February 3, 2022

And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard . . . Colossians 1:21-23a

There is a progression of understanding for those in a relationship with Jesus. As the Master Teacher, He lays the foundation of truth from the very beginning of His word. Throughout Scripture, there is a teaching theme: review and expand. Because of the blinding effects of sin upon all of us, it is necessary to build our faith, much like building a tower. For it to be structurally sound, it must be situated upon bedrock. The righteousness of Christ is that bedrock, but the brilliance and glory of righteousness is incomprehensible to a sinful mind. One of the words for this is translated from the original language as mystery. This in no way means that God is withholding information from us, but rather He is the longsuffering ‘Building Supervisor’ without whom we would be left to our own devices and imaginations. And worse, apart from the Lord’s tender watchcare, we are left at the mercy of the great deceiver.

The followers of Christ are privileged to convey the gospel—the best news ever—to everyone, both Jews and Gentiles, meaning those who have heard the oracles of God (Romans 3:2) and those who have not. The Jews, by birth, of the church of the New Testament have a clarifying description. Because of their faith in Jesus, they are given praise from heaven:

 . . . he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:29

Paul also wrote this for the believing Gentiles: And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

It is this mystery at work in us that will bring about the return of the Savior. It is only by God’s amazing grace that His people have endured—and will endure—indescribably horrendous situations orchestrated by Satan himself. How? By holding fast to indestructible hope built upon the bedrock of Christ. Often, it is through these very circumstances that the gospel reaches the ears of those searching … hungering and thirsting for hope!

. . . the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To 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. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Colossians 1:26-28