Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

The gospel through Jesus Christ is filled with numerous and very precious privileges. Each promise in the gospel is so great and full of honour that it would be difficult to place them in an order of importance. There is one privilege however that I found the Lord, in His mercy, draw my attention to—one that has captivated me and is fast becoming in me something of an obsession.

“Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27)—the last four words of the verse aptly summing up our earnest expectation to share in this glory—is a mystery that is filled with the richness of God’s glory and grace. It is a mystery that God chose in His wisdom to hide from past ages and generations but to make known now to the saints in the Church (Col. 1:26). I have read this and several similar verses in the past but it is only now that God has opened my eyes to see the glory of this mystery. I used to pray and sing, "let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me." I knew that God's will is for us to reflect the life of our Saviour. But I have suddenly been made more conscious of this truth than ever before. Paul who understood and experienced this great privilege prayed for the Ephesians that they too would be strengthened in the inner man with power by the Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith (Eph. 3:17). The fact that the Apostle experienced this glorious mystery is evident when he declared, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” (Gal. 2:20).  

Now to experience such a privilege, the starting point must be a life of faith, obedience in righteousness and the fear of God. From scripture we will quickly learn that God has called us to live lives that are set apart for Himself. The terms ‘holy’ and ‘sanctified’ used numerously with regard to the Church emphasises this importance. We are fully aware that Christ shed His blood to cleanse us of all sins so that we would lay aside the old self which is being corrupted with lusts of deceit (Eph. 4:22); and be renewed in the attitude of our mind (Eph. 4:23 NIV); and put on the new self—and here lies the characteristics that has the necessary ingredients for the life of Christ to dwell in our hearts—which in the likeness of God has been created in true righteousness and holiness (Eph. 4:24 NKJV).

We won't need long to realize the futility of striving with our own strength to achieve a Christ-like life of righteousness and humility and love. Such attempts end up with failure, frustration and discouragement. But when we depend on God for His power, His favour and His mercy, the life that our Lord has purposed for us to experience in the gospel can be realized. God who has given this privilege for us to lay hold of is faithful to guide our thirsting hearts.

This mystery of the life of Christ in us is what our Saviour meant when He said, “You are the light of the world” (Mt. 5:14). It is through this life of Christ in us that our fruit abounds to the glory of the Father and proves our allegiance as disciples (Jn. 15:8). It is vital to note that our Lord said this while commanding us to abide in Him, the true Vine. Such abiding helps us branches draw its life and sustenance from the Vine, Jesus Christ.

I recognize my own inadequacies as I write this for I am painfully conscious how much God still has to do in me so that the life I live is no longer I but Christ in me. What does it mean, “Christ in me”? I confess that I do not have the full answer but I pursue with God’s help what is already revealed to us of the life of Christ. 

The Messiah showed how important He considered the will of God (Jn. 4:34; Mt. 12:50). His faith in and obedience to the Father is clearly seen throughout the four gospels. Selfless giving and overflowing love characterized His life (Eph. 5:2). Humility and not looking at personal interest was another quality that defined our Saviour (Php. 2:3-5). Patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness—the hallmarks of agape love are what He commanded us to emulate (Jn. 13:34; 15:12). Two terms Paul uses to describe Christ’s love for the Church: ‘nourish’ and ‘cherish’ (Eph. 5:29). To cherish is to protect and care for lovingly (as one would a precious treasure). May I be faithful to increasingly imitate these characteristics first; for he that is faithful in a very little, is faithful also in much (Lk. 16:10).

Help us O God of all grace and mercy. Strengthen us in the inner man with Thy mighty power by the Holy Spirit so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. Unless Thou build O Lord, all who labour, do so in vain. There is nobody else that can carry out and lead us to the experience of this amazing privilege in the gospel except Thee. In the richness of Thy grace Thou didst purpose that the life of Thy Son Jesus Christ dwell in us. Now lead us and work in us to experience its fulfilment.