Paul declares (Colossians 1:27) that this mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, now revealed to his saints, is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
This is the great mystery of God which has been hidden from all previous ages and is still hidden from all except a special class – the saints, or consecrated believers. But what is meant by “Christ in you”? We have learned that Jesus was anointed with the holy Spirit (Acts 10:38), and thus we recognize him to be the Christ – the anointed. The word “Christ” means “anointed.”
The Apostle John says the anointing which we (consecrated believers) have received abides in us. (1 John 2:27) Thus the saints of this gospel age are an anointed company – anointed to be kings and priests unto God (2 Corinthians 1:21; 1 Peter 2:9). Together with Jesus, their chief and Lord, they constitute Jehovah’s Anointed – THE Christ.
Paul teaches that this mystery which is now made known to the saints is that The Christ (the Anointed) is “not one member, but many.” Just as the human body is one, but has many members, so also is Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12-28) Jesus is anointed to be the head or Lord over the church, which is his body. Unitedly, they constitute the promised “seed” – the Great Deliverer: “If ye be Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:29.
We are “in Christ” because we received the Anointing. Christ is “in us” because the holy Spirit begets in us a new life, a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Additional Resource:
Christian Questions Podcast
Episode #1354: “What Does It Mean to Have Christ in You?”
Learning how to build a life that can truly reflect Christ’s example
Preview Video
CQ Rewind Show Notes
