Let’s read Ephesians 3:18,

“…may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height.”

The first part says, “[That you] may be able to comprehend with all the saints.” What should we comprehend? Just what the previous verse explained, the secret that Christ lives in us (through the Holy Spirit) and thereby our lives are being changed, because we are rooted and established in the love of God. That is the secret of Jesus Christ developing His character in us.

Dennis Smith, who wrote extensively about the work of the Holy Spirit says,

“The truth about ‘being in Christ’ and ‘Jesus in us’ is so simple and yet so difficult to comprehend that most Christians have not fully understood it.” Dennis Smith, Spirit Baptism and Abiding in Christ (2010), p.12

Paul says in Colossians 1:25,26,

“I have become its servant by the com- mission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness — the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people.” (NIV)

Here comes the question of today, What secret? And the answer can be found on verse 27, which says,

“To whom [the saints] 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.” (KJV)

THE MYSTERY IS REVEALED

The mystery hid for ages and now revealed is that Jesus Himself wants to live in us through the Holy Spirit. The text says that this is our hope of glory. This means that the fullness of life that God wants for our present life, and at the same time bestows us with eternal life, is thus guaranteed.

Ellen White expands on this secret, called “Christ in you,” the hope for glory (Colossians 1:27), as follows,

“A knowledge of this mystery furnishes a key to every other. It opens to the soul the treasures of the universe, the possibilities of infinite development.” Ellen G. White, Education (Nampa, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2002), p.172

The Bible often uses expressions such as “Christ in you” and similar terms such as “in Christ,” “in Him,” “in the Lord,” and “in the beloved.” These expressions are used 170 times in the New Testament. For example, this expression is the key word in Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians. Think about his testimony,

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20, NKJV

In Romans 15:18, he wrote,

“For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me.”

A few other important Bible verses says,

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14, NKJV

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV

The focus here is placed on the change of character by the fruit of the Spirit,

“Created in Christ Jesus for good works” Ephesians 2:10, NKJV

“But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:5, NKJV

“God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3,4

If we look in a concordance, we find many such valuable texts under the key words “in Christ,” “in the beloved,” “in the Lord,” “in Him” (Christ).

“in Christ” or “outside Christ”

E. Stanley Jones has said,

“Paul... focuses on the phrase ‘in Christ’ and uses it 97 times in his letters... With great care He realized that these two words divide humankind into two groups, ‘in Christ’ and ‘outside Christ’... Who ‘is in Christ’ is ‘in life‚’ and who is ‘outside Christ’ is ‘in death.’” E. Stanley Jones, In Christ (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1961), p. 9; re-translated from German.

God revealed enough for us to understand the mystery of His love for humankind, demonstrated ultimately in Jesus Christ and imprinted in the human soul by His Spirit. Knowing that you have more on your side than against you… Understanding such unlimited love and mercies… Seeing the enormity of the sacrifice done for you… What is going to be your choice today?

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. What is the secret revealed?

2. Why would I want to have this secret as part of my life?

3. What can prevent me to be “in Christ”?

4. Seeing the importance of the human family for God, how that should move me to choose Jesus today?