In this lesson we continue on from the previous lesson, taking Paul's phrase "Christ in you, the hope of glory." as a key idea in the letter to Colossians. We are looking mainly at the first two chapters, along with certain key verses from the twin epistle, Ephesian. We are considering three glorious privileges that our association with Jesus Christ bestows upon us to give substance and assurance to our hope. We have already looked at the privilege of being a member of God's family. Now we look at the other two privileges, the power and the goal that we are given by God.

"God willed to make known among the nations the riches of the glory of this mystery which has been hidden from ages and generations but now has been revealed to his saints. It is Christ in you the hope of glory."

Col 1:26-27 (paraphrased)
 

2. The Power God Has Put in Us

God's power is at work in Christians (Eph 3:20-21). In the letter to the Colossians we find various commandments and promises based on the fact that we are empowered by Christ in us, according to the revelation and knowledge he has imparted to us, and which dwells richly in us.

In his letter to the Colossians Paul is very conscious of this power at work in the Christian.

The power to increase in fruitfulness

Col 1:9-11 "...filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual understanding, so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with power...". With God's power in us we can grow and achieve mightily.

The power to fulfil our stewardship

Col 1:25-26,29 Paul had a "stewardship from God... to fulfil". His aim was to "present every man complete in Christ Jesus". Paul says that he strove to do this by the power that worked in him mightily. God empowers us to finish what we start.

The power to attain the riches of Christ's love

Col 2:2-3 Paul speaks of "being knit together in love and attaining to the riches of the full assurance..." and he says that in Christ "are hidden all the treasures..." In the world, great riches can give a person great power. In the kingdom of God's Son, the riches that give us power are the riches of Christ's love and these riches are in glory, treasure beyond measure.

The power to be established in the faith

Col 2:5-7,9-10 Paul speaks of steadfastness and stability, being rooted and established in the faith, and abounding in it. We can do this because we are "complete in him who is the head of all principality and power". Christ is subject to no higher power except of course his Father. All powers are subject to Christ. If we have the power of Christ in us, then no one can take away our hope of glory.

The power to be renewed

Col 3:10 The above points are perhaps summarised by a statement Paul makes in chapter 3. "You have put on the new self which is renewed in knowledge..." It is not unusual for a sincere Christian to feel that he or she has missed the mark and not lived up to what God empowered them to do. God's power does not withdraw from us at such times. Rather it provides us with the opportunity for renewal. Through the power of Christ and his word we can become new persons again, and with great confidence in Christ we can throw off our failures and be revived as when first we were first born again.

3. Our Progress Towards Life's Goal

God has an "eternal purpose" for us (Eph 3:8-12). By becoming deeply involved in that purpose, we have the "hope of glory". It is said that happiness requires a goal in life. Life must have an "end" (Greek , telos). We don't mean this in the simplest sense that our days are numbered and life comes to and end, although that is quite true. Rather, we mean "end" in the sense of "purpose" or reason to be and a goal to strive for.

A truly happy life consists of being a seeker and fulfiller of that purpose and goal. In the Greek this is , teleios. It means "perfected". Paul uses this word when he expresses the wish that "that we may present every man perfected in Christ" and "that you may stand perfected and complete in all the will of God" (Col 1:28, 4:12).

We notice that, in his letter to the Colossians, that Paul encourages our confident progress toward life's eternal goal which he calls our hope.

A hope laid up in heaven

Col 1:5 The hope of glory is "The hope laid up for you in heaven". When Paul speaks of this hope as being "laid up for you", he means that it is kept in store with your name on it. It is your appointed inheritance in safekeeping. It is your future life "hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). Recently a couple claimed that they had won a million dollar lottery, however on purchasing their ticket they had poked it in with the groceries in a plastic shopping bag. When the bag was thrown out with the rubbish, the winning ticket was still in the bag forgotten, and was unwittingly taken to the city dump and mixed with tons of garbage. Fortunately our hope of heaven is not so carelessly kept or so easily lost!

A hope proclaimed in the gospel

Col 1:23 Our hope of heaven, the goal of our lives, is "of the gospel... proclaimed in all creation under heaven". So whilst it is hidden away safely in heaven, it is no secret, and is proclaimed everywhere under heaven. We have it in writing, to read whenever we want to be reassured and encouraged --God's very own word in black and white to prove that we are not reaching out for an impossible dream, but for something real and true and certain.

A hope that none can take away from us

Col 2:18 Paul says, "Let no one deprive you of your reward". This implies that we can let some one defraud us of our goal, but it also implies that we can forbid them to. There are always those who would turn us aside from our true goal to useless and foolish persuits. We need not let that happen.

From the latter half of chapter two, and the early part of chapter three, Paul shows the superiority of the gospel over the earthly religions. The elementary principles of earth, air, fire, and water, and the things which are of the flesh, are thrown aside by Christ, and heaven transcends. Not even the darkest powers can reach into heaven and snatch away our hope. Nor can they snatch it from our hearts, unless we allow ourselves to become foolish and decived so that we let them.

Keeping our minds on the goal

Col 3:1-4 Paul encourages us to "Set your mind on the things above, not on things that are on the earth". Our hope and goal is kept secure in heaven, and is written in the goapel. However it must also be set in our own minds and hearts. No one makes progress toward a goal that their hearts are not set on, and that their minds are not focussed upon. As I write this, the Olympic Games are being held in Athens. If we would one day be "revealed with him in glory", then we must "keep seeking the things above where Christ is...".

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.

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