The Mystery Of Christ In You The Hope Of Glory Series

THE MYSTERY OF CHRIST IN YOU THE HOPE OF GLORY (Col. 1:27; I Cor. 2:7-14; 4:1-2)

In the N.T. a "mystery" is some glorious eternal spiritual truth that had not been revealed in the O.T. but is now revealed in the N.T. (Col. 1:26). Faithfully teaching these mysteries is key to establishing new Christians in the faith (Rom. 16:25-26). They are very important truths for the church that are revealed by the Holy Spirit & can only be understood by the illumination of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 2:10; Eph. 1:17-19).

The mystery of "Christ in you the Hope of glory" (Col. 1:26-29; 3:11) is the salvation truth we are studying now. Not Christ “with” you but Christ "in" you! A deep understanding of this great mystery will totally transform us as it frees us from religious bondage to walk in intimate fellowship with almighty God!

GOD CREATED MANKIND AS A TRI-UNITY WITH A BODY, SOUL, AND SPIRIT. Genesis 1:26-27 reveals the creation of the soul. Genesis 2:7 reveals how God formed the physical body. Man is both created & formed (Isa. 43:7). God "breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul." Jesus himself tells us it is the spirit that giveth life (John 6:63; Eccl. 12:7). Thus we observe man has a body, soul and spirit (I Thess. 5:23; Heb. 4:12)

Jesus died on the cross to save us from the penalty of all our sins (1 Thess. 5:9-10; I Tim. 1:15; Titus 2:14; I John 1:7). Knowing the 1st Mystery of godliness is essential to fully experience this salvation from the penalty of our sins. Jesus died on the cross to save us from the power of sin (Romans 6:1-14). The omnipotent power of the indwelling Christ saves us from the limited power of indwelling sin. Knowing this 2nd Mystery of Christ “in you” is essential to fully experience salvation from the power of sin in us. Jesus died on the cross to ultimately save us from the presence of sin (ICor. 15:51-57; Rom 8:18-23; Rev. 21:1-8). Knowing the Mystery of the Rapture (IThess. 4:13-18) empowers us to live in the joyful anticipation of being eternally delivered from the presence of sin.

GOD'S PURPOSE IN CREATING MAN WITH A BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT WAS SO THAT WE COULD BECOME A LIVING TEMPLE OF THE TRINITARIAN GOD. (Eph. 2:21-22)

The Holy Spirit lives in us (I Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Rom. 8:9, 11). "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you."The LORD Jesus Christ lives in us. (Col. 1:27; 3:11; Gal. 2:20). "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" (2 Cor. 13:5). God the Father lives in us. (Eph. 3:16-19; 4:6).

This omnipotent sovereign Christ literally lives “IN ME”

Through the Indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-10).

“Christ in you, is the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

This mystery is realized & experienced through the indwelling Holy Spirit: "…the father shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you & shall be in you." “At that day ye shall know that I am in my father & ye in me, and I in you" (John 14:16-20).

Why only “in that day” shall you know? (The day Holy Spirit comes to live in you?)Because these truths can only be grasped & understood through the ministry of the indwelling Holy Spirit (I Cor.2:7, 10-13).

The reality of this Mystery is the great infallible test of true faith: “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” (2 Cor. 13:5). Here is a spiritual test we must not fail! We cannot be saved unless Jesus lives in us. Jesus cannot be “in you” unless you have specifically asked Him to come in! “He that hath the Son hath life…” (I John 5:11-13)

Christ in us dwells in our heart: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; (17) That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith…(19) …that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God” (Eph 3:16-17, 19). When Jesus comes into our hearts He is able to cleanse our hearts from all sin (Act 15:9; Heb 9:14; I Pet. 1:22).

Christ living in me makes my physical body the Temple of God! (I Cor. 6:19). This is the Divine Eternal Purpose for the Human Body! “To be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph. 3:17, 19).