Christ in You, The Hope of Glory - Col. 1:21-29 by Pastor Paul Jacks

The passage unfolds a clear Christ-centered theology: Jesus is supremely above all, the Creator through whom all things hold together, and the One whose physical death accomplished reconciliation. Humanity stood alienated and hostile toward God because of sinful minds and behavior, but through Christ’s bodily sacrifice believers are declared holy, blameless, and free from accusation — a positional reality that God has already secured. That positional standing calls for a lived out faith: continuance in the faith, maturity in doctrine, and perseverance in hope are the means by which believers grow and demonstrate the reality of what has been accomplished in Christ.

Suffering is reframed as part of Christian formation. Rather than arbitrary pain, present affliction participates in Christ’s own path and serves to refine the church. Paul’s willingness to suffer on behalf of the body models servanthood: his trials are offered so the church may be strengthened, taught, and encouraged to press on. The unveiled mystery of God’s plan is that Christ now dwells among and within a united people — Jew and Gentile alike — forming one body with Christ as head. This “Christ in you” is presented not merely as a future promise but as the present hope of glory that sustains daily life, enabling believers to face uncertainty with patient expectation.

Practical implications flow from these truths: the church is not an optional add-on to private faith but the means by which burdens are borne, growth is sustained, and hope is made visible. Believers are called to active participation in the body — caring for one another, confessing struggles honestly, and stepping into God’s prompts to encourage and bear burdens together. The assurance of Christ’s presence, combined with communal responsibility, becomes the life-line for perseverance: faith continued, doctrine held fast, suffering embraced in hope, and the shared life of the body lived out in everyday discipleship.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Reconciled through Christ’s physical death Paul insists the reconciliation required Christ’s bodily death and the shedding of blood, countering any notion that the incarnation was merely spiritual. The physical reality of Jesus’ sacrifice secures forgiveness and removes accusation, making holiness a declared status grounded in God’s act, not human effort. This anchors assurance: salvation is an accomplished work that invites trust, not a precarious achievement to be earned. [06:39]
• 2. Positionally holy; grow in faith Believers are already declared holy and blameless in Christ, yet maturity requires continued faith, doctrinal steadiness, and practical perseverance. Growth is not proof of salvation but the fruit of union with Christ — a disciplined, communal process that resists novelty and false teaching. Continued faith shapes affections and choices so positional reality becomes lived reality. [11:46]
• 3. Suffering refines and strengthens believers Suffering is portrayed as part of Christ’s means for sanctifying the church: trials educate, discipline, and align the heart with God’s purposes. Rather than arbitrary punishment, affliction can be redemptive when it produces reliance on Christ and fosters compassion within the body. The call is to rejoice in suffering’s purpose, not its pain, recognizing God’s long view for growth. [19:29]
• 4. Christ in you: hope for today The “Christ in you” motif reframes hope as present sustaining power, not merely future consolation; it enables faithful endurance in ordinary days. Hope here is expectant trust — anticipating God’s faithfulness while actively engaging the moment before the believer. This inward presence prompts obedience, communal care, and a steady courage for daily discipleship. [24:19]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:26] - Series and Colossians overview
• [00:59] - Reading: Colossians 1:15–22
• [03:19] - Opening prayer
• [03:46] - Alienation from God explained
• [06:39] - Reconciliation by Christ’s body
• [10:57] - Continue in the faith: maturity
• [15:02] - Paul on suffering for the church
• [22:31] - The revealed mystery of the church
• [23:58] - Christ in you: hope of glory
• [27:14] - Importance of the body of Christ
• [32:11] - Closing prayer and charge

Bible reading

Colossians 1:15–27 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 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.

Observation questions

1. According to verses 21-22, what was our condition before Christ, and what three specific terms describe our new standing before God because of Jesus’ physical death? [08:36]
2. In verse 23, what are the requirements for a believer to be "stable and steadfast," and what are we cautioned not to move away from? [10:57]
3. What is the "mystery" that was hidden for generations but has now been disclosed to God’s people in verses 26-27? [22:01]
4. How does Paul describe his own attitude toward suffering in verse 24, and who does he say his suffering is for? [15:02]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul emphasizes that reconciliation happened through Christ’s "physical body" (vs. 22). Why is the physical nature of Jesus’ sacrifice—specifically the shedding of blood—so critical for the forgiveness of sins? [07:54]
2. Verse 24 mentions "filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions." Since Christ’s work for salvation is finished, how does the ongoing suffering of believers serve to strengthen and benefit the "body, which is the church"? [16:54]
3. The "hope of glory" is defined as "Christ in you" (vs. 27). How does the reality of Christ’s presence *inside* the believer provide a different kind of hope than just waiting for a future destination? [24:19]

Application questions

1. We often feel defined by our past mistakes or "evil behavior," yet God declares us "holy, blameless, and without accusation." Do you find it difficult to accept this as your current reality when you don't "feel" holy? [09:31]
2. It is possible to be a Christian for many years but remain at an "infant status" in terms of maturity. What are some practical ways you can "continue in the faith" this week so that your growth isn't just tied to how much time has passed? [10:22]
3. Suffering is often viewed as something to avoid, but it can be a tool for refinement. When you face a trial, is your first instinct to try to "circumvent" what God might be doing, or do you look for how it might be making you more like Him? [18:44]
4. The Christian life is not meant for "hyper-individualism" where it’s just "me, myself, and I." How can you more actively participate in the "body" of the church to ensure you don't get "distracted and defeated" by the world? [28:06]
5. We are called to "bear one another’s burdens," but this requires taking off our "facades" and being real. What prevents you from being honest with your small group or church family about the burdens you are carrying right now? [31:03]
6. Instead of worrying about next week or the next election cycle, we are encouraged to focus on the "hope of glory" for today. What is one specific worry you can hand over to Christ’s sustaining power right now? [26:14]
7. Sometimes God provides the answer to our prayers through another person in the body. Has there been a "prompt" from the Spirit lately to encourage or call someone that you haven't acted on yet? [29:32]