Colossians 1:27

DISCOURSE: 2171
CHRIST IN US, THE HOPE OF GLORY

Colossians 1:27. Christ in you, the hope of glory.

THE Gospel is a “mystery;” “the riches” of which are unsearchable, and “the glory” incomprehensible. But the sum and substance of it is contained in few words: it is briefly this; “Christ in us, the hope of glory.” In the margin of our Bibles it is translated, “Christ among us, the hope of glory;” and each of these translations has its zealous advocates: but we may easily and properly comprehend both, by saying, that Christ is the hope of glory to us,

I. As revealed in the Scriptures—

The way to the tree of life is guarded by a flaming sword and there is no access to it for fallen man, but by Christ, as the appointed Mediator. He, as St. Paul says, “is our hope [Note: 1 Timothy 1:1];” and through him there is hope for all: through him,

1. As a dying Saviour—

[It is ho who has made atonement for our sins, and “reconciled us to God by the blood of his cross.” Through his vicarious sacrifice every sinner in the universe may come to God; seeing that “he is a propitiation, not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” However great the debt which we owe to Divine justice, we may regard it all as paid by our Divine Surety; and may assure ourselves, that, if we believe in Christ, “there neither is, nor ever shall be, any condemnation to us” — — —]

2. As a living Saviour—

[It is worthy of particular observation, that in the Holy Scriptures a greater stress is laid upon the life of Christ in glory, than upon his death upon the cross. St. Peter speaks of him as our hope, in this particular view: “God raised him up, and gave him glory, that our faith and hope might be in God [Note: 1 Peter 1:21.].” St. paul, too, represents the life of Christ as more efficacious for our salvation than his death: “Who is he that condemneth? it is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us [Note: Romans 8:34.].” And still more forcibly, he says in another place, “If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life [Note: Romans 5:10.].” In heaven we view the Lord Jesus as our advocate with the Father, maintaining continually our peace with him; when we, by our innumerable departures from him, should entirely destroy all our hope of final acceptance with him. We view Him, also, as the one source of all spiritual blessings, the first cause of all the good that is in us, the protector of his people from all their enemies, and “the finisher” of the work of which he has been “the author.” It is from this view of him that the weakest of his people is enabled to say, “Because he lives, I shall live also” — — —]

But he is our hope yet more especially,

II.

As dwelling in the heart—

All that the Lord Jesus Christ has done for us would be in vain, if he did not also work effectually in us. But this he does,

1. Purifying our hearts from sin—

[Our blessed Lord is said to “dwell in us [Note: Ephesians 3:17.],” and to be “one with us, even as he and his Father are one [Note: John 17:21; John 17:23.].” Now it is a fact, that his people are universally, and without exception, holy. And whence comes this? Is it from any power of their own? No; it is from the mighty working of his power in us: as the Apostle 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 [Note: Galatians 2:20.]” Were we “separate from him, we could do nothing [Note: John 15:5.];” but, through the mighty working of his power in us, we “die unto sin and live unto righteousness,” and attain a meetness for our heavenly inheritance.]

2. Transforming us into his blessed image—

[This, after all, is the crowning work of redemption. Till this is effected, we may well stand in doubt both of ourselves and others. St. Paul, addressing the Galatian converts, says, My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you, I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you [Note: Galatians 4:19.].” To say the truth, till this is effected, nothing is done to any good purpose. It is not Christ on the cross, nor Christ in heaven, no, nor Christ in the heart, that will save us, unless his image be there formed in righteousness and true holiness. This is strongly declared by the Apostle Paul, in the third chapter of this epistle; where he says, “Put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him; where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond, nor free; but Christ (that is, the image of Christ) is all, and in all [Note: Colossians 3:10.]” But, when this great work is wrought, we need not fear: we may entertain a well-founded hope;, yea, we may have “a full assurance of hope,” that, “where he is, there we shall be also;” and that, “when He, who is our life, shall appear, we also shall appear with him in glory [Note: Colossians 3:4.].”]

Address—
1.

Those who are deluding themselves with false hopes—

[There is not any one who does not conceive himself entitled to indulge a hope of happiness hereafter. But, to entertain any such hope without having received the Lord Jesus Christ into our hearts by faith, is a fatal delusion. For the Apostle says, that they who are “without Christ” are also without hope [Note: Ephesians 2:12.].” You will ask, Do I wish to drive you to despair? Yes, I do; so far, at least, as to drive you out of all false refuges, and to lead you to Him who is the only Saviour of the world: and I must declare unto you, that, whatever you lay as a foundation of hope, besides that which God himself has laid, you only deceive your own souls: for “other foundation can no man lay, than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ [Note: 1 Corinthians 3:11.].” Christ is the only refuge of fallen man: nor can you have a scriptural hope of glory, till you have “fled to him, and laid hold on him [Note: Hebrews 6:18.],” and got his image enstamped upon your souls.]

2. Those who have a “good hope through grace”—

[“Let your union with Christ be more and more confirmed, becoming daily more intimate and more abiding. It is by this that the work of grace must be carried on, and perfected within you. It is by this that the justness of your hopes must be made to appear: for “every one that has a good hope in Christ will purify himself as Christ is pure,” and be progressively “changed into his image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” In proportion as this work advances, your hopes may well increase: and if this work decline within you, your evidences will be the less clear, and your hope be less assured. Press forward, then, for the highest possible conformity to the Saviour’s image; that you may already breathe, as it were, the atmosphere of heaven, and live in the constant anticipation of your future inheritance.]