realized.

            Third, we must see the mystery of the indwelling of Christ. This is indeed one of the most marvelous of mysteries. Not only has Christ come to and for us, but now in His indwelling work by the Spirit He lives in and through us. This is something that the Old Testament saints did not know of or enjoy. The indwelling of Christ is seen as the heart of this mystery of the gospel in Col. 1:27b saying, “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Our hope of glory comes from the hope of the gospel. Hope is confident assurance or the confident expectation of a coming realization. The gospel has not only promised us to know the presence of our savior in eternity, but in our present life. Every day. Every moment. Just as we are in Christ, He is in us. The indwelling of Christ in the life of His believers is not based on feelings, but on the facts of what the gospel has accomplished. Just as we are assured that in our union with Him, we are sealed and secure; meaning, we can’t and won’t be taken out of Him, we can be assured that He won’t be taken away or out of us. My favorite verse is Gal. 2:20 which says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” In union with Christ, His death is my death and His life is my life. Now, though I am dead, I am still living, but it is not me or my life. It is His life in me and through me. The practical issue at hand is that our hearts are not always yielded to His word, work, or will because we are not always walking in the Spirit though we are always indwelt by Him (See Gal. 5-6). Jesus had promised that He would be in union with His believers and that He would indwell them (John 6:56; 14:17-23). Furthermore, Paul wrote in great detail about the wonderful mystery of Christ indwelling each believer through the Holy Spirit who then enables us to live the Christian life in Rom. 8:1-11. The idea of Christ indwelling believers is something that has been written about for centuries in countless volumes by men who are much more skilled at explaining and applying this truth. However, my prayer is that each of us would see that our present hope and help in this life is His presence in us. The power to live the Christian life is not you, but Him in and through you. His constant presence gives us confidence in His promises and provision. True Christian living is the outworking of His inworking. To put it another way, faith works out what grace works in. Because Christ is indwelling us, we should be convicted and comforted. What wonder is this mystery of the gospel that Christ would take up residence in us. Wherever we are, Christ is in us. Wherever we go, Christ is in us. Whatever we face, Christ is in us. When we realize this, it not only solidifies the supremacy of Christ in our life, but His sufficiency because we will realize that the Christian life is not about us, but it is about Him in and through us.            

As we bring this to a close, we could do an entire study just on each one of these parts of the mystery of the gospel. However, I want to look at one summarizing thought to hopefully put these pieces together and help you see it lived out. We have seen the mystery of the inclusion of Christ, the incarnation of Christ, and the indwelling of Christ. Matthew 1:23 says, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Think of that phrase, “God with us.” That’s how things were in the Garden until man’s sinful and willful disobedience which broke fellowship with God. They were thrust from not merely the provision of the Garden of Eden, but the presence of the Eternal God who had created them. God’s presence was hidden throughout the Old Testament as He spoke from in dreams, visions, burning bushes, and prophets. God’s presence was concealed, but seen through a cloud by day, pillar of fire by night, and veiled behind a curtain in the Tabernacle and Temple. Then Christ came. Immanuel has come. Immanuel, the Lord Jesus Christ in His incarnation brought the presence of God down, though veiled in flesh. Immanuel, the Lord Jesus Christ born of the lineage of David, a Jew, came to Jews and for both Jew and Gentile including them in the New Covenant blessings through His shed blood. Immanuel, the Lord Jesus Christ didn’t just come to and for us but now indwells us living in and through us. God with us. God is with us in the morning, afternoon, and middle of the night. He is with us when we triumph and when we fall. He is with us when we are filled with joy and drowning in sorrow. Jesus is God with us. His presence. His promises. His provision. His protection. His preserving presence is why I have a hope of glory because Jesus in me is my hope of glory. The riches of His glory in the gospel is that He came to us and for us, and now He is living in us and through; and one day He will come for us and be with us forevermore. What makes Heaven, Heaven? The presence of Jesus Christ. What makes a Christian? The presence of Jesus in the heart and soul. How can God dwell in us? There must be a union with Him through the redemption and reconciliation that Christ has accomplished and applied by His blood. How can Christians practically live day-to-day by faith? By resting in His constant presence that provides all we need to live in and for Him. Are you in Christ? Is He in you? Are you living the Christian life apart from the presence and provision of Christ? The mystery of the gospel is not just that we can be saved by Christ, but that we can be sustained through His indwelling work. It is not just that we can one day go to Heaven by His grace, but that He would be in me and with me now and forever.