Scripture: Colossians 1:27 – “To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (ESV)

The Christian life is not merely a call to moral improvement or religious observance—it is a call to transformation through union with Christ. At the heart of this transformation lies a profound mystery: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This indwelling presence of Christ is not a metaphorical abstraction but a spiritual reality that redefines our identity, reorients our purpose, and renews our hope.

The Mystery Revealed: Union with Christ ️

The apostle Paul refers to the indwelling Christ as a “mystery,” a term (mystērion) that in Pauline theology denotes a divine truth once hidden but now revealed through the gospel.¹ This mystery is not reserved for a spiritual elite but is made known “among the Gentiles,” signaling the radical inclusivity of God’s redemptive plan.² The presence of Christ within the believer is the culmination of God’s salvific work, the fulfillment of the covenant promise that He would dwell with His people (Ezekiel 37:27; John 14:23).

Union with Christ is central to Paul’s theology. As Sinclair Ferguson notes, “The essence of the Christian life is union with Christ: it is the foundation of all spiritual blessings.”³ This union is not merely positional but participatory—we share in Christ’s death, resurrection, and life (Romans 6:5; Galatians 2:20). The indwelling Christ is the source of our sanctification, empowering us to live in obedience and love.

The Hope of Glory: A Future Secured

The phrase “the hope of glory” points us forward to the eschatological fulfillment of our salvation. This hope is not wishful thinking but confident expectation rooted in the resurrection of Christ and the indwelling of the Spirit (Romans 8:11). As N.T. Wright explains, “Hope in the New Testament is not a vague optimism but a mode of knowing, a mode within which new things are possible.”⁴

This hope sustains us in suffering and anchors us in uncertainty. Paul writes, “We rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:2), and again, “Christ in you” is the guarantee that we will one day be glorified with Him (Romans 8:17). The indwelling Christ is both the pledge and the power of our future inheritance.

A Transformed Life: Christ Made Visible Through Us

When Christ dwells in us, our lives become a living testimony to the gospel. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—flows from the life of Christ within (Galatians 5:22–23). This transformation is not self-generated but Spirit-enabled. As Paul prays for the Ephesians, “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (Ephesians 3:17), he envisions a life rooted and grounded in divine love.

The indwelling Christ also reorients our mission. We become ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:20), reflecting the light of Christ in a world darkened by despair. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Christ exists in community, and the community exists in Christ.”⁵ Our union with Christ compels us to embody His presence in our relationships, vocations, and public witness.

Living in the Light of His Presence

In times of darkness and uncertainty, the hope of glory sustains us. It reminds us that our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3) and that nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38–39). The indwelling Christ is our assurance of salvation, the source of our strength, and the foundation of our faith.

Let us therefore live with the awareness of His presence, allowing His love to flow through us and His light to shine brightly in a world that desperately needs hope. As we journey through this life, may we never lose sight of the incredible privilege of having Christ dwell in us.

A Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Christ in us, the hope of glory. Help us to live in a way that honors and glorifies Him, so that others may see His love shining through us. May we never lose sight of the incredible privilege of having Christ dwell in us, and may His presence be evident in all that we do. In Jesus’ name, amen.

References

1. G. K. Beale, The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004), 267–270.
2. F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984), 84.
3. Sinclair B. Ferguson, The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1981), 113.
4. N. T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church (New York: HarperOne, 2008), 72.
5. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together (New York: Harper & Row, 1954), 21.

Bibliography

Beale, G. K. The Temple and the Church’s Mission: A Biblical Theology of the Dwelling Place of God. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2004.

Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. Life Together. New York: Harper & Row, 1954.

Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1984.

Ferguson, Sinclair B. The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1981.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016.

Wright, N. T. Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. New York: HarperOne, 2008.