Go! And Proclaim Him: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory - Colossians 1:27-28 (NLT)
Colossians 1:27-28 (NLT): "For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ."
Introduction: The Glorious Mystery Revealed
There is a cry from heaven that echoes in every heart that belongs to Christ: Go! And Proclaim Him! In Colossians 1:27–28, Paul reveals a glorious mystery—a secret now unveiled: Christ lives in you. Not around you. Not near you. In you. And that changes everything.
This sermon will unpack what it means to have Christ in us, and how that compels us to live, preach, and share the Gospel without shame or hesitation.
1. The Mystery Made Known (Colossians 1:27)
Paul writes to the believers in Colossae, a diverse church made up of Jews and Gentiles. He addresses false teachings that diminish the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Paul defends the truth that salvation and glory are not earned through ritual or law, but are found in Christ alone.
The word translated "secret" is "mysterion" — not something unknowable, but something once hidden and now revealed by God. The mystery is Christ in you, and this was a radical truth, especially for the Gentiles who were previously considered outsiders.
If you have trusted in Christ, you are not just a follower—you are a dwelling place of the Living God. This is your hope of glory, your assurance that you will share in Christ’s eternal victory.
Galatians 2:20 (NLT): "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me."
This verse is a glorious declaration of identity, intimacy, and intentional living. Paul is not merely offering theology—he’s testifying to transformation. His old self—bound by law, pride, and sin—was crucified with Christ. That’s not poetry; it’s spiritual reality. The Greek word for “crucified” here, systauroo, means “co-crucified”—Paul sees his old life nailed to the cross alongside Jesus.
Now, his new life is not defined by striving, but by surrender. Christ lives in him. This isn’t religion; this is resurrection life! And it’s personal: “who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The Gospel isn’t just true—it’s deeply personal. Christ didn’t just die for the world—He died for you.
So, dear friends, live each moment by trusting Him. Let Christ live through you. Let your words, your worship, your witness be shaped by the One who lives in you. Go—and let the world see Jesus in you.
John 14:23 (NLT): "Jesus replied, ‘All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.’"
This verse is a breathtaking promise—not just of obedience, but of intimacy with God. When Jesus says, "We will come and make our home with each of them," the Greek word for “home” is µ??? (mone), meaning a dwelling place, a permanent abode. This is not a fleeting visit—it’s the indwelling presence of God Himself!
To love Jesus is to obey Him, and obedience opens the door to divine fellowship. This verse echoes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and reveals the heart of the Gospel: God does not remain distant—He moves in! Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Charles Stanley once said, “Obedience always brings blessing.” And what greater blessing is there than the Father, Son, and Spirit abiding in you? This is not religion. This is relationship. This is transformation. This is the miracle of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
Are you making room in your heart for Him today?
John Piper once said, "Christ is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him."
That satisfaction flows from the indwelling presence of Christ. He is not a visitor. He is the resident King of your heart.
2. The Message We Proclaim (Colossians 1:28a)
"So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us."
The verb "katangellomen" ("we proclaim") carries the force of a herald declaring good news from the King. This is not casual speech; it is authoritative proclamation.
We don’t preach self-help or self-improvement. We preach Christ crucified, risen, and reigning.
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NLT): "For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified."
The Apostle Paul could have impressed the Corinthians with eloquent speech or intellectual argument. He was a man of deep knowledge and extraordinary gifting, but he made a deliberate decision—to centre his entire message on one glorious truth: Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
This verse is a reminder to us that the Gospel is not just part of our message—it is the message. At the heart of everything we proclaim must be the cross. Not self-help. Not human wisdom. Not a watered-down version of Christianity. But the crucified and risen Christ.
As Charles Spurgeon once said, "The motto of all true servants of God must be, 'We preach Christ, and him crucified.' A sermon without Christ as its beginning, middle, and end is a mistake in conception and a crime in execution."
So, beloved, let’s preach Christ without apology. Let’s live as those who are redeemed by His blood. And let us remember: the power to save, to transform, to restore—is found in Christ alone.
Romans 1:16 (NLT): "For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes..."
Every believer is called to share the message. Not everyone is a preacher, but every Christian is a proclaimer. We proclaim Christ with our words, our lives, and our love.
Imagine a doctor discovering a cure for a terminal disease but keeping it to himself. That would be criminal! Friends, we hold the cure for sin, death, and separation from God—the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Charles Stanley said, "Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him."
Proclaiming Christ might cost you friendships, comfort, or popularity. But eternity is worth it.
3. The Mission We Fulfil (Colossians 1:28b): "We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ."
The word translated “perfect” is "teleios" – meaning mature, complete, whole. This is not sinless perfection, but spiritual maturity in Christ.
Matthew 5:48 (NLT): "But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
This verse isn’t a call to self-righteous striving or perfectionism—it’s a call to holiness. The Greek word for "perfect" here is "teleios," meaning mature, complete, or fully developed in moral character. Jesus is not demanding flawlessness, but rather calling us to grow into the fullness of love, grace, and mercy—just as our heavenly Father expresses it.
In the context of Matthew 5, Jesus has just taught us to love even our enemies. He’s setting the bar impossibly high by human standards so we see our absolute need for a Saviour. That Saviour is Jesus Himself, the only One who is truly perfect.
It’s only when we rest in the finished work of Christ, when we surrender to Him and allow His Spirit to work in us, that we begin to reflect the perfection of our Father in heaven.
So, let us not be discouraged by this verse. Instead, let it drive us to the cross, where mercy meets justice and perfection is gifted through grace.
Ephesians 4:13 (NLT): "This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith... that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ."
This verse is a beautiful reminder that God's goal for His people isn’t shallow belief or surface-level religion—it’s spiritual maturity in Christ. The word mature here speaks of growing into full spiritual adulthood—being teleios (Greek: t??e???), meaning complete, fully developed, lacking nothing in our walk with Christ.
Paul’s message is clear: unity in faith, deep knowledge of Jesus, and Christlike character are not optional extras for the believer—they are the evidence of a transformed life. God doesn’t want us to remain spiritual infants; He wants us to grow up into the fullness of Christ.
Discipleship is not optional. We are called not just to lead people to Christ, but to walk with them toward maturity in Christ.
Spiritual growth is not automatic. It comes through intentional pursuit of Christ, by His Word, by His Spirit, and by walking in faithful obedience.
Friends, let us not settle for spiritual infancy. Let us press on to maturity, knowing that as we grow in Him, the world will see Jesus in us—and that is the greatest testimony we can offer.
Raising children involves more than birth. It’s feeding, nurturing, correcting, and encouraging. Similarly, spiritual parenting means guiding believers toward the fullness of Christ.
Tim Keller wrote, "The Gospel is not just the ABCs but the A to Z of the Christian life."
The Gospel is not just the door we enter, but the path we walk.
Gospel Presentation:
Let us never forget: the reason Christ can live in us is because He died for us.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a perfect life. He was crucified to bear the wrath our sins deserved. He was buried. On the third day, He rose again, conquering death. Now He offers forgiveness and new life to all who repent and believe.
The empty tomb is proof that Jesus is Lord, and the invitation is open: repent and trust in Him today.
Call to Action:
Go! And proclaim Christ wherever you go.
Go! And let the hope of glory shine through you.
Go! And disciple others into maturity.
Invitation to Salvation:
Maybe you’re here today and you’ve never truly trusted in Jesus. Today is your moment. Don’t wait. Christ wants to live in you. Repent of your sin. Believe in His name. Confess Him as Lord.
Say, "Jesus, I need You. Forgive me. Live in me. Save me. I surrender all."
Benediction:
May Christ dwell in your hearts through faith. May His glory be your hope, His Spirit your guide, His love your anchor. Go now and proclaim Him, in word and deed, until the whole world knows: Christ in you, the hope of glory. Amen.
