CHRIST IN YOU (NEW) SERMON

Colossians 1:27

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”

A religion without mystery would be no religion at all. The mysteries of Popery, Mormonism, and Puseyism are mysteries well calculated to exalt and enrich their ringleaders, and requiring much faith on the behalf of their votaries.

They are mysteries of faith, or rather lies. Our mystery is a mystery of experience and is here put in few words, that although unknown by the natural, uninitiated man, the spiritual may discern the secret of the Lord.

I. CHRIST.

One feels tempted at the name to run off in a strain of rhapsody in admiration of his native glory, his creating wisdom, his wondrous titles, or his many crowns. But the Christ with whom our secret deals is Christ in humiliation, Christ incarnate, Christ the obedient Servant, Christ the bleeding Redeemer, then the rising conqueror, the constant intercessor, the Captain, the joy of our souls. Do we know the music of the name of our beloved? Do we feel that his glorious name is our strength? Then we must likely know the rest of the mystery.

II. CHRIST IN YOU.

Christ crucified will save none of us unless he becomes Christ in us. This is the Holy Spirit’s work.

Christ in us is a comprehensive expression. It means, Christ desired. How earnestly does the penitent desire Christ and long for him more than they that watch for the morning. Do you?

Christ believed in, the first act of the new man in coming out of darkness is faith in Jesus. It succeeds desire which is groping in the dark. Do we cast ourselves wholly on the merits of his agonies and death[?] If so we know the mystery and may go on to …

Christ beloved. Love follows faith, it never precedes it. It is an embracing and pressing to the heart. It must be real, hearty, supreme, not effervescent but abiding. Have you this?

Christ rejoiced in follows and ever is the fruit of desire, faith, and love. This is Christ in you indeed when we can rejoice in trouble, yea in the article of death. Come let us see whether we understand this mystery. Christ in us.

III. CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY.

This is the finishing letter of the mystery, viz. to have a hope of glory. All men have a hope, but only a few have a hope of glory. But of that few, how very few have a good hope of glory. Let us see if our hope is good. If it is Christ in us which gives us hope, then it is right and good. Does our hope purify us[?] Does it abide in fiery trials[?] Dare you examine it[?] Is it built on the rock[?] If so, go on joyfully all the days of thy life for now thou knowest more than the wise men and the Ancients.