Colossians 1:26-27

26. even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and generations: but now hath it been manifested to his saints, 27. to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Translation and Paraphrase

26. (For the word of God is) the mystery (the revealed secret) which has been hidden from the ages (past) and from the generations (past), but has now been made manifest to his (God's saints;
27. To them (the saints) God was well pleased to make known that which (makes up) the riches of the glory of this mystery (which is now being spread) among the nations(and that mystery, simply and marvelously stated, is this:) Christ in you, the hope of glory (glory now, and glory hereafter)!

Notes

1.

Paul had been chosen by God to reveal to many nations the marvelous mystery that God had held back from human knowledge in preceding ages. That revealed mystery was the very secret of glory. It is, simply stated, CHCRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory! Compare Colossians 2:2.

Paul in Ephesians 3:6 adds the further explanation about the mystery, that it consisted in the revelation of the fact that the Gentiles could now be fellow-heirs, fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus, through the gospel.

HISTORY'S MOST GLORIOUS SECRET NOW REVEALED!

CHRIST IN YOU,

the hope of glory!

(Colossians 1:27)

1.

Glorious power to live a godly life.

2.

Glorious power to work victoriously.

3.

Glorious joy available.

4.

Glorious peace for your soul.

5.

Glorious comfort in troubles.

6.

Glorious victory over death.

7.

Glorious eternal life with God.

2.

Paul declares that the word of God which he was sent to fulfill (Colossians 1:25) was a mystery which God had hidden from previous ages and generations. Romans 16:25-26; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8; Ephesians 3:2-5.

The term mystery in New Testament usage means a revealed secret. The mysteries of a lodge are the secrets that are revealed when one is initiated into it. The gospel was a mystery in that it once was not revealed, but is now made known, The term mystery does not carry the ideas of incomprehensibility, or obscurity, or mysteriousness, or profundity. It is just about the absolute opposite of all of these.

3.

Why should God have hidden his glorious mystery from preceding ages and generations when there was so much sin and suffering in the world during those times? We cannot know all of God's reasons for doing what he does. But we believe that God knows best, even when we do not know why He does as He does. As for God's choice of time for revealing His grand secret of the ages, we can only state this: by the time the gospel was revealed, man had had full opportunity to learn by hard experience that he could not save himself nor his world by laws, by philosophy, by military might, by economic progress, by any inherent goodness within man, by idolatry, by magic, by great architecture and culture, or by any other means imaginable to man.

It is a fact that at the time when Christ came that many people felt an intense longing for God to send a savior, and were looking for his coming. See Luke 3:15; Matthew 2:1-2; John 12:20-21. Perhaps this was the reason God waited as long as He did to send Christ and reveal the gospel.

4.

Now finally God has revealed his glorious mystery unto his saints, God has not revealed it to the philosophers, the emperors, the theologians, the professors, the generals, the economic executives, the lawmakers. He revealed it to his saintsto shepherds, to fishermen, to tax collectors, to tentmakers, to slaves, to the lowly, to babes!! Luke 10:21; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

There have been a few learned, wealthy, and powerful in every generation who have opened their hearts to God's revealed mystery. But even today most people in these categories do not comprehend the truth, riches, and importance of the gospel.

5.

God sent the news of His revealed mystery out into all nations, among the Gentiles. God has always planned to do this, even though many of the Jews in ages past wrongly came to feel that they were the exclusive people of God. See Isaiah 49:6; Isaiah 42:6; Luke 2:30-32; Acts 14:46-47.

6.

Paul's ministry among the Gentiles, along with the ministries of others since then, has been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened among the Gentiles in human history. Christian doctrines have changed the world, its music, its laws, the attitudes of its peoples, its customs, its architecture, its morals, and all changes have been for the better. All men now have the benefits of divine wisdom freely available. Most people are not wise, but Christ is wisdom for all. The laws and prophetic messages which made the Jews a devout people are now equally available and significant to the Gentiles; and to these laws are added the even greater words of God's own son and the power of the Holy Spirit.

7.

God was pleased to make known among the Gentiles the divine mystery. God is utterly good, gracious, and generous.

8.

God made known the riches of the glory of the divine mystery. God did not grant us a small sampling of his blessings, but the riches of them. Romans 9:23; Ephesians 1:18.

9.

The hope of glory in God's mystery is primarily the hope of glory in the life to come. See Romans 8:18; 1 Corinthians 15:42-43; Revelation 21:23. However, there is glory in the mystery that is available to us NOW also. See 1 Peter 1:8; 2 Corinthians 3:18.

10.

There have been various arguments advanced that supposedly prove and guarantee to us glorious things from God. But all such arguments break down when confronted with the realities of life. There is only one hope of glory that is certain to deliver the glory: Christ in you.

It has been argued, for example, that God never creates within men basic desires without providing fulfillments for those desires. Since we have a desire for everlasting life, this indicates that we should obtain it. While it is true that God has granted many fulfillments of our desires, life still overflows with unfulfilled desires. There is only one guarantee of glory: Christ in you.

Study and Review

10.

The word of God in Colossians 1:25 is identified in Colossians 1:26 as being what?

11.

Define the term mystery. (Colossians 1:26)

12.

When had the mystery been hidden?

13.

How did God feel about making the mystery manifest? (Colossians 1:27)

14.

Among what people is the mystery made known?

15.

What is the mystery said to be? (Colossians 1:27)

16.

What hope does the mystery bring?