Colossians 1:27 “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
We all have a beginning that is our generation. We have come from divergent backgrounds and human experiences. Our family makeup, appetites, and activities are unique. We all have experienced various highs and lows in life. From that history, God has abundantly promised new life in Christ Jesus.
Only one man and woman spontaneously came into being and had no history to draw from.
The Book of Genesis shows us that when God created Adam and Eve, they were without faults and were blameless before God. They came into life as a result of God’s touch and breath. As a result of His generative power, God made man in His Own image and likeness. After God was finished, He looked at all that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He approved it completely, (Genesis 1:31).
It must have been an amazing thing to behold the man and then the woman coming into life by God’s touch and breath, (Genesis 1:26-31). God’s description of their Genesis indicates meaningful purpose and possession. Being made in God’s image and likeness, the man and the woman were created with meaningful purpose, spiritual being, and “image-bearing” equality. Not only were they made for God, they were perfectly suited for each other.
We did not enter life like that.
Psalm 51:5 NKJV Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
What does that mean? The Psalmist was saying from the moment of conception, he was a sinner. We all came up through similar processes from birth into life. As a consequence of the fall and sin of Adam and Eve, everyone is born a sinner. We entered into life with a negative rather than a positive. We needed regeneration and redemption. We needed God’s intervention and regeneration. The introduction of sin brought about a dramatic change in that first couple and for all humanity and creation.
It is imperative to know that God knew you before you were born and made provision for you to come to Him.
God made this message clear when He spoke to Jacob and Israel.
Isaiah 43:1 ESV But now thus says the Lord, He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.”
God made that first couple for Himself, but they were also perfect for each other. They were a perfect complement to each other. Adam found in Eve a perfect companion and helper. Although God formed them both, they were made of the same flesh and bone, (Genesis 2:22-24). Adam said, ‘she is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.’
Although they were perfect for each other, they were made for God.
For their development and life, God had prepared everything they would need. He made a garden that was a paradise and supplied everything their natural bodies would need or desire. They had everything that could satisfy their spiritual, emotional, physical and mental cravings or desires.
Adam and Eve were basically free. They were free from care, everything was theirs. They had no knowledge of pain, sickness, or death. They knew nothing of suffering or loss. Everything was perfect in their paradise and garden. They had no shame or regrets. They possessed no burdens or distress from a history of weakness or failure. They knew nothing of frustration or emotional anxiety. God had placed very little limitation on their life or estate. They were free.
When sin entered, their lives dramatically changed. (It would be good for you to read the account in Genesis 1-3).
None of us have experienced that perfect bliss of freedom from loss, sickness, pain, or the cares of life.
1 Kings 4:29 tells us that, “God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.”
He had extensive wealth and lavished himself with everything one could desire. King Solomon was considering our human estate.
Ecclesiastes 2:22-23 NKJV For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? For all his days are sorrowful, and his work burdensome; even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.
Everyone has experienced the burden and toil of this life.
Solomon’s father King David, was a man of great standing with God and men. David knew what it was like to experience the blessing of God’s abundance and the deep burden of failure. Listen to David’s confession.
Psalm 31:10 NKJV For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away.
Even while experiencing the blessing of God’s favor, David fell into sin. From the depth of his low condition, he cried out for God’s help. At some point in everyone’s life, we all come to realize our utter need for God’s help. The answer for your life and situation is Jesus Christ. The hope for your future is in Jesus Christ. God’s only solution for our great need is new life in Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed this to the Apostle Paul.
Ephesians 2:12 NKJV That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
At some point in our life we must come to this realization. Without Christ, we have no hope.
Ephesians 2:13-14 NKJV But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace…
The key for Your new life is Christ Jesus. He is our peace. The sins, failures and transgressions that have kept us from God have been broken down IN CHRIST. In Christ Jesus, we are reconciled to God.
That means we are brought back into the fellowship that we were created to enjoy. In Christ Jesus, the strife and hostility that was incited, fueled and perpetrated through our weakness and sin has been broken. This is what God has planned for us in Christ.
Colossians 1:27 NKJV To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Our goal is to reign in new life in Christ.
You need to reckon and know for certain that God has made it possible for you to enjoy this NEW LIFE. You do not have to flounder in the failures of your old sinful and weak nature. God has provided new life in Christ. “In Christ” designates this new life with every benefit and power of Jesus Christ the King of glory.
Romans 5:8 NKJV But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
That word “demonstrates” means God has put together, composed and made this new life possible through the demonstration of His love by Christ. The marvel and wonder of this Gospel of grace is what Christ Jesus has done to bring us into this new life.
Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Your only real hope to break free from the chains that have held you captive are IN CHRIST. Through Him we all can find true release from bondage. Through Him we can experience true freedom. The good news is God has provided this mercy and grace regardless of our fallen estate or condition. Being in Christ has set us free from the entanglement of sin that we were in. Coming into Christ sets us free from the power and control of our past sin. We do not have to live like we did before we came to Christ. We do not have to live in fear, bondage or failure. We have been delivered from that. Jesus Christ has ransomed us from that bondage. We are brought out of death into His marvelous life and light.
2 Timothy 1:9-10 NKJV God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
Being in Christ brings us into a new life of victory and wonderful liberty.
Jesus has truly made us free.
This freedom is a new kind of life. It is not just an improved old life and way of living. By the appearing of Jesus Christ our Savior we have true hope of NEW LIFE.
I want to notify you of the great benefit and blessing that God has made possible for you in Christ.
- We can enter into the riches of Christ.
- We can come into His grace.
- We can come into His victory.
- We can come into His protection and covering.
- We can come into His wisdom.
- We can come into His holiness.
- In Christ we are being made more than conquerors.
- Jesus has conquered so that you can be made free.
We want to know and experience the fact that we are kept in Christ.
What does it mean to be “kept in Christ?” In Christ, we are kept by the power of God. There is no greater power than God’s power. When we are saved, we are guarded and covered by His keeping power. Satan has no free access to us, we are kept in Christ. When we are healed, we are kept in Christ. When we are delivered, we are kept in Christ. When our daily needs are supplied, we are kept in Christ.
Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you.
You cannot reason this out. God knows how to keep you in Christ until the day that you shall be presented to Him in victory.
We must make a conscious effort to stay in Christ.
Walk in faith in Christ. Walk in the victory that is in Christ. Resist every temptation and trial through the power of Christ. Keep yourself in the faith in Christ.
This walk of faith always leads to victory and triumph because it relies and trust in the power, blood and cross of Christ. There is help, strength and new life for you right now in Christ Jesus. Every spiritual blessing is available in Christ.
- In Christ, we have cleansing and comfort.
- In Christ, we have protection, power, and provision.
- In Christ, we have real joy.
- In Christ, the power of sin is destroyed.
- In Christ, sin has no hold on us.
Ephesians 5:25-26 ESV Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,
Grab hold of this word of truth. Christ loves you so much that He gave Himself fully for you. He did this so that you may have this new life in Christ.
Ephesians 5:27 ESV So that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
This regeneration is new life. God freely gave His Son so that you might have this new life without the stain and pain of your history. He is able to present you to Himself in splendor and not in the rags of your weaknesses.
