God wanted to make known to them the glorious riches of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Into the Text
We now come to the heart of Paul’s teaching in this letter. He speaks of the mystery that is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” The word “mystery” doesn’t mean some mystical teaching for the elite Christian or something that we cannot understand. No, he means something hidden in the past, in Old Testament times, that has now been revealed in the New Testament.
In the Old Testament, God promised the Jews that the Messiah was coming. Though they knew this, they never imagined that the Messiah would not just be a man but God Himself. And on top of that, they couldn’t fathom that He would come and indwell His people. What’s more, He wouldn’t just live in Jewish believers but even in non-Jews, in Gentiles!
What an amazing reality that Jesus, the living God, would come and live in us. Think about how rich that makes us. Paul loved to write about the riches that are ours through Jesus. Even though he didn’t really own anything of material value, he counted himself rich because He had Jesus.
If we have Jesus in us, we not only have eternal salvation, but we have a divine resource for living the Christian life. He wants to give us power, victory over sin, understanding, love, hope for the future, and so much more. It’s all ours through Christ. God, by His mercy, made us rich now and forever. There is no reason to live like spiritual paupers.
If you have Christ, you are rich beyond imagination. God Himself has come to live in you. You are the temple of the living God. What else could you ask for?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please open my eyes so that I can know what riches are mine because of Jesus living in me. Amen.