The Hope of His Glory
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Col. 1:27)
Christianity is, "Christ in you." But you will notice that attached to, "Christ
in you," is the phrase, "The hope of glory."
The word, "hope," that is translated in the English NT means, "a positive and
confident expectation." Thus, it carries no sense of uncertainty as the word
often does today. No. "Hope," speaks of an expectation based on the Truth. Thus,
we have, "Christ in you, the certain expectation of His glory."
Can we see that Paul is talking about the present reality of Christ in the
believer – but pointing towards a greater realization?
In Romans, Paul defines his usage of this word, "hope." He says, "For we are
saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for if a man sees, why does he
yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience
wait for it." (Rom. 8:24-25) In short, Christ in us during this age is
all unto something that will not be fully seen until the next age. That is why
Christ in us NOW is our HOPE of glory.
So again -- Christ in us NOW is, "the hope of glory." But all through the NT, we
are told that this, "hope of glory," is unto, "the REALIZATION of the fullness
of His glory." Note that:
Our hope of glory is NOT the hope of OUR glory.
No. It is our hope of HIS
glory – and our expectation of experiencing Him in His glory.
The sons and daughters of God are obviously those who are to experience Jesus
Christ in HIS glory. In fact, Paul says:
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be
revealed IN US...For the earnest expectation of the creature waits
for the manifestation of the sons of God." (Rom. 8:18-19)
Again -- HIS glory is to be revealed, not merely TO US, but actually IN US.
This will happen at the resurrection of
the body when Christ returns.
Indeed, we see that HIS glory being revealed in us IS the full manifestation of
the sons of God.
Do we realize that this is, in fact, the purpose that God is working towards in
this age? That the FULL
manifestation of Christ in and through His people is God’s purpose that will be
released in the NEXT age?
In other words, Jesus Christ, who is in His people, is NOW our, "hope of glory."
But at the resurrection this, “hope of
glory,” will be fully realized.
Christ is going to be fully manifested IN HIS PEOPLE -- starting at the
resurrection.
This is the purpose towards which God is working through the indwelling of
Christ in us NOW. It is the inheritance of God’s people – the full realization
of Jesus Christ in us – in a resurrected body.
This is why Paul is able to describe our experience with Christ NOW – by virtue
of, “Christ in us” – as a down payment.
As incredible as CHRIST IN US is for this age, there is an eternally
greater release that is going to happen for the next age:
You
were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest (down
payment) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession,
unto the praise of his glory. (Eph.
1:13-14)
The sons and daughters of God – right now – have Christ within.
We are joined to Him in an eternal, resurrection union.
But this is unto a full release of HIS glory that is to be revealed in
us. It is unto the full
manifestation of the children of God in the eternal ages.
Face to Face
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. (I Cor. 13:12)
Here we see another contrast between the experience of those in Christ during
THIS age, and what will be the case in the NEXT age. "NOW, see through a glass
darkly, but THEN face to face." See what? See
Jesus Christ. See God.
The glass through which we see Jesus Christ now is natural man. Not necessarily
sinful man, but natural man. Even though Christ dwells in the believer, and this
does equip us with the capacity to grow to see Jesus Christ, in this age, and
despite this body -- we will never be completely free from the natural.
In one way or another, we are going to
see Christ through -- and even interpret Him through -- our natural man. Much of
the Christian life is a matter of God setting us free from doing so – into an
inward spiritual realization of Christ. But in the end, this is why faith is so
vital.
But I Cor. 13 we are told about the future. The last phrase in the above verse
says it all: "THEN I shall know even as also I am known." During this age, there
are times when I cannot see God. There are other times when I do not see Him
clearly. But regardless, God sees me. Right now, I am known by God. We are being
told that there will come a point at which all of the natural will be
transformed and we will know God and His Son, Jesus Christ, face to face – we
will know God as He already knows us.
Little children will often cover their eyes if they are shy – somehow they think
that if they cannot see you, that you cannot see them. But note: In their
innocent attempt to keep you from seeing them, they block their ability to see
you. It is like this with God – if we think we are keeping Him from seeing us we
are only blocking our own ability to see Him. This is why coming into the light
and confessing our sin and need is vital – if we open ourselves to God it does
nothing to help Him see us. But it makes it possible for us to see Him. There
will always be limitations in this age. But God wants us to open to Him NOW, for
it is His will for us to see Him THEN, face to face.
What is being described here is what it means to have God, and His Son, Jesus
Christ, fully revealed IN US. If we are joined to the Lord NOW (I Cor. 6:17), we
are still encumbered by this natural. But at the resurrection, the natural body
will be no more. We will be released from it and be able to fully experience the
fullness of Jesus Christ – through the means of a resurrected body. In effect,
there will no longer be a dark glass through which to experience the Lord. We
will see Him and experience Him face to face.
"THEN I shall know even as also I am known." That is an incredible promise. God
knows me so thoroughly that to Him, whether I sense it or not, I am as if
totally transparent. This is a promise that we shall know HIM in the same way.
Sure. God is light and in
Him is no darkness at all.
"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to
do." (Heb. 4:13) We are being promised that when these things come to pass, we
shall know GOD in this very same way that He knows us. God is NOW preparing us
for such a revelation, indeed, for such a life in Himself.
Life in Christ NOW is a preparation for this relationship with God THEN.
That relationship with God through Jesus Christ – both NOW and THEN – is
the inheritance that God has for His sons and daughters.