What some Christians assume from our opening scripture is that if Christ is in you, you have a hope of glory in the future. In a sense, that’s correct; if Christ is in you, there’s hope in your life for glory. But what that portion of Scripture means is, Christ in you is the fulfilment of that hope of glory. He’s not saying we have a hope that we’re going to have glory in the future, or in the sweet by and by. The hope that man was looking forward to has been fulfilled in Christ. Christ in you is glory realised.
The latter part of our theme scripture says, “To 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” (Colossians 1:27). This is the revelation or essence of Christianity. The glory that was lost in the Garden of Eden has been restored.

 

Adam lived in the presence of God and God’s presence was his light. That connection, that relationship, was the glory of God. Adam, and subsequently all men, were cut off from that glory in the Garden of Eden, when he sinned against God by committing high treason.

 

But now, you don’t have any reason to live outside the glory of God anymore, because the glory is here now; it’s in your spirit. How do you know that your life is excellent and full of glory? It’s because Christ is in you! That’s your hope for a flourishing life in health, prosperity, victory and success. That’s your confidence that you’ll never be defeated in life: Christ in you, your hope of the transcendent life.