Month: April 2019

257. Christ in You

Colossians 1:27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

The promise is that Christ is in you. Christ in you is a mystery; Christ in you is rich in glory; Christ in you is the hope of glory. Just as the Trinity is a mystery, as the Incarnation is a mystery, as the two natures in One Person is a mystery, as the body and blood of Christ in, with, and under the bread and wine is a mystery, as the intimate union of Christ and His Bride is a mystery, and other mysteries, so also is the mystery of “Christ in you.”

The promise is a mystery to be believed, appreciated and enjoyed; it is not to be understood or explained satisfactorily to our limited human minds. What does it mean that Christ is in you? It means a lot: it means that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is residing deep within your body and soul; it means that Christ, who is God, is presiding or ruling over you heart and mind for good; it means that He is affecting your thoughts and actions, motivating you to good works; it means that He is guarding and protecting you in your weakness and vulnerabilities and providing strength and wisdom; it means that Christ is constantly interceding for you, forgiving your sins instantly; it means that He is praying for you and turning your prayers into solutions for you problems; it means that the peace of God is taking over your soul and body; it means that God is providing for all your needs according to His will and plan for your life according to His riches in glory; it means that grace and blessing is ever available to your daily life; it means that the Spirit of God is at work changingyou into the likeness of Christ; it means that He is giving you His love for other people and using you to bless the people around you; it means that His presence in you is the hopeof glory,  that is, glory is ours now but it is not seen as glory but as hope, a hope that is present and real. 

And “Christ in you” means much more, but we still don’t understand how it works. Is it I or is it He? Who is actually doing the thinking and planning? Who is really doing the good works? Which one is initiating? Which is doing and speaking? We don’t really know, but the best answer is probably both acting as a compound mixture. It doesn’t really matter if we can answer these questions or not; it matters that it happens. Christ is really doing some wonderful and glorious things in us. We don’t see it, but we believe it, and we praise God for it. The Gospel makes it known.

256. Holy, Unblameable, and Unreproveable

Colossians 1:22 (Reconciled) In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight.

Because Christ reconciled us to God through His death He is able to fulfill the promise to us that He will present us to God holy and unblameable and unreproveable. In other words, we are justified or declared righteous. 

Thus Jesus Christ will present us holy in God’s sight; God looks at us and He sees holiness. That is why believers are called saints, holy persons, in the New Testament. We mistakenly think we are pretty good persons, but we deceive ourselves: we are not good. We are all wiling to admit we are not perfect, that we do make mistakes, but very seldom do we look at ourselves as being evil, totally corrupt and rotten sinners. But in ourselves and by ourselves we are totally depraved at the core with no possibility of saving ourselves. So when we examine ourselves without the light of God’s Word we find goodness, but not holiness. We are wrong on both counts.

When we examine ourselves through the mirror of God’s Lawin the Word we find miserable sinners, with nothing good, and with no redeeming value. And, on the other hand, when we examine Christ through the blinding light of God’s Gospelin the Word we find holy saints, without a spot of imperfection, and with extremely expensive worth and value. In ourselveswe are evil, not basically good with some flaws, and we cannot approach God’s holiness, glory and light. In Christwe are holy, not just good with some flaws, and can confidently approach the holiness, glory and light of God. Both truths are unbelievable outside of God’s revelation.

Distinguish between these two views: What I think of myself, and what God thinks of me. What do I see? And, What does God see? In God’s sight you and I are holy and unblameable and unreproveable. Repent and believe the Gospel.

255. Reconcile all things

Colossians 1:20-21And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.. And you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled.

God promises to reconcile all things to Himself. We are reconciled to God through the blood of the cross, the death of the Son of God. We were once enemies of God; we were estranged from God our Creator; we were separated from God from the moment of conception since we were conceived in sin. We by ourselves could not reconcile ourselves unto God because sinners are dead to God and don’t want anything to do with Him. Therefore, God Himself had to take the initiative and effect a reconciliation of enemiesby sending the Son to die for us while we were yet sinners. Through the blood of the cross we are reconciled, and now we, the former enemies, have become friends with God, and not just friends but close intimates. Through the cross God made peace with us.

But not only we the human enemies of God, but also “all things” are reconciled to God. In this context “all things” means all things, for he goes on to say “things in earth and things in heaven,” that is, the entire creation of the universe, visible and invisible things, all things everywhere possible. All created things are reconciled: animals, plants, rocks, earth, sun, moon, stars, angels, demons, and all the visible and invisible parts of creation we don’t even know about. All Creation waits with eager longing for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

God will reconcile accounts; justice will be rendered; an accounting will be made. God will reconcile all things. Reconciliation, or accounting, will be made through Judgment: sin and evil was judged definitively at the cross and believers are reconciled to God; all humans who do not believe that Gospel and do not accept that reconciliation will be judged with eternal death; all evil spirits in rebellion are judged finally in the eternal lake of fire; all inanimate objects wait for the redemption of believers when all will be recreated. All accountable creatures, visible and invisible, will either accept God’s planned reconciliation in Christ, or they will not. It would probably be a good idea to believe the Gospel now.

254. Redemption and Forgiveness

Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.

The promise of redemption and forgiveness is considered to be the same thing in this context. If we are redeemed, it is because we are forgiven; if we are forgiven, then we have been redeemed. Redemption and forgiveness are treated as present possessions: “we have” them; we are redeemed and we are forgiven; this is not something for the future only.

Redeem has the root meaning of “buy back;” someone is bought back with a ransom price from either slavery or kidnapping. We were under the forced control of someone else, in this case Sin, Death, and the Devil. We know the ransom price. Satan had a right to rule our lives, for our willing, and even unwilling, sin gives the Devil the right to govern and control our lives, and he does just that for evil and not for good. The purchase price of our redemption is the blood of Jesus Christ. Because of the innocent suffering and death of Christ Satan no longer has any legal right to rule and direct our lives, our thoughts, and our behavior. He still tries and tempts, but we have the authority to say, “Get behind me, you have no legal right any longer. I belong to a new master.” With shouts of joy and victory we proclaim, “We have been redeemed!” I may pray confidently, “Deliver us from the Evil One.” I am free; I have been baptized; I have a new life.

And I have the forgiveness of sins. Not only is each and every individual sin I have ever committed or ever will commit forgiven and taken away never to be seen again, but also Me, the person, the sinner, is forgiven. Jesus the Person died for me the whole person. Because I am forgiven I have open access to God and the throne of heaven. Because I am forgiven I have access to a new life, a righteous life, abundant life, God’s life, eternal life. Forgiveness is not just a ritual, it is a real and effective transaction; forgiveness is not just on paper, it is a legal documentand it stands up in the court of heaven; forgiveness is not words only, it is a real transaction that has taken place in the heavenlies and it is bindingon earth and in heaven forever. Forgiveness is a mighty fortress, an impenetrable wall, a secure hiding place in God.

In Jesus Christ we have, we own, and we possess redemption and forgiveness of sins freely signed in the blood of Jesus, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and deliveredthrough the Gospel. Enjoy!

253. Translated into His Kingdom

Colossians 1:13Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.

The promise that we are translated into the kingdom of the Son of God is in the past tense. God has translated us into the kingdom and that is where we are. We need this promise because we don’t see it or feel it. We are in the kingdom. The kingdom is invisible and it is within you, and it no less real than the visible kingdom of the created world that we see. In fact, it is more real, if possible, because it is eternal. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Word and promise will never pass away.

We have moved from the power of darkness into the Kingdom of God. We haven’t actually left the kingdom of the world, which is the kingdom of the power of darkness under the rule of the prince of the power of the air; butwe are delivered from the power of that kingdom. Sin, Satan, and Death no longer hold us in their power; we are free. We do not have to do what they say; we do not have to believe their lies; we do not have to continue groping in darkness, deceit, and ignorance.

It’s true that we still live in two kingdoms, but our allegiance is to the King of the Kingdom of Light and Truth. In that kingdom Christ delivers us from evil, defeats death, continually forgives sin, and grants new life daily and richly. We know this to be true and real every time we hear the Gospel; our life is renewed and our faith is strengthened whenever we repent and believe.

As long as we live Satan will try to recapture us and pull us back into darkness and conform us to the world. But we confess our sins, believe the Gospel, pray the truths of the Lord’s Prayer, and, according to Christ’s promise, He keeps us securely in His kingdom.

We know where we are; we know whose we are; we know what we believe; we know how to live; we know the security and comfort of the Kingdom of the Son. No one can snatch us away, for the Shepherd is guarding and providing. Thank God for His Promise of translation: we have been transferred.

252. Partakers of the Inheritance

Colossians 1:12Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

God made us fit to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. He made us holy; He made us saints. Thus the promise: we will partake of the inheritance. This is the inheritance first promised to Abraham and his descendants. Jesus announced the inheritance and gave it to those “children of Abraham” who believe in Jesus. This is Jesus’ inheritance, and He shares it with us: we partake. God Himself shares His Life. In Him we have obtained an inheritance; we are the heirs of a rich man.

We, the saints, are God’s inheritance. God inherits us; we tried to take God’s gifts and inheritance ahead of time, spend it on ourselves, and prodigally run off to a far country (the world). But the amazing grace of the Father welcomes us back with open arms and hugs. Thanks to the work of the Son, the Father has His inheritance back again. In Ephesians (1:18) Paul prays that the Spirit will enlighten our eyes to know “the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” The saintsare God’s inheritance. Jesus bought us back and turns us over to the Father. And it is getting close to the time for a huge party, the time for the saints and God to enjoy each other in a glorious reunion (we are lost and found).

Peter (1 Peter 1:4) says that Christ caused us to be born again “to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you.” Inheritance is one of Christ’s precious and very great promises; and through the promises you have become partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). This inheritance promise is a big deal: we become like God, not in His omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience, but in His self-giving love, grace, kindness and mercy. We have God’s Life. Wow!

251. Fruit

Colossians 1:6 Which (the gospel) is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.

The gospel has come to you, as well as in all the world, and it brings forth fruit. This is the promise: the gospel brings forth fruit also in you. The gospel has borne fruit from the first day you heard it, and it is still bearing fruit today. When you heard the gospel you knew the grace of God in truth. The gospel tells of the grace of God; when you heard it you believed it and so received the grace of God.

Grace is free to us, though it is earned at great cost by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. By grace are ye saved; but also by grace do ye live. Believing and receiving the grace of God through faith in Jesus gives the power to save but also to live a live of fruit-bearing: love, joy, peace, etc. are blossoming and blooming in us as we believe the gospel. 

We don’t always see the fruit in our own lives, but sometimes we can see the fruit of the Spirit in others if we will look for it. We need to be aware of more “God-sightings,” so we keep our eyes and ears open to what the Lord is doing around us. But because we don’t see fruit God gives us the promise so that we will believe it. If we have heard and believed the gospel then fruit is produced. This is a fact, whether we see it or not. Believing is seeing. The Lord is doing a whole lot more in us and around us than we can see. We know grace because God promised.

We do not try to produce fruit; we do not pray to be better people; we do not by our own effort make something happen. It happens supernaturally when we repent and believe the Gospel. It has the power to bring forth fruit. When we don’t hear the gospel enough, in church and in our private devotions, we begin to rely on our own strength and human wisdom. However, the flesh will fail us, for we cannot make ourselves better people. But by the Spirit through the Gospel we know the grace of God and it brings forth fruit. Turn to God often and receive the Gospel: fruit will come.

250. Hope Laid Up in Heaven

Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel.

God promises a hope laid up for you in heaven; you heard it in the gospel. It is the word of the truth of the gospel that speaks this promise to you. When you hear this gospel truth it is a hope laid up for you in heaven. Hearing the Gospel receives the sure hope by faith In the Gospel. The Holy Spirit comes along with that Gospel word as a lively thing and works faith in the heart of the hearer. 

Many promises are contained in the gospel word: one of them is hope. This hope is something wonderful that you have, but you do not see it yet. If you could see heaven you would not need hope because you would be there. Instead of seeing the reality of heaven by sight, we see the reality of heaven by faith; that is hope. Faith is the substance of things not seen. Hope is the present reality of a future experience. We are not there yet but we have hope now. And that is a substantial reality of what is not yet seen. It is evidence.

Every time we hear and remember and apply the Gospel a little bit more of heaven opens up; faith sees what glories await us. It is that hope that keeps us alive with eager anticipation and joyful with expectation of great blessings. God gives us many promises that we cannot see because they are in the invisible realm, but they are just as real; faith sees and makes the promise real and present. The promise of heaven is that a glorious reality and wonderful life awaits us, and it is guaranteed for us. Heaven is true and real, even more real than that which we see, but it is only revealed to the eyes of faith through the gospel. The present reality of what we do not yet see is called hope. Hope makes it real; hope is an anchor for the soul; hope is the guarantee of more to come; hope is the evidence of the real thing; hope knows what is coming. For now, God says, “Here’s this. Here is Eternal Life.” 

Hope does not spring eternal; hope is eternal. Finally One Day, we will not need Hope any longer for we will experience the thing hoped for. Until then we have the gospel, which gives us the hope and the promise.

249. All Your Need

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

This promise must be taken seriously. The only question we can have is: who decides what is a need?It may not work out if I decide what I need; God may not think I need it. In a wealthy culture needs are much different than they are in a poor area of the world. If we can accept God’s determinations about what we need then we have no problem believing the promise of “all your need.” When God decides what you need and when you need it there is no doubt that He will supply it. And He will do so according to His riches in glory. How rich is that? There is no limit to God’s supply. He can make ends meet, for He is rich enough.

The promise does not just say that God can supply your need, but that He shall.Although we don’t have an issue regarding belief that God has the ability: we know He is God and He can do anything, even the impossible. But will He? This is the issue that faith deals with. We are tempted to believe that God will supply our needs if and when we do good works and keep the commandments. “If I change my ways, God will hear my prayer and meet my need.” That is false theology.

The other key aspect of this promise is the words “by Christ Jesus.” God will supply our needs on account of Christ, not for our sake. Our good deeds (or bad deeds) will not influence God’s decision to supply our need. As a matter of fact, it is by Christ Jesus that we already have everything we need spiritually. All things have already been given to us by grace. It is the physical and material and temporal things about which we are concerned, and about which we have doubt. 

So we believe God can supply our need since He is God; and we believe He does so because of Christ, and not us. So the question for our faith comes down to this: “Who defines “need?”If we can trust God to define need then we have no problem. Now I have to wrestle with myself about whether this or that request is something I need. I may sometimes learn that what I thought I needed I didn’t need after all. As we go through life in honest conversation with Godwe begin to learn more about what God’s will is and what my needs are. If we don’t talk to God or listen to Him we probably won’t learn much. Nevertheless, the promise stands: “My God shall supply all your need.”

248. Do All Things

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

God promises superhero powers: I can do all things; Christ gives me strength to do everything. Taken literally, this would be preposterous: for instance, I cannot leap tall buildings at a single bound. Thus what the “all things” must be referring to here is any thing and all things that God wants me to do. If the Lord wants He can and He will give me the strength to do it.That’s the promise.

I, the sinner, cannot keep perfectly the Ten Commandments, but in any given situation or decision I can obey and do what God wants through Christ who strengthens me. I cannot use the excuse, “I am addicted, I have to commit adultery. I can’t overcome the temptation.” But God says, “You can, through Christ.” We know the powerful and subtle temptations that come upon us, but we must also be honest and confess: “It’s not that I can’t; it is that I don’t want to ‘do all things.’”

The context of this promise through Paul is being in a state of abounding or suffering need. He can do either one and remain content. He can “do either thing.” He does the impossible: he is content even if he doesn’t have what he wants, and, he resists pride and greed even if he is abounding in wealth.

By ourselves we can do nothing good; through Christ we can do all things good. Faith does all things; faith does not do it, but the person whom the faith is in does it, and that person can do all things. If faith wants to move a metaphorical mountain it can, if it is God’s will to do. For “with God all things are possible.”The mountain can be moved; the virgin can conceive; the sinner can be forgiven and saved; the impossible prayer can be answered. God has done the impossible and He can do it again, if God wills it.

We do not have to ask what God’s will is. We only need to know what God says in the Word. He has already revealed all of His will for us in Law and Gospel. We do have to pray, “If it be Thy will.” If God does not will it, it won’t be done. If God wills, even the impossible will be done. In this context, “I can do all things….”