Colossians 1:27, commentary and pictures

God once hid a great truth through past ages, but He has now opened it to His own people to show how rich and glorious it is. That opened secret is Christ Himself living inside believers as their sure hope of coming glory, eternal life and entrance into His everlasting kingdom. This gift is for all nations, even those in deepest darkness and ignorance, that the lost may be enriched, taught and prepared for the new earth. He is received by personal faith, beholding and opening the heart to Him, and formed within by the Holy Spirit through the Word, surrender and obedience, making believers partakers of the divine nature and one with Christ. Dwelling within, He controls thought and action, crucifies self, cleanses sinful habits and passions, and remakes character into His own image in love, purity, humility and kindness.

Mystery Once Hidden

The mystery was hidden from ages and generations but is now made manifest to the saints, to whom God would make known its riches. That revealed mystery among the Gentiles is Christ dwelling in believers as their hope of glory, the glorious heart of the gospel entrusted to ministers to teach toward maturity in Christ. Knowing the truth must therefore lead to Christ abiding in the heart and to genuine conversion and godliness, not merely to possession of a theory, and to a life that represents Christ in character like a living letter known and read. This hope belongs to the gospel preached to all, with the goal of presenting every person mature and complete in Him through faithful service and teaching.

The riches of the glory of this mystery are the riches of God's plan of redemption, His love and goodness and compassion and wisdom, demonstrated through human workers by the power of His grace. They are every divine resource placed at man's disposal, for when God gave His only begotten Son He gave all the treasures of heaven, with power and glory revealed in Christ Jesus. A little knowledge of this is only the beginning, for it is infinite truth to be searched for fresh beauty, with continual advancement in knowledge and understanding, conformity to truth, revelation of the Saviour's character, and change from glory to glory and character to character.

Among the Gentiles means among the world and all nations, including the Gentiles themselves, to whom God reveals this indwelling Christ as the hope of future glory. It includes those in dense darkness and pitiful ignorance, and the riches must be made known to them for the enriching of the lost. They must be taught to read God's Word and to honor and obey God's law by precept and example, with every believer giving means and ability for their enlightenment and salvation, that they may be prepared for a part in the new earth.

The mystery embraces more than limited human understanding can grasp. It is a profound work of the Word that transforms character by breaking sinful habits, renouncing selfishness, and changing people into God's image, a change that cannot be explained but is received by faith. Knowing this mystery furnishes the key to every other mystery, opening to the soul the treasures of the universe and the possibilities of infinite development and endless growth in knowledge of God. Its riches will continue to be learned anew in the future state, where the redeemed will witness and through witnessing learn more of its glory in service forever.

The mystery is the mystery of godliness and the hidden wisdom of God. It is Christ manifest in the flesh, the divine Son of God in incarnation, the Son of matchless attraction, the heaven-sent ransom and the true science taught to every earnest seeker. It is revealed through the Spirit and is not reached by human learning, but is Christ formed within the heart by faith with experimental knowledge of His mediation, softening hearts cold as steel until they become as little children. Looking to Jesus gives life, while accepting or rejecting Him as Saviour decides eternal destiny and tests profession, including claim to the gift of prophecy.

Christ Within Believers

The mystery is Christ dwelling and living and formed within believers, including Gentiles, as their hope of glory, and this is the glorious heart and riches of the gospel once hidden but now revealed to the saints. It gives the hope of future glory and eternal life and immortality, with heirship of immortality, translation, the crown of life, and entrance into the everlasting kingdom. Its riches are God's redemption plan made known among the Gentiles through human beings who demonstrate the power of His grace. Knowing the truth in this way means Christ abiding in the heart unto genuine conversion and godliness and a character that represents Him like a living letter, not merely holding a theory of truth.

Christ in you is an abiding personal presence and divine companion dwelling in the heart by individual appropriating living faith. Received words of instruction take possession and control thoughts and ideas and actions, so self is dead and no longer rules and no longer centers thought on self, for it is no more the believer that lives but Christ that lives within as a living Saviour. His Spirit and character color everything like warp and woof, the very texture of the entire being, so that He becomes everything, the first and the last and the best in everything. He dwells by the word of truth which is spirit and life, and by eating His flesh and drinking His blood; as food forms blood, so feeding daily on the Word forms Christ within, giving nourishment and vitality and healthful piety. He abides in the soul as the lifeblood of the soul as blood is the life of the body, moving and dwelling within like blood in the veins as the living supply of every part of the spiritual being, made wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, all and in all. By continuing to look to Jesus and contemplating His goodness and love and character and what He has wrought in redemption, heart and soul and mind are irradiated and softened and subdued and molded after the divine similitude, and the believer reflects His image and His righteousness to all around instead of dwelling on disappointments.

This indwelling is union of the human and the divine by which those who receive Him become what He came to reveal, living on earth by heaven's principles as sons of God. Believers become partakers of the divine nature and one with Christ as Christ is one with the Father, by the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit and by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God, which reveals the character of God in the human agent. It sanctifies body and soul and spirit and blends all together in keeping the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace, recreating character in His image according to the true standard of moral rectitude. Where Christ is thus formed within, God's love given freely through grace becomes active in human nature and is revealed in Christlike character, with the Father loving believers as members of Christ's body with Christ as its Head. Where He is not formed within come disunion and selfish thoughts and words and actions as fruit of an unholy spirit, words that do not reveal the Saviour, and a life without faith that does not practice His principles because the Bread from heaven is not eaten.

Glory in the verse is character revealed in life, God's glory in believers, and the hope of immortality and eternal life. Christ Himself with His life and joy and peace dwelling within is enjoyed now in the fulness of His salvation, bringing heaven into present life and present enjoyment and showing outwardly on the countenance so others can see and know He is there. His presence is not meant to remain hidden but to be seen in a life whose words heal and soothe and bless others. What once seemed a meager supply becomes a rich feast that satisfies the believer and gives something to share with others, as the heart humbly walking with Christ and learning His meekness and lowliness becomes a temple for God's presence. Those in whom Christ is thus formed help others climb heavenward toward God without going back, pointing companions to God and heaven and uplifting them as safe counselors, in contrast to frivolous society that drags down unless it is uplifted.

Knowing this hope belongs with remaining grounded in the faith and not turning away from the gospel, continuing in the faith and holding confidence firm to the end. Through Christ's death those once alienated are reconciled and may be presented holy and blameless as they remain grounded, and the Lord is with those who remain with Him. Christ is formed within through abiding faith and constant obedience, for obedience to His Word gives assurance of the truth as it is in Jesus. Living by every word from the mouth of God makes truth the law of the mind, so that truth exemplified in His character is expressed in life and spirit and words and temper. Receiving all truth as the life of Jesus cleanses the soul from impurity and prepares it for His presence and makes the believer one with Him, strengthening a once-weak experience, so that holding confidence firm to the end means eternal life.

Preaching Toward Maturity

God entrusts ministers with a stewardship by dispensation to fulfill His word by making manifest the mystery once hidden through the ages but now revealed to the saints among the Gentiles, which is Christ dwelling in believers as their hope of glory. The riches and glory of that mystery are the riches of His plan of redemption, and God demonstrates the power of His grace through human workers who make it known to all nations and to those in the world. Their charge is to preach Christ, to warn every person and teach every person in all wisdom, dealing faithfully with human minds in spiritual and temporal things, in order to present every person perfect, complete and mature in Christ Jesus. That maturing work means continual advancement in knowledge and understanding, conformity to the truth, revealing the Saviour's character by following in His footsteps, and being changed from glory to glory and from character to character until lives move the world.

Preaching Christ means bringing Him and His character, His words and His work prominently into view and lifting Him up, because His character is infinitely perfect and He is the power, might, sanctification and righteousness of all who believe. It sets forth the fullness of Christ as the living center of every sermon, presenting Jesus Christ and Him crucified, His miracles, self-denial, self-sacrifice, sufferings, crucifixion, resurrection and triumphant ascension, with His preciousness, mercy and glory dwelt upon, for there is marrow and fatness in the gospel. It declares the whole counsel of God without striving to please men or to attract means by carnal methods, and it is the very message for this time, not a strange doctrine nor a dry theory to be met with caution and waiting, but fresh manna of the lifting up of Christ as Paul and Christ Himself taught. Where little of Christ is presented, churches are ready to die for lack of spiritual life and spiritual discernment, teachers themselves lack living experience with the Source of dependence and strength, and discourses without Christ are dry, spiritless, and leave sheep and lambs unfed.

The work is done by laboring and striving according to His working which works mightily within, with power at God's command limitless to all who place themselves under the control of the great Teacher and learn daily in His school. Strength comes by going directly to Christ the Fountain Head in trouble, discouragement and perplexity instead of reaching out to human agencies, becoming acquainted with Him by faith, knowing His matchless love and the power of His grace and His promised presence to meet opposition. Those who preach put on Christ and learn daily from Him to be meek and lowly so He can lead them and go before them as their righteousness, they guard every action lest they make a wrong impression, and they separate from selfishness, worldliness, worldly pursuits, ambition and lust while bearing the inward mark as divine credentials. Gospel labor is not merely ministering or speaking acceptably but putting solid timbers into the structure, binding off the work and doing it thoroughly until believers are made complete in Christ and educated to perfection.

Preachers must carry the work weighted with the Spirit of Christ as Paul did, with a burden for the people, intercession and consecration to God in order to receive light, for to go light-loaded without a burden shows a mistaken calling. Those who work for God must feed upon Christ, because spiritually they are built up from what they eat, and when Christ is formed within they have wisdom from God not only to eat of Christ themselves but to feed the flock of God in due season, giving every person his portion from the Word which is Spirit and life. The minister who in great need shuts himself in with the Lord will receive what will be to hearers a savor of life unto life, while unfaithfulness that lets souls be lost brings accountability to God for their blood.

Proclaimed in weakness with earnest prayer, this message brings the Spirit upon speaker and hearers, with blessing in speaking and blessing in hearing, intense interest and no weariness. It convicts of unconsecrated condition, independence and sin, leading to deep feeling, confession, humbling before God, receiving reproof as God's voice, brokenness of heart, gratitude and tears, with the acknowledgment that the Lord is in the place. Its converts become a living witness to the ministry that led them to Christ, seen in sanctification through the truth, reformed lives, zeal for the truth received, and effort to bring life into harmony with it, even men who had been like lions becoming like lambs.

Character Transformed Within

The indwelling Word transforms character by breaking sinful habits, renouncing selfishness, and changing believers into God's image from glory to glory and character to character. This inward presence of Christ living within as the hope of glory cleanses natural passions, overcomes hereditary and cultivated tendencies under the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit, and makes obedience possible by turning fully from Satan's sway to give God the whole heart. As believers behold God's glory and make Christ the subject of meditation, besetting sins, evil thoughts and habits are put away, holy dispositions bear fruit, and obedience brings freedom that blesses others, a profound mystery received by faith that opens the treasures of the universe and endless growth. The change cannot be accomplished by human strength but by trusting God and doing His will as He works within, believed as the work of Christ within even where it cannot be fully explained.

Self must no longer strive for mastery but be crucified, dead, hidden with Christ in God and emptied of self, so that Christ alone appears. When all pettishness of self dies and pride is expelled, believers grow up into Christ their living Head, His mind revealed through their minds and behavior in good works after the example of His life, adorning doctrine with well-ordered life and godly conversation. Being emptied of self and clinging to Christ allows His complete atoning sacrifice to be realized, the character to be molded after the divine similitude and shaped in God's likeness, the Holy Spirit to control the human agent, and men to possess the attributes of Christ with His virtues visible in a new nature born again through surrender. Where self appears the sacredness of truth is lost, selfishness obscures truth and misrepresents Christ and souls are misled, while reliance on God in weakness brings power from above for righteousness and growth in grace and knowledge. Making this inward work the first business until it is done brings the meekness and gentleness of Christ, and only by this inward Christ and dependence on God can the work succeed.

The inward Christ produces pity, tenderness, love, patience, kindness, forbearance, discretion, sympathy, compassion, humility, meekness, gentleness, purity, honesty, unselfishness and joy unspeakable. Christ abides in the soul and lives in the human instrument by the Spirit of truth, becoming the all in all, the source of every holy thought, every pure desire and every godlike purpose, with completeness found in Him. His presence is shown by unselfish love that prefers others, seeks their welfare rather than one's own, excludes self-exaltation and greed, and bears fruit in good works, spiritual fervor and devotion through trial in self-sacrifice, self-denial and following His example. Those who fully submit to His sanctifying work and behold Him are changed by the Spirit and prepared for glory, revealing the character God desires and giving hope to the hopeless in words that heal, soothe and bless.

The transformation tames the tongue so words become select, well chosen and profitable, bringing forth fruits unto righteousness with peace, harmony, humility, sobriety and solemn influence. Stirring up strife and kindling mischief and contention cease, and sporting, joking, hilarity, glee, levity, jesting and careless, reckless, random talk and too much talk are put away. Where Christ dwells within, temper, style, spirit, words and outward order reveal thorough conversion and a perfect character bearing the imprint of His thoroughness in careful work, winning souls by holy example in imitation of Christ. Where old habits are retained, defects remain unimproved, self rules, unprofitable worldly words are spoken and neglect appears, Christ is not formed within.

Receiving Indwelling Christ

Christ is formed within as the hope of glory only by individual faith and personal experience, by beholding Him and receiving Him as a personal Saviour, by opening the soul to Him and laying hold upon Him this very hour under the shadow of the cross of Calvary through trust in His merits and commitment of the soul to Him. Each person must know for himself that Christ dwells within, exercising God-given individuality without submerging the mind in another human mind, not looking to men but to the divine Example alone. No human example is to be imitated, even one regarded as nearly perfect in character, for trust in a defective, imperfect human being cannot impart perfection, while Christ adapted His life for universal imitation as all and in all. Amid confusion of delusive doctrines God gives every soul opportunity to hear the voice of the True Shepherd, and the Spirit guides and shields those who have not resisted evidences of truth, silencing every other voice but that of Him who is truth and life, so that when Christ is thus formed within the whole heavenly universe exclaims Amen and amen. Those who have tried to quench thirst at broken cisterns that can hold no water must be born again so that Jesus Christ, the same unchanging Redeemer, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, comes into individual experience as foundation of faith, the Rock of Ages, made through infinite sacrifice to make sinners love God, reflect the image of God, rejoice in His love, and be lifted out of darkness, rebellion and wicked feelings into a holier purer atmosphere where trials sink into insignificance and His glorious beams shine through them as they talk hope, courage, heaven and heavenly things.

This formation comes as the believer beholds Christ and the Holy Spirit changes character to become more like Jesus, shaping mind and character into His likeness and giving hope of glory with longing for His righteousness and growing love for perishing souls. The Comforter takes the things of Christ and the words that fell from His lips and conveys them with living power to the obedient soul emptied of self and crucified to self, so that the soul receives the image and superscription of the divine. The Spirit who does this work regenerates and sanctifies, guides into all truth and righteousness and holiness, and is given without measure to those who earnestly desire it and by faith stand upon the promises of God with earnest humble prayer. Those who do His words make His will their own, overcome sin and bear good fruit, for by beholding God's glory and through the Holy Spirit the mind and character are renewed to reflect Christ, which cannot be achieved by human strength alone but by trusting wholly to God who works in them as they do His will.

Salvation must not rest on supposition but on sure knowledge that Christ is formed within as the hope of glory, knowing for oneself that the Spirit abides in the heart and that communion with God is real, which makes a person ready to meet God whether Christ comes quickly or life suddenly ends. It must be sought from the Lord earnestly, fervently, perseveringly and with diligent exercise in spiritual things until it is known to be real, for blind eyes do not discern this reality nor realize the necessity of seeking until they know it. It means daily conversion to God, overcoming perverse disposition and selfishness, receiving an education resulting in full consecration, living on the bread of heaven, and keeping the channel between earth and heaven free from obstruction to receive living water from Christ. The believer must not remain a spiritual child but constantly increase in wisdom and knowledge, approaching daily more nearly the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus with deeper appreciation of God's love and clearer knowledge of His will, exercising every spiritual muscle and sinew by improving opportunities to work for God. This inward formation makes Christ's presence more and more a certainty, causes His lifeblood to circulate through the soul, gives intensity of thought to words and spiritual strength to endure seeing Him who is invisible with power to testify to the efficiency of His grace, while if light does not shine more brightly faith weakens, love grows feeble, piety leaves the soul-temple, duties are neglected, and one who fails to grow harms God's cause more than an avowed unbeliever by crucifying the Son of God afresh and putting Him to open shame.

It requires entire surrender to Christ with no reservation, no compromise, and no place given to worldly policy or worldly speech and action, for speaking and acting as worldlings while claiming to be Christians insults Jehovah, and God expects more than is commonly given. It is inward formation rather than extra effort for a more tasteful outward development of Christianity, accomplished by being sanctified every hour through belief of the truth and by never neglecting for one day to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ abides within as the lifeblood of the soul, refining, purifying, elevating and ennobling to fit for entering the heavenly courts and to preserve required purity, when truth is kept in constant contact with mind and heart, when His people walk with Him as Enoch walked, and when they study His Word.

Without this inward presence there is only possession of a theory of truth, a form of godliness, cold formal service, profession without power, and building on sand where the foundation for spiritual character has not been laid and neither God's Spirit nor truth has room in the heart. Earthly attachments or an idol can occupy the heart and close it against truth even when outward life resembles that of a devoted Christian, and even those who preach the truth need this inward work lest they glorify poor erring mortal man to his injury and to loss of their own souls. With it comes genuine conversion and godliness, true conversion and new birth, cleansing of the soul-temple, a contrite broken heart, and experimental knowledge of His work as Mediator and Intercessor and of how one stands toward God. Laying hold of Christ by faith is a greater miracle than healing bodily sickness, taking hearts cold as steel and softening and subduing them until they become as little children, showing legal religion in its true light as worthless, ending cold dark Christless unrest, and constituting the intelligence of the mystery of godliness. The Lord and His Spirit break in upon the soul, life and joy take possession of the heart, the soul is quickly made sensible of deficiency with everything laid open before Him with whom we have to do, self dies, pride is expelled, and the believer receives the meekness and gentleness of Christ, a blessing not forced on anyone and made the first business by close students of the Bible living in the closing scenes who feel their inefficiency and weakness and refuse to rest until it is done.

Outward Life With Christ

Christ dwelling within as the hope of glory is to be seen outwardly in life and character, in Christlike dress, conversation and actions, with words and deeds revealing what is inside. The inward presence cannot be kept boxed up in the heart but must be revealed in talking of Christ and His glory, telling what He has done, holding Him first and last, and walking in light reflected from the cross. Daily communion gives peace and rest that shines forth in countenance, voice and expression with telling influence even upon worldly people, and makes the life a daily witness to sacred truth.
Home religion with meekness at every step belongs to this revealing, so that believers look to Calvary, love Him, appreciate His life, and have something to say in meeting wherever it is and however many are present.

Those in whom Christ is formed become lights to the world, workers together with God in charity, simplicity and integrity, revealing the reality of belief in truth in thought, word and deed. Close connection with God makes them recognize the Spirit's promptings to speak personally about spiritual things to definite individuals within reach, so that through them the Holy Spirit works to reach those out of Christ. Faithful use of gifts and opportunities, with self crucified, brings growing refinement and love for God and others.
The same inward Christ produces unity, for Italian, French, German and believers of every nationality share the same hope and Spirit when they follow Christ and stand on the same foundation of truth. Their oneness in Jesus breaks down divisions between nationalities and unites them in work for salvation, made visible in love for one another even to giving life for the brethren as Christ gave His life. When believers are one with Christ through the Holy Spirit they are one with His followers, love for the brethren abounds, others recognize they have been with Jesus, and meekness and gentleness reflect His holy character.
This was understood more clearly by the disciples after witnessing His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension and receiving the Spirit at Pentecost.

In the home the same abiding brings union and love, for when Christ abides in the heart of husband and wife they are in agreement and strive together for the mansions prepared for those who love Him. They do not speak of unsuitability to each other, and when one errs the other exercises Christlike forbearance and does not coldly draw away. Dying to self, being born again and converted, gaining correct knowledge of self, humbling under the mighty hand of God, making religion personal, and letting truth order words and actions corrects unsavory influence and honors God in home, church and world, making a man happy.

The indwelling fits teachers, educators and ministers to teach the grand mysteries of godliness and to represent Christ by precept and example. No one satisfied with a low standard should place himself as a teacher until this formation has taken place through daily learning in the school of Christ, constantly working out salvation by receiving and imparting an all-round education in true physical, mental and moral excellence. For teachers it purifies the soul through daily faith working by love, transforms temperament, subdues self, impatience, fretfulness and harshness, keeps an unsanctified temper from turning truth into a lie before pupils, makes God's authority real and not merely in name, proves grace sufficient at all times and places, and requires separation from everything objectionable and un-Christlike.
Without this inward presence all education in languages and all else is worthless for eternal life, while with it souls are led to understand the lessons of the Great Teacher.

Christ formed within gives a well-balanced steady character that is not changeable but rises above discouragement, disturbance and unsettling influences by being stayed upon Christ. This hope is compatible with demanding service such as being a wise successful physician and an active sincere Christian, for godliness is the foundation of true dignity and completeness of character. Those connected with health institutions are to live in such close connection with God that His presence is seen in their lives, showing love and mercy, driving out sin, filling the soul with love, and strengthening physical, mental and moral life. The indwelling makes truly happy, valuing Heaven's approbation above earthly amusement, free from restless longings, repinings, discontent, expectation of evil and borrowed trouble, bringing health to body and strength to soul, with contentment, rest, peace and hope kept in suffering.
Practical religion of this kind brings spiritual health.

Where Christ is not formed within, people follow worldly fashions, extravagance, luxurious living and demoralizing dress, which foster pride and vanity, draw away from humble character and time for prayer and study, sacrifice time, money and health, lend influence to general evil, and mark the last days. An unholy spirit then produces disunion and selfish words and actions, so that people may be counted saints while living as sinners without faith or practice of His principles. Where Christ abides, practical godliness is confessed in industry, frugality, economy and stewardship that wastes nothing, putting away avarice, dishonesty in trade, overreaching, every species of dishonesty and all covetousness as idolatry, overcoming unkindness of disposition so sin no longer reigns, and manifesting kindness, forbearance and generosity in business and speech.
Even partial adoption of worldly fashions appears to sanction them.

The same living experience keeps believers unmovable in widespread apostasy and distinguishes commandment-keepers in the final crisis. It gives deep experience in the things of God, sanctifying and making brave, true, earnest, self-sacrificing workers like Paul, with lips touched with holy fire to preach the word with holy zeal despite trial and opposition. In the last trials Christ becomes wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption by personal experience through the Spirit working on mind, heart and character, giving convincing power to witness. Both illiterate and educated can then testify they know whom they have believed, unmovable by subtlest reasoning and assaults, without doubt or fear of error, while satanic powers move opposers to misrepresent advocates and the Spirit takes possession of reverent minds to make the inward presence evident.
An army of such workers is needed in days of peril, for without them the cause languishes while fatal errors taint morals and blight hopes.

Hope Lived Daily

Having Christ within as the hope of glory means walking just as He walked and copying His life of toil, privation and self-denial to do good, to save others from suffering and to help those most needing help. It means not living to gratify self nor seeking ease and pleasure, and not shrinking from small trials after His great sacrifice. It means willingly lifting the cross and following Him from the judgment hall to Calvary in order to be with Him in glory, drinking of His cup and being baptized with His baptism. It means welcoming a life of devotion, trial and self-denial for His sake, counting heaven cheap at whatever sacrifice it costs.

It makes all who possess it truly benevolent, countenancing no littleness and no mean transactions. It gives true Christians a nobility that allows none of the cheap, covetous actions that disgrace the doer, and it calls those in responsible positions to make straight paths for their feet lest the lame be turned out of the way. Christ living within as the hope of glory leads away from watching for others' errors and accusing or condemning them, and toward helping, blessing and saving them. When correcting one in error, the indwelling Christ remembers one's own mistakes and how hard it was to find the right way again, and speaks with pity rather than pushing the other into greater darkness.

Christ formed within as the hope of glory is known as the sin-pardoning Saviour when sins are confessed, hearts humbled, the Lord sought, and His promise believed, and this inward presence is joined to obedience to God's commandments and walking in the light of truth. The soul that has found the Lord renounces evil, stops doing wrong, learns to do good, and seeks to obey all God's commandments, and this changed life makes the reality of conversion evident. His dwelling in the soul echoes the desire to do God's will, so that obedience comes from love as a joy rather than a burden, with God's law within the heart.

It is the faith once delivered to the saints, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, and to know it is to weave Christ into personal experience and to possess the real virtue of love and faith. It is not merely claiming to believe present truth and defending the old landmarks while lukewarm and indifferent. It is learned by close, diligent, purposeful Bible study that appropriates the marrow and fatness of Scripture as the voice of God to the soul, by which the way of salvation is understood and the beams of the Sun of Righteousness are seen in the promises and prophecies that shed glory upon the divine plan of redemption. Such searching seeks the meaning of the words with intense desire and prayerful asking for light and knowledge, with eternal life as the aim that alone satisfies. This inward experience produces reverence for the sacred Word and right handling of Scripture, for spiritual truths can only be spiritually discerned and educated criticism cannot take its place, while those who lack this inward Christ pervert the meaning of Scripture to make a sharp point and overcome an opponent, put their own construction upon its utterances, handle the Scriptures in an unwise way, and bring self into everything they do.

It presents Christ formed within as the first principles of the gospel and the hope of glory. Ministers, elders, and workers supported from the Lord's treasury who lack spirituality still need to be taught this and need this inward transformation by grace, for without it even good words are powerless. When those lacking in spirituality truly believe in Christ, it will be manifest that they possess faith that works by love and purifies the soul. This faith must be woven into experience and confessed by a life of practical godliness.