The Apostle Paul preached the gospel as “CHRIST IN YOU the hope of glory” Colossians 1:27. There is actually a reason that his message was not simply “Jesus in you.” Although in reality both messages are the same, yet in making known the truth of the gospel these messages are very different. When speaking of Jesus, the apostles were generally referring to “Christ after the flesh” II Corinthians 5:16. This began with his virgin birth and continued all the way through his resurrection and ascension. While it is certain that Jesus is Christ, when the apostles spoke of Christ they were speaking of so much more than just the 33½ years of his walk on earth. Paul wrote, “though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more” II Corinthians 5:16.

The apostles preached the eternal nature of Christ. John begins the message of Christ with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:1-3. Here, the eternal and divine nature of Christ is revealed as the one by whom all things were made. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not” John 1:10. Paul joins in the eternal description of Christ saying “…all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” Colossians 1:16-17. Peter gives us insight into the eternal nature of Christ telling us that “the Spirit of Christ” was in the prophets “when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow” I Peter 1:11. It was this eternal Christ, who was with God and was God, who left his eternal glory and came to earth on a mission from heaven.

The clearest description in the scripture of what Christ’s mission was is found in the message delivered to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. He told Daniel that from the time a proclamation was given to rebuild and restore the fallen city of Jerusalem, there would be a period of 483 years (69 weeks of years) until “the Messiah the prince,” or “the Christ,” would appear. Daniel 9:25. During the next 7 years (1 week of years) that followed, Christ would be killed (“cut off”). Yet before these years expired, he would “…make an end of sins …make reconciliation for iniquity, and …bring in everlasting righteousness…” Daniel 9:24. This “mission” is why the eternal Christ came to earth “…made in the likeness of men” Philippians 2:7.

We know that Jesus Christ made “reconciliation for iniquity on the cross,” but that was only part of his mission! According to the prophecy, he also came “to make an end of sins” and “to bring in everlasting righteousness.” You can be sure that he did not fail in this heavenly mission. As a summary of all that Christ came to accomplish, John wrote, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” I John 3:8. After the serpent’s deception had succeeded in causing the fall of humanity into sin and darkness, God told the serpent that the “seed” of the woman “shall bruise thy head.” Genesis 3:15. Calvary was about God keeping that promise. Hanging upon the cross, Jesus let all eternity know that he, the Christ, had succeeded in all he had come to accomplish. With his last breath he cried, “It is finished,” John 19:30 for he had accomplished his mission upon earth!

If you look at the world after the cross, in that day or in our day, it appears that nothing changed. Sin still exists; the world is not reconciled to God; there are no signs of everlasting righteousness; and Satan’s work is seen on every hand. But this is where the “mystery” of Christ is revealed Colossians 1:26. It is a mystery that the prophets did not fully understand. The Jews certainly did not comprehend it. Even many in the church today deny it. Jesus’ mission was not to fulfill these things in the world, in the nations, or even in certain groups of people. He came to do it all “IN YOU!” His mission was that YOU would be reconciled to God! That an end of sin would be made IN YOU! That everlasting righteousness would reign IN YOU! That Satan’s works would be destroyed IN YOU! Christ’s mission was always to obtain absolute victory on the cross and manifest that victory IN YOU. He did not fail in his mission on the cross, and (if you will believe this gospel and trust in Christ) he will not fail IN YOU! The glory of the gospel is “CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY!”

God Bless,

SBS

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