Christ In You — the Hope of Glory

Though forever remaining subject to the Father and Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24-28), the glorified saints shall share many of God’s attributes, his power, his honor and splendor, his brilliance. Daniel 12:3 and Philippians 3:21 show that the bodies and faces of the glorified saints will shine forth with supernatural brilliance, just as that of the resurrected, glorified Christ, symbolically described in Revelation 1. There are not a few who might consider such a teaching blasphemous, but that nevertheless is the true teaching of Scripture. David wrote, “As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness” (Psalm 17:15). John wrote, “…we know that when he [the Father] is revealed, we shall be like Him…” (I John 3:2). Your destiny, if you’re a true Christian, and if you remain faithful, is to become like God, sharing in his glory for all eternity.

What assurance do you have that this magnificent, astounding purpose will be fulfilled in you? What is the basis for your hope of glory in God’s Kingdom? Both your destiny as a true Christian, and the means of its accomplishment, is reflected in the phrase, “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). Your destiny, if you are a true Christian, is to be glorified with God. And that can be accomplished only by Jesus Christ living in you through the Spirit of God. If Christ is living in you, and as long as Christ continues to live in you, you have the hope and the promise of glory with God.

Assuming you have believed the true gospel, repented and received the Holy Spirit, what can you do to assure that Christ will abide in you, dwell in you, to the end, so that the hope you presently have is fulfilled?

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What Is the Gospel?

You’ve probably heard of “the gospel.” But what is the gospel? Do you really know what the gospel is?

Does it matter? Yes, it really does matter, in the most profound way!

Why? Because Jesus Christ commanded us to believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Jesus Christ said those who believe the gospel, which also implies obedience, would be saved, but those who reject it are subject to punishment (Mark 16:15-16; cf. Romans 1:16; 10:16; II Thessalonians 1:8; 2:13-14; I Peter 4:17-18).

But to believe the gospel you must know what it is. And there is a great deal of confusion about what the gospel actually is.

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Purity of Heart

The pure of heart will see God (Matthew 5:8). But our hearts are by nature corrupted by the leaven of sin (Romans 7:14; 8:7). The Feast of Unleavened Bread pictures the removal of the spiritual leaven that corrupts us, so  we can have pure hearts. How is that accomplished? How can you have a pure heart, so you can see God?

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Love God

Jesus was asked the question, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” (Matthew 22:36). Jesus answer, as recorded in Matthew 22:37-38, was, “’You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.”

We see then that the first and greatest requirement for a Christian is that we love God. And not just that we love God, but that we love him totally, with all our heart, mind and being. This means that we must love God above anything or anyone else. “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” [Matthew 10:37; cf. similar scripture in Luke 14:26; the Greek word μισεω (miseō) in this context does not mean to hate but means to love less by comparison (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance)].

But how do you love God? Have you ever thought about it? I hope so. It is something we should give a great deal of thought and attention to. Let’s examine this subject of loving God and some specific ways we can go about fulfilling this greatest of all commandments.

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