The Hope of Glory

There are a number of expressions in the Bible that seem a little odd to our way of speaking. For example, Paul says we are, “in Christ.” He also says there is life, “in Christ Jesus.” (John 1:4) These seem odd to us because we tend to think of things in physical terms. But Paul is speaking spiritually – when he says we are, “in Christ,” he is referring to our spiritual oneness with Him. And when he says that life is, “in Christ Jesus,” he is talking about Christ being the living source of all life.

In the above passage is another one of those expressions. Paul speaks of the glory that will be revealed IN US. What does that mean? Well, it goes back to the fact that the core of Christianity is, “Christ in us, the HOPE of glory.” (Col. 1:27) In other words, Christ already dwells in us. Thus, Christ in us — the PERSON of Christ who is in us — is the hope of the glory spoken of by Paul in this passage from Romans 8.

Note that it is not WE who are given glory. But we are glorified together with Christ – that is, this is HIS glory revealed in us. In short, when we are changed at the resurrection, we will be loosed from this natural body and be able to realize the fullness of His life IN US – and will manifest His glory through us. This is the great purpose of God in Christ unto the ages yet to come.

The great purpose of God for HIS age is to FORM Christ in us — to bring us into an inward realization of His Son. (Gal. 4:19) But if Christ is being formed in us, then we will be formed together with Him (Rom. 8:29) — that is, who He is will adjust us to Himself. This will then set the stage for the time when, “we may be glorified together,” with Him. In other words, He is creating IN US a spiritual union with Himself that will be released to His glory in the eternal ages.