Colossians 1:26-28

The Mystery of Christ - 1:26-28

26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints.

Mystery - Thayer "a hidden thing, secret, not obvious to the understanding" Vine "In Colossians and Ephesians it is used, with a single exception, of the admission of the Gentiles to gospel privileges" (Romans 16:25-26)

In the Gnostic system it was believed that only the initiated ones could know the way of salvation. The word translated "mystery" means the "initiated ones." A mystery is a secret which would remain such except for revelation. Vine "Musterion - Primarily that which is known to the 'musts', the initiated ones." To the Greeks it meant the secret rites and ceremonies which only those in the sect would know.

Ages would refer to an era, a period of time of significant character. Generation is a lifetime, a step in genealogy. Paul is saying this is new. It was not known is previous eras.

Now it is widely known. It has been made manifest. SEB "now has been made clear" Phillips "is now as clear as daylight" It is made known at a time and in a manner appointed by God, and to those only whom the Spirit would choose. It is now uncovered.

26 - The secret which our ancestors did not understand is now to be unveiled.

27To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

God is the one to make it known. Not some special initiated, knowing, one. Without God showing it to us, it would still be a hidden mystery.

God has wealth beyond our ability to comprehend. Some of this wealth is knowledge. He is about to share some of it with us.

Drum roll, please. SEB "The secret is..." Here it comes. This is the moment. The envelope please.

Christ in us. Christ dwells within the Christian. We often debate and discuss the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and forget that Christ dwells in us. (Ephesians 3:17)

This is the hope of glory. Our hope of eternal life, our hope of heaven, our hope of being with God is only valid if Christ is in us.

NOTE: This secret has two aspects to it.

The hope we have is only through Christ. If you have hope in this life only, you are miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19) Christ dwells in us. This is a secret the world does not understand.

Christ dwells in Gentiles as well as Jews. The mystery "among the Gentiles" is that Christ loves them, died for them, and wants them to dwell in them.

27 - God has chosen you to learn this secret about the Gentiles. The secret is: Christ dwells in all his people (Gentiles as well as Jews). This is our hope of glory to come.

28Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

This is the Jesus Paul is preaching. NIV "we proclaim him" Phillips "so, naturally, we proclaim Christ" He is our hope. He dwells in us. He is the source of wisdom and knowledge. He died for us. He suffered for us. How could we preach anyone or anything else? Who else is there? (John 6:68)

Paul has three goals in his preaching. They should be ours as well.

Warning - It is the challenge of every man to warn every man. We must counsel, admonish, confront, warn the lost world. (Romans 15:14)

Teaching - Our duty include giving instruction, explaining "how-to", and instilling doctrine and wisdom in all men.

Presenting - Phillips "bring every man up to his full maturity" Our goal goes beyond warning and teaching. Our goal is to bring the wandering sheep to the Good Shepherd.

Preaching Christ is not just for preachers. It is the work of each child of God. Notice the repeated phrase - "every man". We must warn every man. We must teach every man. We must bring every man to Christ.

28 - We proclaim Christ to all men. We admonish of sin. We teach doctrine. We present to God mature, full-grown men in Christ Jesus.