This Mystery Is Christ in You, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:24–29)

 

This Mystery Is Christ in You, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:24–29)

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4). But to save those who were lost in sin, Jesus Christ shed his blood and died. In Christ, through the grace of forgiveness of sins and salvation, we were restored to be holy, without blemish, and free from accusation before God (Colossians 1:22).

But this does not happen automatically. To continue to stand with confidence before the throne of God’s grace, we must remain in faith, stand firm on the foundation of Christ’s blood, and not be moved from the hope held out in the gospel. The hope of the gospel is living by the power of the resurrection. This means continually remaining in the grace of Christ’s blood. Whoever abides in grace denies himself and depends wholly on God. At that time, God continues to give heavenly rewards—love, joy, and peace—without holding anything back.

In Colossians 1:23b–29, Paul speaks about participating in the sufferings of Christ and about the glorious mystery that was hidden for ages but is now revealed to the Lord’s people. That mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Amen!

“This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:23b–29)

Paul, a Servant of the Gospel

“This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:23b)

This gospel proclaimed to all creation is the gospel of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It is good news of great joy, bringing salvation to all humanity. This was the message of blessing from heaven’s angel to the shepherds in the town of Bethlehem at night (Luke 2:10). This gospel is salvation through the forgiveness of sins by the blood of Christ.

Paul persecuted Christ, but on the road to Damascus he was converted and called to be a servant of the gospel. In particular, Paul was sent as the apostle to the Gentiles, and he proclaimed this gospel in Asia, Macedonia, Achaia, and even to Rome. From the first century until today, the gospel of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has been proclaimed to the whole world.

I Fill up in my Flesh What is still Lacking in Christ’s Afflictions

“Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.” (Colossians 1:24)

This letter is a prison letter. Paul, imprisoned for the testimony of Christ, writes to the believers in Colossae to proclaim the gospel. From a worldly point of view, it was an unjust situation, yet Paul considered suffering a joy. Endurance and patience with joy are fruits of the power of the Holy Spirit. Enduring suffering with joy is possible because God strengthens us with all power according to his glorious might (Colossians 1:11). This is God the Father’s will. To know his will, we need the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.

When facing suffering and pain, it is not natural to rejoice. But through the benefit gained from suffering—that is, through God’s glorious grace—we can rejoice. God’s glorious grace is received by participating in Christ’s afflictions. The apostle Peter exhorts us to rejoice in participating in the sufferings of Christ:

“12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name” (1 Peter 4:12–16).

Christ’s afflictions lacking in Paul’s flesh do not mean there was anything insufficient about Christ’s death on the cross. Jesus offered himself once for all, making atonement for our sins and making us holy (Hebrews 10:10). What remains of Christ’s afflictions are the sufferings we endure for the name and testimony of Jesus Christ. Jesus told his disciples in advance that the world would hate and persecute them (John 15:19).

Undeserved suffering and pain are bitter, painful, distressing, and shameful. Yet in Christ Jesus we not only enjoy spiritual blessings from heaven but also rejoice in suffering together with the Lord:

“2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” (Romans 5:2–5).

This mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory

“I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness—26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:25–27)

God chose Paul before the creation of the world and called him to be an apostle to testify to the gospel of Christ. God entrusted him with the task of building up the church of Christ and used him to fully reveal and make known the mystery of Christ. In the same way, we have each received different gifts in Christ. These gifts are a grace, given for the building up of the body of Christ, the church.

What is this mystery? This mystery is Christ in us, the hope of glory. This mystery was hidden through the ages and generations. In the beginning, when God created man in his image and likeness, male and female, this was his purpose. From the beginning, God made man to be his dwelling place, his royal residence.

God’s purpose for man from the beginning is revealed in Ephesians 4:13: “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” God’s purpose for the complete person is to attain the fullness of Christ, to be conformed to him.

This mystery has now been revealed to the saints through Christ’s incarnation, death, and resurrection. What was hidden was seen only dimly by the patriarchs like Abraham. But now in Christ, the riches of this mystery among the Gentiles have been revealed.

The Gentiles were originally far from God’s grace. “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). In the Old Testament, there were cases of Gentiles who received salvation, such as the widow of Zarephath, Naaman the leper, and Rahab of Jericho.

But now, in Christ, the door of salvation has been opened wide to all Gentiles. One of the first Gentile churches was planted in Antioch, and from there Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Holy Spirit to testify to the gospel of Christ among the Gentiles. Paul, together with Timothy, Silas, Mark, Barnabas, Luke, and others, testified to the gospel of Christ Jesus throughout Asia, Macedonia, Achaia, and even Rome in the first century.

How is Christ in us the hope of glory?

Christ in us means that the Holy Spirit, according to God’s promise, comes to dwell in those who believe. At the Last Supper in the upper room, Jesus promised his disciples that when he left (referring to his death, resurrection, and ascension), the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, would come to be with them.

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:16-18).

When we were young, how much comfort we felt when our mother or father was beside us, and how anxious we were when they were not. There is a saying about being lonely in the middle of a crowd. The pain of rejection is deep. When our hearts are heavy, we can feel as though we are abandoned at sea. And beyond this, every one of us will one day stand alone before our Creator God to give account. When God descended on Mount Sinai, the Israelites trembled with fear and pleaded not to hear God speak directly but through Moses (Exod. 20:19).

But Jesus comforted his disciples, saying he would not leave them as orphans but would come to them. Indeed, after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to them several times to instill faith and comfort them. Ten days after his ascension, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came in power upon the 120 gathered in the temple (Acts 2:1-4).

In the flesh, Jesus was limited by time and space. But the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is always with the disciples wherever they are. Christ in us is with us forever, guiding us into all truth, protecting us from evil, and keeping us safe. Even if we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for our Lord Jesus Christ is with us (Ps. 23:4). Therefore, Christ in us is surely the hope of glory for all who believe.

Whenever we get something new or receive a gift, it feels good. A promotion or an award is delightful. But compared to Christ in us, these are nothing. They cannot compare. The Son of God, Christ, who made and upholds all things, dwells in us. There is no greater gift of grace than this. Christ Jesus in us is unseen, but we see him with eyes of faith.

To present everyone fully mature in Christ

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.” (Col. 1:28-29)

Paul proclaimed and taught the truth of the gospel, whether in person or by letter, to present everyone fully mature in Christ. This is a process—from being born again in Christ and beginning the life of faith, to progressing toward maturity. Just as hope for heaven sprouts and grows, so also our spiritual lives grow step by step. As people pass from infancy to childhood, adolescence, youth, and adulthood, so believers move gradually from the beginning stages toward maturity.

For a child to grow, food and exercise are essential. Growth cannot happen without growing pains. For us to continue to grow in Christ, we need the nourishment of God’s Word and the obedience of faith. Jesus obeyed the Father, even to death. That is true obedience. Paul, too, strove with all his strength, following Christ Jesus, who worked powerfully within him. Amen!

September 28, 2025

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Scripture quotes are from the NIV.