to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, – phrase from Col 1:2
In an ever increasing troubled world all of us need assurance that we are safe. Paul the Apostle was in a great conflict in spiritual warfare to be able to see the believers in person so as to teach them the truths that he knew would bring them all together in love and to a place of full assurance in God.
Basically this full assurance or unshakable place we live in is determined by how we view Christ Jesus.
Paul had previously stated what the proper view of Christ should be.
CHRIST IN US.
This is mystery kept secret until Paul. This is the one thing that brings complete and full assurance- Christ in us—not Christ up there–not Christ next to you –BUT–CHRIST IN YOU.
Here is the mystery…
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Col 1:29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
When Paul says that Christ is in us….he does not mean for us to imagine that we are two people separated within this body. He preached perfect union with Christ. The mystery is –if you are willing to receive it – that you are Christ and Christ is you! You are one.
This is where the assurance comes from.
There is no more striving to gain someone you already are one with.
There is no more striving to touch not, taste not, wear not….so as to try to make Christ come nearer to you…He and you are one person!
He is complete…you are complete.
He is in you to be you–your new self.
The more we see this the more assurance we have.
But when we see Christ up there in heaven, or outside of who we are –we lose all assurance and MUST TRY HARD to get Christ to come to us by what we do and don’t do each day.
Paul went around teaching–Don’t try beloved–REST!!
He battled and warred that he might get this message through to those who had come to believe in Jesus.
Today–most Christians look to a Jesus who is up in the sky somewhere. This is not the gospel.
