Christ: Our Life, Hope, and Future Glory

 

Summary

In the message from Colossians 3:4, we explore the profound truth that Christ is our life. This truth is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that transforms every aspect of our existence. Christ is the source, sustenance, and solace of our spiritual life. Just as the natural life is a mystery, so is our spiritual life, yet it is centered entirely on Christ. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega of our faith. Without Him, we remain dead in our sins, but through Him, we are quickened and made alive.

Our spiritual life is hidden with Christ, much like Christ is hidden from the world. The world cannot comprehend the life we have in Him, just as it could not comprehend Him when He walked the earth. This hidden life is a source of security and hope, for it is beyond the reach of worldly trials and temptations. Our life in Christ is not fully revealed yet, but it will be when He appears in glory. At that time, we too will appear with Him, transformed and glorified.

The anticipation of Christ's return is a source of hope and joy. It is a promise that our current struggles and limitations are temporary. We are like seeds, containing the potential for something far greater, waiting for the right time to burst forth into full life. This future glory is not just a distant hope but a present reality that shapes how we live today. We are called to live in a way that reflects Christ, knowing that our true life is in Him and will be fully revealed when He returns.

Key Takeaways:

- Christ as Our Life: Christ is not just a part of our life; He is our life. This means that every aspect of our spiritual existence is rooted in Him. Without Christ, we remain spiritually dead, but through Him, we are made alive and sustained. Our relationship with Christ is the essence of our spiritual vitality. [04:37]

- The Hidden Life: Our life in Christ is hidden from the world, much like Christ is hidden from those who do not believe. This hiddenness is a source of security, as it is beyond the reach of worldly trials. Our true life will be revealed when Christ appears in glory, and we will share in His triumph. [25:18]

- Anticipation of Christ's Return: The promise of Christ's return is a source of hope and joy. It assures us that our current struggles are temporary and that we will be transformed and glorified with Him. This future hope shapes our present living, calling us to reflect Christ in all we do. [38:14]

- Transformation and Glory: Just as seeds contain the potential for a great tree, we have within us the potential for a glorified existence. Our current limitations are temporary, and we will be fully transformed when Christ returns. This transformation is both a future promise and a present reality that influences our lives today. [41:02]

- Living in Christ's Example: We are called to live in a way that reflects Christ, knowing that our true life is in Him. This involves a deep, personal relationship with Christ, where His life becomes the model and motivation for our own. Our spiritual journey is about becoming more like Him, in both character and action. [17:40]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:13] - Introduction and Context
- [01:09] - The Struggle and Hope
- [02:31] - Rising Expectations
- [04:03] - Christ as Our Life
- [06:09] - The Intimacy with Christ
- [08:26] - The Source of Spiritual Life
- [11:01] - Sustenance in Christ
- [13:11] - Solace in Christ
- [15:18] - Christ as the Object of Life
- [17:40] - Christ as the Exemplar
- [20:44] - Spiritual Life in Heaven
- [25:18] - The Hidden Life
- [32:04] - Christ's Future Appearance
- [38:14] - Our Future Glory with Christ

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Colossians 3:4
- Ephesians 5:14
- John 11:25

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#### Observation Questions
1. What does Colossians 3:4 mean when it says "Christ is our life"? How does this concept relate to the idea of spiritual life being hidden with Christ? [04:37]
2. In the sermon, how is the hidden life of a believer compared to Christ's hiddenness from the world? [25:18]
3. What imagery does the pastor use to describe the anticipation of Christ's return and our future transformation? [41:02]

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#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the significance of Christ being the source, sustenance, and solace of our spiritual life? What implications does this have for a believer's daily walk? [11:01]
2. The sermon mentions that our spiritual life is hidden from the world. What might this hiddenness mean for how believers interact with non-believers? [25:18]
3. How does the anticipation of Christ's return provide hope and shape the way believers live today, according to the sermon? [38:14]

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#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the statement "Christ is our life." How does this truth impact your daily decisions and priorities? Are there areas in your life where this truth is not evident? [04:37]
2. The sermon describes our spiritual life as hidden and secure in Christ. How does this understanding affect your response to trials and temptations? [25:18]
3. Consider the anticipation of Christ's return. How does this future hope influence your current struggles and limitations? What practical steps can you take to live with this hope in mind? [38:14]
4. The sermon uses the metaphor of seeds containing potential for future glory. What potential do you see in your own spiritual life, and how can you nurture it? [41:02]
5. How can you live in a way that reflects Christ, knowing that your true life is in Him? Identify one specific area in your life where you can better reflect Christ's character. [17:40]
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of a deep, personal relationship with Christ. What practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to deepen this relationship? [17:40]
7. How can you encourage others in your community to live with the hope and anticipation of Christ's return? What role can you play in fostering this mindset within your small group? [38:14]

Devotional

Day 1: Christ as the Source of Our Spiritual Life
Christ is not just a part of our life; He is our life. This means that every aspect of our spiritual existence is rooted in Him. Without Christ, we remain spiritually dead, but through Him, we are made alive and sustained. Our relationship with Christ is the essence of our spiritual vitality. This profound truth is not merely a theological concept but a living reality that transforms every aspect of our existence. Christ is the source, sustenance, and solace of our spiritual life. Just as the natural life is a mystery, so is our spiritual life, yet it is centered entirely on Christ. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega of our faith. [04:37]

Colossians 1:17-18 (ESV): "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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."

Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally root your daily activities and decisions in the life-giving presence of Christ today?


Day 2: The Hidden Life in Christ
Our life in Christ is hidden from the world, much like Christ is hidden from those who do not believe. This hiddenness is a source of security, as it is beyond the reach of worldly trials. Our true life will be revealed when Christ appears in glory, and we will share in His triumph. The world cannot comprehend the life we have in Him, just as it could not comprehend Him when He walked the earth. This hidden life is a source of security and hope, for it is beyond the reach of worldly trials and temptations. [25:18]

1 John 3:1-2 (ESV): "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Reflection: How can you find comfort and strength in the hiddenness of your life in Christ, especially when facing trials or misunderstandings from the world?


Day 3: Anticipation of Christ's Return
The promise of Christ's return is a source of hope and joy. It assures us that our current struggles are temporary and that we will be transformed and glorified with Him. This future hope shapes our present living, calling us to reflect Christ in all we do. We are like seeds, containing the potential for something far greater, waiting for the right time to burst forth into full life. This future glory is not just a distant hope but a present reality that shapes how we live today. [38:14]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words."

Reflection: What specific actions can you take today to live in anticipation of Christ's return, allowing this hope to influence your interactions and decisions?


Day 4: Transformation and Glory
Just as seeds contain the potential for a great tree, we have within us the potential for a glorified existence. Our current limitations are temporary, and we will be fully transformed when Christ returns. This transformation is both a future promise and a present reality that influences our lives today. The anticipation of Christ's return is a source of hope and joy. It is a promise that our current struggles and limitations are temporary. [41:02]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: Identify one area of your life where you sense God is calling you to transformation. How can you cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this process today?


Day 5: Living in Christ's Example
We are called to live in a way that reflects Christ, knowing that our true life is in Him. This involves a deep, personal relationship with Christ, where His life becomes the model and motivation for our own. Our spiritual journey is about becoming more like Him, in both character and action. The anticipation of Christ's return is a source of hope and joy. It is a promise that our current struggles and limitations are temporary. [17:40]

Ephesians 5:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."

Reflection: Reflect on one specific way you can imitate Christ's love and sacrifice in your relationships or community today. What practical steps can you take to embody His example?

Quotes

Christ is the source of our life, for as the father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them even so the son quickeneth whom he will. Our Lord's own words are verily verily I say unto you he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation but is passed from Death unto life. [07:13]

Christ is the sustenance of our life. What can the Christian feed upon but Jesus flesh and blood? As to his natural life he needs bread, but as to his spiritual life of which alone we are now speaking, he has learned that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of God shall Man live. [11:01]

Christ is the Solace of our life. Noah's Ark had but one window and we must not expect more. Jesus is the only window which lets light into the Christian Spirit when he is under sharp affliction. Kirk White's picture of his midnight Voyage when one star alone of all the train could guide the Mariners' foundering bark to the port of peace is a faint but truthful representation of the Christian's life in its hour of peril. [13:11]

To the true Christian Christ is the object of his life. As speeds the ship towards the port so Haste The Believer towards the Haven of his savior's bosom. As flies the arrow to its goal so flies the Christian towards the perfecting of his fellowship with Christ Jesus. As the soldier fights for his captain and is crowned in his Captain's Victory, so the believer contends for Christ and gets his Triumph out of the triumphs of his master. [15:18]

It follows from all this that Christ is the Exemplar of our life. A Christian lays the Life of Christ before him as the Schoolboy puts his copy at the top of the page and he tries to draw each line downstroke and upstroke according to the handwriting of Christ Jesus. He has the portrait of Christ before him as the artist in his Studio his Greek sculptures busts and torsos. [17:40]

Now as our lord Jesus has not yet appeared in his glory our life is therefore hidden. The earnest expectation of the creature weighteth for the manifestation of the sons of God, but as yet they are unknown and unmanifested. The major part of the believer's life is not seen at all and never can be by the unspiritual eye. [25:18]

Christ will appear. The text speaks of it as a fact to be taken for granted when Christ who is our life shall appear. It is not a matter of question in the Christian church whether Christ will appear or not. Has not Christ appeared once? Yes after a certain sort. I remember reading a quaint expression of some old Divine that the Book of Revelation might quite as well be called an ovulation for it was rather a hiding than a revealing of things to come. [32:04]

Christ is yet to appear in the strong sense of the word appearing he is to come out and shine forth he is to leave the Robes of scorn and shame behind and to come in the glory of the father and All His Holy Angels with him this is the constant teaching of the word of God and the constant hope of the church that Christ will appear. [32:44]

When he comes out in all his glory we also shall appear with him in glory. If you would like these gracious promises drawn out into detail with regard to the body you may listen to just such words as these: it is sown a soulish body it is raised a spiritual body. The first man is of the earth earthy the second man is the Lord From Heaven. [41:02]

Whatever Christ's body is in heaven our body is to be like it whatever its glory and strength and power our vile body is to be fashioned like unto his glorious body. As for our soul whatever of absolute perfection whatever of immortal Joy Christ possesses we are to possess that and as for Honor whatever of esteem and love Christ may have from intelligent beings we are to share in the same. [44:00]

Let us Comfort one another therefore with these words and look up out of our wormhood and our Chrysalis state to that happier and better day when we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. All this has nothing to do with a great many of you you will die but you will never rise like Christ you will die and you will die. [46:05]

Oh I would that Christ were your life but you are dead and God will save you one of these days as Abraham said of Sarah bury the dead out of my sight and you must be put out of his sight as an obnoxious putrid thing. Oh that he would Quicken you this day there is life says to him in a look at the crucified one. [46:55]

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Transcript
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