0701AGC Christ in you the hope of glory. 7th January 2007

Col 1:26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ (a) in you, the hope (b) of glory. 28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 129 To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily

(a)Christ in you
Colossians 2:2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and[a] of Christ,

When you believe in Christ then his promise is his indwelling presence by His Holy Spirit. Many scriptures talk about us being in him.
• John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.
John 15:6-8 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
• John 15:4
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
John 15:3-5 (in Context) John 15 (Whole Chapter)
• John 12:46
I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
John 12:45-47 (in Context) John 12 (Whole Chapter)
• John 15:9
[ Love and Joy Perfected ] “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.
• John 15:6
If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
Then this is a new insight a revealed mystery
It’s a reciprocal; Christ in you and you in him!

Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

This a is a mystery – something that has been revealed
Colossians 1:27
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.

He wants us to know the riches of his glory. He wants to reveal to all people – gentiles – all he calls his saints – those who believe. He wants to use believers to show and tell all peoples these riches.

So the expectation that he has for us that we live, behave, think, talk and show that he has blessed and continues to bless us.
I define ’blessing’ as the ability, or power to prosper. That’s the riches given to us. These are there for us to live in and experience – However we have to take it. All we receive from God is received by faith. Faith comes from HOPE.

Heb 1:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(b) Hope
This is the message – keep hoping, expect God to bless you. Expect the riches of his glory.
Then the faith that he gives will bring us to the place of possessing those things we hope for.

So how do we get faith?

Well the faith is faith in God.

We need to Contend for the Faith
Jude 1:3Beloved, my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. [But] I found it necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and exhort [you] to contend for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints [the faith which is that sum of Christian belief which was delivered verbally to the holy people of God]. TAB

That sum total contains this mystery. Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Contend for it.
First possess it then show that it is true – no longer a hidden thing but a mystery made known.
How do we contend?
By living the life he intends for us to live.
We find this out step by step. Standing firm in faith and living according to the word. Christ – the living word is living in you.

There is a purpose.
He has an expected result from this revelation. It says in verse 28 Preach, warn, teach

28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. 129 To this end I also labour, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

With the knowledge of his place, his presence in us we will act in right ways. AND we will show others the truth and see them develop too.
The riches of his glory are ever and ever expanding as we tell and show others. His glory is ever growing as we equip and see the saints working in this ministry. That is his expectation.growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Ep 4: 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.