Christ in You (Col. 1.27)
July 1, 2001
There are some great mysteries involved in this whole affair of being a Christian and one of the most exciting is what we can understand in what Paul declares to us in Col. 1.27. I was thinking on this and actually discussing this earlier in the week when I had the tremendous privilege of visiting with one young lady and future member of God’s family, in her parent’s lovely backyard. We were discussing her upcoming baptism- end of July! We were discussing what difference actually being baptized makes. Is it just a ceremonial thing? Or something more?
Well, Paul discusses the mystery of it all and that something rather incredible happens in the process of belief and confirmation of that belief- in the whole process that goes along with accepting Jesus Christ as our personal Savior.
Col. 1. 21- 28
We understand that there is a process that we go through. Even for someone who is quickly convicted of their need for Jesus and makes a commitment quickly, the process is still there. There is some basic knowledge and belief, and there is a response, which includes a declaration to God and, hopefully, publicly, in some way. There is repentance. There is baptism. And through it all, something rather incredible occurs. Paul refers to this as ‘Christ in you, your hope of glory’.
It’s important for us to understand that we’re involved, here, with something far more than a body of knowledge. We are in a relationship with Jesus, and with the Father, because of that relationship with Jesus. Understanding it all is impossible, but it’s apparent that some things happen. It’s apparent that, in essence, we take a giant step forward- that it’s as if we were one place, but once we accept Jesus that we, essentially, move forward to where He is, in relationship with the Father! We’re no longer back there- and Paul seems to be speaking about this, here- in referring to the past alienation and poorer position. But there has become a unity with the body of Jesus, which moves us forward!
I find this exciting to consider, and wonder if there isn’t quite some parallel with a wedding.
I had one yesterday. The couple who stood before me, was very committed to each other weeks ago. They were engaged and anticipating their actual wedding and declaring of themselves before witnesses. They pledged certain things to God and to each other, and did this in front of many people! That takes some courage and maturity. But, it’s the right thing to do, too. Mentally, they were committed to each other long before we began the formal ceremony, but there was the dress, the flowers, the rings, the signing, the toasts, the food, and all that goes along with a wedding, anyway. Why? What difference did it make? Was it only a ceremonial thing that you could take or leave? Was it only something meant to enrich caterers and impoverish brides’ families? Some look at a wedding in that kind of way.
But, no! Something incredible happened, as does happen in matters of choice. The couple chose each other. In the course of our counseling, we discussed the question about whether they could marry anyone else. You’d be amazed at how many young couples answer, on the profile we use, that this is the only possible spouse for them- which reflects a great unreality with regard to marriage. Well, that is not where this couple was- they were/are quite realistic as they enter their marriage.
But, they made a choice. He, at 34, and she, at 26, have chosen each other. And they have formalized that choice. It wasn’t just a private choice, made in a corner with only them knowing, and possibly, in the privacy of their own individual minds, even doubting that. (That’s the danger of private and unannounced or un-formalized decisions! There’s the element of doubt and ease of backing away from!) However, through choice and decision, in essence, they took each other into their hearts and joined together spiritually and psychologically. Something amazing happened in the wedding ceremony and there is a mystery in that. The wedding is not a ‘take it or leave it’ affair, but is an important element of a sequence of decisions that have been made.
It’s the same within businesses. Of course, there are many reasons for signing contracts, and many of them are not very elevated, when you get down to it. However, one reason is to formalize and to announce a, hopefully, sound decision that has been made after appropriate consideration and counsel. It’s a big deal, and, often, there is champagne and refreshments when contracts are signed- big ones, at least! There is a coming together between two parties that has occurred. Hopefully, it isn’t a situation where one is out to fleece or to take advantage of the other.
When we come to our relationship with God, through Jesus, something similar is happening. I know that using analogies can break down and can be imprecise. However, I believe it’s important to understand something of the importance of what God has us do.
We’re thinking, this weekend, about our sufficiency being in Jesus and our fulfillment being in Him. As we do, we need to learn to trust Him and to actually ‘rest’ in Him more than we do. I believe that too many of us still approach our Christian relationship with too much fear and too much uncertainty, and too much superstition. We don’t appreciate to where we have come because of this mystery of ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory’. We don’t appreciate the certainty that we have, which is incredible!
But, think about this. You came to know about Jesus. Like any relationship, you might not have been too ‘keen’ on Him at first. You might not have liked some of His mannerisms, beliefs, or teachings. But over time, you developed more than knowledge about Jesus. You began to have a relationship with Him. You came back to Him and looked again at some of what you didn’t initially like. You maybe challenged Him on some things, but He gave you answers that were sufficient. You grew closer. You understood that this is the only friendship or relationship you really need and that in it, all answers are given. You came to accept what Acts 4.12 declares that you can have salvation no other way. (Some of us came to this more quickly than others, but we came to it, nonetheless!) You wanted to be saved. And you accepted that there were steps to take because Jesus did.
I know that I spoke of baptism a few weeks back, and we looked at a lot of scriptures. However, there is only one we really needed to look at- and we can find it in three gospels:
Mk. 1. 9- 11- we don’t need any more. Jesus did it. So, we do it! If it was necessary for the perfect man, then we, as imperfect, certainly can do no less! Case closed! Jesus’ example as He began His ministry and the impact of His life forever, is enough!
But, beyond that, we ponder and we think about what happens as we go through the process, and it’s amazing and should lead us to a lot of confidence as we go forward as Christians.
So, Paul declares that Jesus is in us and this is our promise (hope) of glory. This is our guarantee of glory. Hope doesn’t mean some wishy-washy thinking, like “I hope I have time to make it to the grocery store before it closes.” We use that kind of jargon, which doesn’t express much more than wishful thinking. That is not the Christian hope. Christian hope involves certitude! Jesus in us is more than wishful thinking. Jesus in us is confidence and guarantee! Jesus in us is strength to make it through each day- kind of like the married couple gains strength to do what is necessary and right by being committed to and ‘in’ each other! There’s a mystery, but two are better than one, as the Proverbs declares.
Then we can consider Romans 6- where, again, there is the idea of the unity between person and Jesus. He identifies with us- v. 1- 9. And we identify with Him! And there’s some mystery that’s involved.
But what’s it mean? I think we need to draw more encouragement than we might and trust the process and the greatness of God more than we do. Sometimes we worry so much about ‘will I make it?’ and how God is feeling about us that we forget how He feels about Jesus a.k.a. you/me! Remember this thing of the position we’re in because of identifying with Jesus! But if you’re really ‘with’ someone or someone is ‘in’ you, do you believe that you’ll just be your old carnal self? Or do you believe that you will automatically, much of the time, do what is pleasing to the one who is supposed to be alive in you?
Ga. 2.20- He speaks about himself and Christ and the relationship that is there. I know that we can easily hearken back to verses that tell us that the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, or that no one is righteous ‘no not one’. However, both those cases don’t refer to Christians committed to Jesus. Romans 3.10, in context, refers to those who are under sin- who are unconverted and without Jesus. Jeremiah 17.9 is not referring to converted people.
If you are converted and Jesus is living in you, then you are meant to live with confidence! You are meant to go forward with the expectation that you’ll do the right thing. IF you are serving only yourself and exalting yourself, then that’s a different situation and maybe you’re not converted. But if you’re living in the spirit of Romans 12.1, 2, then you’ll be tending to do the right things. Consequently, you can go forward without wasting all sorts of nervous and anxious energy on doubt and self-recrimination and worry. God is very near to you! He’s not far away from anybody, so for His children, He’s near and He’s cheering you on and drawing you to do the right things. He is encouraging you and He is forgiving you when you do stumble.
What I’m saying is simply that we’re meant to live a positive life as Christians. We’re not to be stupid and we’re not to never look at ourselves, because that would be unscriptural, but we’re meant to go forward in hope and faith knowing that some good will come out of it, just like children are meant to go forward not thinking that they’ll be condemned by parents for everything they do and knowing that parents will be there to lift them up.
We’re far too negative on God and Jesus and ourselves. God is positive.
