"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
The Lord recently impressed me to seek a better understanding of what the hope of glory means in our individual lives. There is significance in every written word, and far too often we glibly pass over scripture thinking that we already know what it says or means. We fail to sit before the Lord and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of the written word within our hearts, to illuminate our understanding till we grasp the spiritual application that will work a transformation within our inner man.
The definition of hope is from a primary word (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope.
The definition of glory is, From the base of G1380; glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively): - dignity, glory (-ious), honour, praise, worship.
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. It is worth our time to include here the rest of what Paul says regarding this hope we hold:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation (pressure, affliction, anguish, persecution, trouble) worketh (that is, accomplishes) patience (cheerful, or hopeful, endurance); and patience, experience (test, proof, trial); and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of Christ is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Ephesians 1:17-19 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the mighty working of his power.
2 Peter 1:2-8 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith (persuasion, conviction, assurance, belief) virtue (excellence, praise); and to virtue knowledge (knowing, the act); and to knowledge temperance (self-control); and to temperance patience (endurance, constancy); and to patience godliness (piety, holiness); and to godliness brotherly kindness (affection, love of the brethren); and to brotherly kindness charity (love, that is affection or benevolence, a love feast). For if these things be in you, and abound (to do, make or be more, increase), they make you that you shall neither be barren (inactive, lazy, useless) nor unfruitful (barren, without fruit) in the knowledge (recognition, full discernment) of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This hope is far more than a vague, unattainable wish. This hope is not something reserved for us when we get to heaven. This hope is the doorway into the abundant life in Christ Jesus, right here on earth. This hope will only become a reality in our lives as we diligently seek to know God, as we press into a personal relationship with HIM. We want to be fruitful, we want to know the Lord, but we fall short of the reality of His resurrection power in our lives. We settle for understanding that is in-part. We listen to all the voices around us, without learning to hear HIS voice.
The reason for this is the mixture in the teaching we receive. We are not encouraged, and in some cases people are actually discouraged, from seeking to hear the voice of the Lord within our inner man for ourselves. The fear being that if everyone truly walked in a personal relationship with the Lord, how would the leaders maintain control and order over the people? Almost immediately upon acceptance of the Salvation message, new converts are initiated into the teachings and doctrines of whatever Church they are in. Someone immediately begins pointing out scriptures, simultaneously explaining to the babe in Christ how they should interpret the scripture. This establishes a pattern that is carried on throughout the life of the new convert, never allowing them to grow up in a personal relationship. Instead of being encouraged to know God for themselves, people are kept dependent on others to tell them what the Word says or what they should believe. People are trained to keep their eye on their leader, more than they are taught to keep their eye centered on Christ. The average Christian in this country is more familiar with the sayings of Paul than with the Words that Jesus spoke.
Paul's writings were written under the unction of the Holy Spirit. Paul was compelled to spread the Gospel message because he experienced a personal revelation of Jesus Christ. That does not mean however, that we can just listen to Paul and fail to come to an understanding of the Gospel of Christ. We must each one of us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. We must all experience our own personal revelation of Jesus. All that Paul said and did was to direct and encourage others to come to know Christ as personally as he did. If we would receive a revelation of Christ, we will have to willingly let go of our preconceived ideas and beliefs. It takes courage to believe what the Holy Spirit reveals to your understanding, especially when it is different from things you may have previously been taught. Our entire walk in this life is comprised of making choices. Whose voice will we listen to? What teachings will we receive and believe?
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth (to revitalize, make alive); the flesh (human nature, carnal mind) profiteth (to be useful, benefit) nothing (not even one thing): the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. It is not enough to know and talk about the things Jesus said and did. We must decide (choose) if we will first of all receive Jesus' words, and secondly if we will believe that all of His words are true. He has plainly stated that in His Words is where we will find Life. If we will learn to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit over the clamor of our carnal reasoning, we will come to our own personal revelation of Jesus Christ in our lives. Until we are willing to do this, the hope of glory will remain a distant, unattainable dream.
The hope of glory is found as we come to the knowledge of God. We can rejoice in tribulation as well as blessing, because we have learned that tribulation works patience, experience and hope within us.
To effectually know the HOPE OF GLORY is:
1. To receive the spirit of wisdom
2. To receive the knowledge of Who Christ Is
3. To have our spiritual eyes opened
4. To gain understanding
5. To know what He is calling us individually to
6. To partake of His Divine nature
7. To grow in faith and conviction
8. To grow in virtue and excellence
9. To grow in temperance or self control
10. To grow in patience, constancy
11. To grow in godliness, holiness
12. To grow in love of the brethren
13. To grow in love, charity
All of the above are actions: to receive, to have, to gain, to know, to partake, to grow. They denote progressive change and development. For if these things are in us, and increase, we shall not be inactive, lazy, useless, nor barren and without fruit in our knowledge and discernment of our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Notice that the fruit referred to in this scripture is not talking about souls saved, it is talking about the fruit of KNOWING the Lord Jesus Christ. As we will know him in the fellowship of his sufferings, we will be made conformable to his image. This is the hope of glory. There is only one way of obtaining this hope. We must make securing this hope our number one priority. We will have to diligently strive for it.
In Romans 5 the steps of obtaining hope are outlined:
Tribulation, or suffering develops patient, hopeful endurance. While patiently waiting, we experience (try, test, prove) God's Word to us, becoming grounded in the experiential knowledge of God's love, despite circumstances. As our hope and confidence in Christ grows, Jesus' love becomes the all-consuming power within our hearts from which we operate in this world.
Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Using the concordance definitions, another way of stating this could be Our hope, expectation and confidence will never disgrace or dishonor us, because the love of God will pour forth, gushing and running greedily out of our hearts consuming our mind, thoughts and feelings as it is imparted to us by the Holy Ghost. Do we ever wonder why it is that we are not seeing a greater manifestation of the power of God demonstrated in our lives? in our Churches? in our world?
As believers it is our responsibility to know firsthand the Gospel of Christ; to grow in a personal relationship with our Lord; to die to the carnal life we have known; to live a life guided by the Spirit of God. When we lay hold of this is when we will discover with full comprehension the hope of glory to which we are called. When we are living a Spirit led life is when we will see the power of God manifest in our midst. We will no longer seek to please men. Our hearts greatest desire will be to be found pleasing in God's sight. As Peter expounded, it is as we lay hold of the knowledge of God that grace and peace are multiplied unto us. We will never find the knowledge of God if our hearts desire is to attain the riches and pleasures of this material world. But if our hearts desire is to know God he has already given us all of the tools that we need to successfully live a holy life, to experience glory while still in this world. We can partake of the divine nature of God.
If we would all get serious about knowing God now, imagine the impact we would have on this fallen world. All of the keys have already been delivered to us. It is up to each one of us whether or not we will choose to make our calling and election sure. Whether we will partake of the power available to all who will come to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Many today want the power, but they want it to build their own kingdoms and feed their own lusts. If we would know the difference, it is imperative that we know God. Do not be deceived into believing the lie that hope and glory are only for after we leave this mortal world. Hope and glory are part of the abundant life in Christ Jesus that He is calling us to be partakers of. May we all make the hope of glory to which we are called a reality in our hearts and lives.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (complete) in Christ Jesus.
