Not I But Christ
Colossians 1:26, 27 “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
What is hope, and why is it important? Let’s look to the Bible for the answers.
Romans 8:24, 25 “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
First, the apostle Paul tells us hope that is seen in not hope. Hope is faith in the future. Just like the writer to the Hebrews tells us regarding faith in chapter 11 and verse 1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Godly faith or God-given faith has confidence attached to it; it is as if it were seen but only through the eyes of faith.
A mystery is something that God spoke about during Old Testament times but has only been understood fully through the appearance of His Son Jesus Christ. And what has been revealed to God’s saints? He says in verse 26, “the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations…”
It was hidden before the flood
Before the giving of the law
And yet we are told in the book of job
19:25, “Yet as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last, He will take His stand on the earth.” Even before the scriptures were written God’s people received by word of mouth and the witness of the Holy Spirit the need and reality of God-given salvation.
The precise nature of the glory we are told is “...God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
As incomprehensible as it is, a day is coming when the saints will stand in the glory of the LORD due to the after-effect of our glorification. (Revelation 22:6) "And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illuminate them; and they will reign forever and ever.'
Think of it! We who have trusted in Christ will be at home in the burning light of God's righteousness. At that moment, we will know what predestined to the conformity of God's beloved Son means in glory.
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