Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1: Colossians 1:27-29 by Bob DeWaay Gospel of Grace Fellowship November 2, 2014

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  We know the content of the mystery only because God willed to reveal it  The mystery is filled with rich glory  Gentiles are included in God’s plan of salvation  “glory” is used twice in verse 27 Colossians 1:27a (NASB) to whom [saints] God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles,

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  This is the content of the mystery  The hope of glory begins now and is fulfilled in eternity  Glory is associated in the Bible with the very presence of God Himself  Christ indwells believers by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:9-11) Colossians 1:27b (NASB) which is Christ in you, the hope of glory

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  Gospel preaching is preaching Christ  “Admonishing” can be translated “warning”  “All” is repeated several times in the singular and so means “each man”  The gospel of Christ is God’s wisdom (1Corin. 1:24) Colossians 1:28a (NASB) We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  The purpose of preaching, warning, and teaching is the maturing of the saints  “Present” was also used in Colossians 1:22 and denotes presented before God  Col. 1:22 says “present blameless” here, “complete”  This is for each Christian, not merely some spiritual elite Colossians 1:28b (NASB) so that we may present every man complete in Christ.

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  “Labor” implies severe exertion  “Struggling” is an athletic term  Paul piles up terms of power: work, working, and power  Paul sees no contradiction between God’s grace in the gospel and his hard work for the same Colossians 1:29 (NET) Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1:  God’s glory is revealed through the gospel  Preaching Christ with warnings and teaching causes believers to grow into Christ’s image  An eternal perspective will cause, not hinder, hard work for the gospel

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1: John 1:14 (NASB) And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 17:5 (NASB) "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1: Acts 20:31 (NASB) Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears.  Teaching and admonishing are also mentioned in Colossians 3:16  Preaching Christ is discussed in Philippians 1:15-18

Christ in You the Hope of Glory: Colossians 1: Timothy 6:12 (NASB) Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  “Fight” is “struggle” used in Col. 1:29  “Take hold of” is a strong term as well  Both “fight” and “take hold of” are in the imperative  “faith” is “the faith” in the Greek