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Christian people often put their faith -- put their hope -- in the THINGS
they expect God to do. This is not necessarily wrong, for God does
promise many THINGS, and does tell us to ask. Yet when everything is
said and done, ALL of the things of God are found IN CHRIST. God simply
says, "Christ in you, (who is) your hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
God makes it very simple and clear -- perhaps so simple and clear that
we miss it. He tells us outright what is the hope of a Christian: Christ in
us. Not hope in a Christ off in heaven somewhere. Not merely hope in a
Christ who will come back someday -- although He will come back. But no.
The hope of a Christian is CHRIST IN US -- NOW -- Christ in us, who IS
our hope of glory.
W e speak much of what Christ has done FOR US, and rightly so, for
His finished work is the basis of all Redemption. But Christ is not merely
an historical figure who did an historical work FOR US. He is a living Lord
and Savior who lives in us NOW . Thus, our faith, while resting upon what
He has done historically, must just as importantly rest upon who HE IS
today. And what IS Christ today? Paul says:
But of him (God) are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That,
according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. (I Cor.
1:30-31)
Jesus Christ accomplished all of these THINGS for us, and made all of
these THINGS possible for us. But God's revelation goes much further --
Jesus Christ IS presently all of these realities IN US.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the
power may be of God, and not of us....For we which live are alway
delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be
made manifest in our mortal flesh. (2 Cor 4:7,11)
This is Truth that has a present impact upon the lives of those born
from above. For example, Paul the apostle knew that Jesus Christ was
crucified FOR HIM. Yet, on the basis of that finished work of Christ, Paul
was able to say, "I am crucified W ITH CHRIST, nevertheless I live, yet
NOT I, but CHRIST LIVES IN ME." (Gal. 2:20) Paul is referring to more
than the historical work of Christ. He is talking about the present impact
of Christ in us. How many of us know about this kind of Christianity? Yet it
is all through the NT.
Christ in us constitutes all that God has -- "for you are complete IN
HIM." (Col. 2:9-10) Thus, despite the fact that Christian growth is a
process that takes a lifetime and more -- it does not happen all at once --
we DO receive Christ all at once -- and IN HIM are all things. If you have
Christ in you, you have everything that God has to give. From that point, it
is a matter of LEARNING CHRIST, and a matter of coming to manifest
HIM. But this is not a matter of US becoming strong. It is a matter of US
becoming weak and out of sight, so that Christ might be seen.
Jesus said, "The kingdom of God does not come in a way that can be
observed with the eyes....behold, the kingdom of God is IN YOU." W ell,
the kingdom of God is Jesus Christ as Lord -- the kingdom is constituted
because of THE KING. Christ in us is the core of the kingdom of God. This
is why God is able to say, "Seek you first HIS kingdom and HIS
righteousness." -- seek you first His present rule and Lordship of Christ IN
YOU NOW -- and all things will be added. If we seek first Christ, then all
things that are in Him -- both temporal and spiritual -- can be added to us.
It only stands to reason that if we seek first the rule of Christ in us that we
will become rightly related to God and thus able to receive His will for our
lives within the context of Jesus Christ as our personal Lord. Again -- God
has wrapped up all things in Christ. By His Spirit He wants to make Christ
real TO us, IN us, and THROUGH us -- to HIS glory.
W hen the only begotten Son of God became a man -- became the God-
man -- He made it possible for human beings to become one with God.
Just as the Son of God took up residence in the womb of Mary, so through
the new birth He takes us residence in those who relinquish their old life
to Him. W hat does it mean to be born from above? It means to receive a
life from the outside of you INTO YOU that is not of this world below. It is
life -- a Person -- from above. IN HIM is life. It means to receive a
PERSON whose very presence in us who constitutes our entire hope.
Christ in us, THE hope of glory. W e need not look unto anyone else, or to
any thing else to find hope. Christ in us IS that very present hope.
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