09-13-2026 The Hope of Glory

Text: Colossians 1:26-27

                The Bible is sometimes called a book of mysteries.  But mysteries in the Bible are not like the who-done-it novels and films we like to read or watch.  Bible mysteries refer to things that are unexplained or unknown at first but eventually become known to us by divine revelation.  Paul was a great mystery writer because of how he was able to explain Bible mysteries to his readers.  For example, he writes about the mystery of the age of grace in Romans 15:25 and the mystery of the coming rapture in I Corinthians 16:51. 

                This morning, we’re going to look at the greatest mystery of them all that was hidden from the Old Testament saints.  It’s found in today’s text where Paul writes in Colossians 1:26-27:  “ (26) Even the mystery which has been hid from ages from generations but now is made manifest to His saints:  (27) To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you and the Hope of Glory.” 

                The false teachers in the early Colossian church believed that spiritual perfection was a secret hidden plan that only a few privileged people could discover.  This secret plan was meant to be exclusive for an elite group.  Paul said that he was announcing the entire message of God was available to anyone who accepts Jesus.  He also called God’s plan a “mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations,” not because only a few would understand it, but because it had been hidden until Jesus came to this world to take away sin.  Through Jesus death on the cross, God’s plan is available to anyone.  God’s secret plan is simple:  “Christ in you and the hope of Glory.”  From the beginning, God planned to have His Son Jesus Christ live in the hearts of all who choose believe in Him – even Gentiles like the Colossians.  He doesn’t remain hidden from anyone who will choose to accept Jesus into their lives as Savior and Lord.  Those that choose the plan are to share it with others so they too can have the hope of Glory.

                Hope is word that is sometimes misinterpreted.  Most often in the secular world it’s used and thought of as something that we want or wish for but aren’t one hundred percent sure it will happen.  But in the Bible hope means faith, confidence, a promise, or a person or thing in which our expectations are centered.  When it comes to hope, there three choices in how we exercise hope:  we can choose to have false hope, no hope, and to have the hope of glory.

                When we choose to have false hope in something that isn’t of God, eventually we end up being miserable.  In Luke 18:23 we learn about the false hope of the rich young ruler that came to Jesus.  Because making money and gathering riches was his god he couldn’t understand or accept what Jesus meant when He told him to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and follow Him so he would have treasure in Heaven.  Like so many today, money and wealth was this man’s identity and couldn’t imagine anything that would make him happy without it.  But worldly wealth can disappear in the blink of an eye and it certainly can’t be taken with us when this life ends nor will it guarantee a good life while we are here.  This applies to anything we accept under false hope.

                Some people believe they can rely on their intellect and education to take care of all their needs.  They falsely believe it will be equip them to handle any crisis that will arise.  Others falsely hope only their good works or participating in religious ceremonies or rites are all that’s necessary to guarantee their place in Heaven.  But these are just more examples of false hope.  The truth is that the hope of Glory only comes to those who are in Jesus.

                Then there’s the choice of no hope.  Ephesians 2:12 reminds us that when we don’t have Jesus in our life and believe in Him as Lord and Savior, we are separated from God and there is no hope of eternity in Heaven when we leave this life.  To live without Jesus in us is to die without hope.  Our proof of hope in eternity is tested during life because it comes at the point of death.  But all of our earthly successes will never be a comfort to us if we die without Jesus.  The hope of Glory only comes to those who make the choice to have Jesus in them.

                A Christian life with hope in the Glory of Heaven is very apparent when we experience the death of those we care most about.  As believers, we can deal with sorrow at the death of loved ones who go before us if they too have Jesus.  We know we will be reunited in the next life.  In contrast, unbelievers experience profound sorrow because they’re forever separated from those they care about and it reinforces that they have nothing to look forward to when this life is over.  There are no promises of the hope of Glory for those who die in unbelief.

                Finally we have our third choice when it comes to hope.  It’s spelled out clearly in our texts:  We have the hope of Glory.  Jesus Christ is what gives every believer the hope of Glory.  We will have eternal life in Heaven to look forward to when we have Jesus Christ in us.  It’s not just wishful thinking; it’s a confident expectation.  It’s a promise we have from God Himself.  It will happen.  We can look forward to that day when it comes.  Peter tells us in I Peter 1:3 because of the resurrection of Jesus, all who have Him as Lord will have eternal life with Him.  Yes, we will have problems and difficult times in our earthly life.  But because of Jesus, we have the Glory of eternity in Heaven waiting for us. 

                Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18 that we are now identified with Jesus as heirs of God.  That inheritance comes to us when we leave this life.  Even though we will suffer during this life, it will be nothing but a distant memory – if we think of it at all - when we get to Heaven and see Jesus.  This is the reason we are encouraged to share Jesus with others.  When we care about someone, we never want them out of our lives.  We need to help them understand what’s available to them when they come to know Jesus as Lord and Savior over their lives so they will have the hope of Glory.

                With Jesus, we’re assured of eternal life.  It’s not just a wish that it might happen.  It is a firm promise that it will happen.  Every individual can choose the hope of Glory that will give us the ability to live for eternity as God intended when He created the Garden of Eden.  It will be a life where there will be no sadness, sorrow, pain, or sickness when we all get to Heaven.  This is the hope of Glory when we have Christ in us.

                Better days are waiting for all who accept Jesus and choose to live for Him rather than by what is offered through this world that is currently controlled by Satan.  Don’t wait any longer if you haven’t yet chosen Jesus to rule your life. 

                Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.