Glory or Wrath?
Dearly beloved of God, rejoice, it is Christ in you, the hope of glory! It does not say that it is Christ in you the hope of great tribulation and wrath, or Christ in you, the Day of the Lord is coming; it says that it is Christ in you, the hope of glory!
Since we have confessed Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead we are saved; saved for eternal life; saved from the wrath to come; saved to be glorified with Christ as joint heirs and we will physically enter the Kingdom of God with him.
Let’s compare this reality to the previous administration of the law.
God gave the Law to Moses for Israel. The Law concerned Israel, and it was part of the old covenant that God made with them.
Jesus Christ came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. The four gospels show us that Jesus Christ did fulfill them, as well as records in the Church Epistles.
If you read these records this will become clear. Matthew 2:11-15 and 5: 17 and 18; Galatians 2:19-20,21; 3:5-14 and 15-29; and 4:1-5:26; Romans 3: 19-26.
Romans 10:4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes.
If there had been a law that could have given life, indeed God’s justness would have been by the law according to Galatians 3:21, but the law could not give life; Jesus Christ did.
Ephesians 2:1, 4 and 5
And you hath he quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us [made us alive] together with Christ, (by grace you are saved:)
Romans 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 6:11
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Jesus Christ suffered, died, and was buried, but God raised him from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and God seated him at His right hand as Lord and Christ. God made His Son the head of the Church, which is the body of Christ.
His accomplishments made it possible for a new administration of God’s dealing with man. Read Ephesians 3:1-6, 9. Because of Jesus Christ’s accomplishments God could now deal with all people, whether Jew or Gentile, on the basis of Jesus Christ’s accomplishments. In Christ both are fellowheirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel.
This new administration was not based on the law, but on the grace of God; on the giving of the gift of holy spirit, not on the works of the law; by Jesus Christ’s accomplishments, not ours.
This administration began on the Feast of Pentecost when the Lord Jesus Christ sent the promise of the spirit.
This administration will end when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to gather together the members of his body, the Church, both the living and the dead in Christ, to meet him in the air [Read I Thessalonians 4:13-18; I Corinthians 15:51-58].
From start to finish this administration was a mystery, hid in God; it was not known in other ages by anyone. God revealed this mystery to the Apostle Paul and He gave him the revelation of the doctrine of the grace of God [Read Ephesians 3 and Galatians 1].
What began with the grace of God will end in glory for the members of the body of Christ, the Church, when the Lord Jesus Christ returns to gather us up to him in the air. We will obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ as joint heirs with him.
It is Christ in you, the hope of glory, dearly beloved of God.
God our Father will freely give us all things with His Beloved Son including our hope in Christ. God called us in Christ, He justified us by his accomplishments, and we will be glorified with him when he returns.
I Thessalonians 5: 9 and 10
God has not appointed us to wrath, but to salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
Colossians 3:4
When Christ, Who is our life shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in glory.
Yes, dearly beloved, it is Christ in you, the hope of glory! It will take God our Father the coming ages to display the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness to us in Christ Jesus [Read Ephesians 2:7]. Rejoice forevermore!