Devotional: Christ in You

Christ in You

I will never be more in awe of anything than the revelation found in Colossians 1:27, which is... CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!

In fact, the more I read the book of Colossians, the more amazed I am at the graciousness of our God. Paul, through the Holy Spirit, so eloquently wrote to the saints in Colosse about the mystery of the gospel that had been revealed to him. I love how he admonished them for their faith. "We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; (that's how we, as Christians, should all be recognized!) because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit (again, as we should!), as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:3-6).

Notice how, as Paul addresses and admonishes them for their faith, he throws in a hidden warning: if you can know the grace of God in truth, you can know the grace of God falsely too! It is so important for us to know God in truth. Any teachings that do not line up with the Word of God are false.... period. No matter how good they sound. Sure, we think we would recognize false doctrine, especially if it paints a wrong picture of God (like we talked about last week). But what if God's grace is portrayed wrongly in order to justify sin? Would you recognize that? I hope we all would. There is no justification for sin. The only covering for our sin is found in the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The grace of God in truth is this: "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight..." (Colossians 1:19-22).

This is true righteousness! Jesus Christ, Himself, bore our sins that He might present us holy, blameless, and above reproach in the sight of God. This is more amazing than any technology or other discovery in the world! And this is the TRUTH of the grace of God. It pleased God to reconcile His children back to Himself through the blood of the cross, even while we "were alienated and enemies in (our) mind by wicked works" meaning even when we were separated because of wrong attitudes, thoughts and actions. We were undeserving.

But Paul went on to say that God has always desired for us to know the truth, "...the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but NOW has been revealed to His saints" (Colossians 1:26). What is this mystery? "To [us] God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery... which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY" (Colossians 1:27). If God's people would just grasp this thought and walk in all its fullness!

The interesting thing here is that Paul had just told us that Jesus' sacrifice was so He could present us holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight and that it is Christ in us, the hope of glory, yet his next statements reveal the state of every man: "Him we preach, WARNING every man and TEACHING every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:28).

Isn't that odd? Paul insinuated ministers have the responsibility of presenting every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Didn't Jesus already do that for us? Yes, of course. But because of the deception and temptations of the world, we have a responsibility to stay holy, blameless and above reproach in His sight on a daily basis. That's why First John 1:9 says, "If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness." This is the GRACE OF GOD IN TRUTH. When we look back at Colossians 1:22, we see why Paul said that it is the responsibility of ministers to help present God's children perfect in Christ Jesus: "...yet now He has reconciled, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight - if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard..." (vs. 22-23).

It's crazy that we have to be reminded to continue in the faith, isn't it! But as I've told you before, you have an enemy who would like nothing more than to make you forget who you are in Christ. That's why Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy..." The Holy Spirit told it to me like this a few years ago: The thief doesn't have to kill you physically; all he has to do is steal your joy, kill you enthusiasm, and destroy your purpose to make you ineffective. Make a decision today to know the grace of God in truth and to hold on to it with all that is within you, which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!