Transformative Power of the Indwelling Christ (Colossians 1:24-29).Wednesday October 14, 2026
Main idea: Since the glorious riches of the mystery is Christ in you the hope of glory, your relationship with Christ is the closest you’ll ever know, and it guarantees your personal transformation to His image as well as your glory with Him for all eternity.
Intro:
Three themes stand out (1:24-2:5).
At the heart of the Word of God is the “mystery.” (entirely Christological) Suffering of the servant of the gospel. Motivation to stay the course (not buy falsehood).
Col 1:24-29 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions. 25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is, 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. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
1. Glorious Riches of this Mystery:
Glory is the essence and presence of God. Riches of the essence and presence of God.
The glorious riches of God were not foreign to the OT Scriptures, but they were not fully revealed.
Paul uses riches in other expressions: riches consisting in God’s goodness (Rom 2:4); riches consisting in God’s glory (Rom 9:23); “riches consisting in generosity (2Co 8:2); riches consisting in God’s grace (Eph 1:7); glorious riches (Eph 2:7); riches consisting in Christ (Eph 3:8); riches consisting in God’s glory (Eph 3:16); riches consisting in the full measure of understanding (Col 2:2)
In Christ they are all fully revealed.
“What” [is] the glorious riches in this case: Christ in you. [mystery revealed]
We should not try to limit Paul’s usage of “mystery” to any one thing (referent). Mystery refers to what was hidden in past ages and generations and now has been revealed.
In Mark 8 we find a chapter constructed around this need in us for revelation from God alone (not our own filling in the details).
Mar 8:24 “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”
Jesus applied His hands again and his sight was fully restored. Why? Partial seeing must wait for a further application of salve from God.
And directly after this - “Who do you say that I am?” (What do you see?)
Mar 8:32 And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.
To Peter, to them, the mystery had not yet been revealed.
2. Christ in you (and you in Him).
Eternal relationship. Unrevealed was its extent.
The present indicative (estin = is) emphatically states a literal and current (always “is”) indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ in all believers in this age.
The reality of your strongest relationship.
Joh 14:18-23 – You will know you live in the sphere of the Trinity. (no longer orphans – identity, life, home, family, purpose – obedience.
Joh 15:4–5: A life bearing a lot of God’s produce. With Him as the vine and you the branch.
Rom 8:9–11: A life of righteousness and self-control.
Christ is in you everywhere you go and everything you do.
Gal 2:20: A life of faith walking with Christ (daily fellowship)
Eph 3:16–17: Christ intoxication (katoikesai: make one’s home)
Col 1:27: Know true riches and glory.
2Co 13:5: True humility (obedience) and courage. [context vs. 4-5]
God loves you too much to leave you alone.
Christ in you truly means that you are never alone.
1Co 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1Co 6:15-20 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, "THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH." 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? 20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
He will discipline, cause pain, take away, instruct, and no, He will never leave you. You asked for a loving God: you have one. You have the God who is called jealous. Who is a consuming fire. And He indwells you.
The false doctrines in Colossae teach against this grace.
3. Christ in you the hope of glory.
Ramifications for eternity.
Col 1:5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel
Col 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Qualified, delivered, transferred, and now indwelt by Christ. Could God do more to draw us into an eternal, blessed relationship with Himself? Do you fear tomorrow?
Rom 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Rom 8:29-30 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
False doctrines: no guarantees, no rest, no hope. Always working towards what God freely gives.
Rom 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
The proper reward for eternity: Eternal boundless love of God to you and from you.
Love between persons is the heart and core of Christian hope, and this is the reason that heaven is not a bribe.
“Marriage is the proper reward for a real lover, and he is not mercenary for desiring it.” C.S. Lewis
Popular religious imagination does tend to think of heaven as simply a trouble-free place of ease.
At the center of heaven is not a generic God but the triune Christian God, on God in three persons “who are united in infinitely dear and incomprehensible mutual love.” [Jonathan Edwards]
“If the love be perfect, the greater the prosperity of the beloved is, the more the lover is pleased and delighted. For the prosperity of the beloved is, as it were, the good of love, and therefore the greater that prosperity the more richly is love feasted.”
In addition, we will never again fear separation from those we love.
In this love and Christ’s heavenly glory and purifying beauty and power descend to make the world new, all evil, suffering, aging, disease, poverty, injustice, and pain are removed forever.
Conclusion:
The mystery revealed is Christ in you the hope of glory. It is a part of the glorious riches of God now given and revealed to His saints, Gentiles and Jews - anyone.
Christ will never leave you alone. You may want Him to at times, but He loves you too much to let you determine your own way and happiness.
All that He is and all that He desires you to be is closer to you than anyone or anything else if you are a believer in Him as your Savior.
What was unrevealed to past ages and generations is the extent of His relationship to His saints.
If you were given riches without a relationship of this love with God, you’d see nothing but vanity in life.
But since He is in you, what do you lack?
No scholar, theologian, pastor, highly effective spiritual person has any more of Christ than you. There are no second class Christians. Your treasure is Christ in you and He will not rest until He transforms you to His image. |