Spiritual Reality

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:27

According to Paul, and Christ as well, ‘Christ in you’ is a spiritual reality.  We want to understand this ourselves and be able to articulate it.  On the night before Christ went to the cross, while He was instructing His disciples, He made reference to this spiritual reality when He said, ‘Abide in me, and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.’  How does this spiritual reality come to be in the personal life of any of us?  Again, we look to the words of Christ.  Within His discourse on the night before His crucifixion, Christ has much to say about the work of the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the Chief Executive Officer of redemption.  It is the Holy Spirit Who practically effects regeneration.  He brings repentance, and gives faith.  He takes the things of Christ and shows them to us.  He grants us the understanding to comprehend the truth of the Scriptures.  It is the Holy Spirit who indwells us and fills us for service.  All which Christ has accomplished for us the Holy Spirit applies unto us.  Therefore, we cannot speak of the spiritual reality of, ‘Christ in you,’ without bringing the Holy Spirit into the discussion.  Christ, Himself, says as much when He declares, ‘Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.’ Let us spend some time today dwelling upon this spiritual reality.  It will draw our hearts out after Christ and give us a greater appreciation for His Holy Spirit.

Our Wise and Wonderful God,
we rejoice that You have sent forth Your Spirit,
to bring Christ to dwell within us.
We praise You for this blessed continuing work,
which He accomplishes to Your glorious end.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning