Commentary Upon Colossians 1 and 2, Chapter 1 · Verse 27
VERSE 27. To whom God would make knowne, what is the riches of the glory of this myſtery among the Gentiles, which is Chriſt in you the hope of glory.
VNtoUnto this myſtery of the Goſpel now ſpread abroad among the Gentiles, he aſcribeth glory; yea, riches of glory, that is, abundance of glory: thereby teaching, That the Goſpell preached among the Gentiles, Obſerv.is not only a mystery, but a myſtery full of glory. Even that wherein the gloriōus power, goodneſſe, and wiſdome of God is ſet forth: For what power, goodneſſe or wiſdome is any thing comparable with that which appeareth in mans redemption? Verily all the glory of earthly Kings, wherein they ſet forth their power, goodneſſe, wiſdome, is but a childiſh thing in compariſon of this. Let men therefore of ſhallow underſtanding, admire and magnifie the glorious ſhewes and actions of earthly Kings: Let us admire and adore this myſtery of the Goſpell among the Gentiles; and the rather, becauſe we our ſelves are partakers of it, and by it transformed into the Image of God.
This glorious myſtery is ſet forth by the ſubject of it,Obſ. which is Chriſt; for Chriſt is the only ſubject of the Goſpell. Whoſoever and whatſoever teacheth CHRIST, teacheth the myſtery of the Goſpell; and whoſoever teacheth not Chriſt, teacheth not the Goſpell.
Of CHRIST he ſaith, that He is among us Gentiles; Obſ.for ſo ſhould this word, foreign, be here rendered as it is immediately before, among the Gentiles; for by the Goſpell we have Communion with God and with Chriſt his Son: 1 Ioh. 1.3.He dineth, and ſuppeth, and lodgeth with us; we ſee, and heare, and feele, and taſte, and eat, and drinke Him: How glorious then is the Goſpell, by which IESUS CHRIST is communicated with us? And how glorious is the Church? Even the Temple of God. When Iacob going downe into Meſopotamia, ſlept, and in his dreame ſaw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, the Angels aſcending and deſcending, and the Lord ſtanding at the top of the ladder; being awakened, he ſaid, Surely the Lord was in this place, and I was not aware of it: So may we ſay, ſurely the Lord is among us, even the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, and we conſider it not.
Let us therefore put off our ſhooes from off our feet, Vſe 1 for the ground whereon we ſtand is holy ground: Let us ſanctifie our ſelves, for the Lord of all the world is among us. And henceforth let us be aſhamed to profeſſe that wee have communion with Him, and yet hold fellowſhip with Him and ſinners.
Let us alſo with comfort conſider our dignity and honour, Vſe 2 among whom the Sonne of God is, and by Him the Father alſo is pleaſed to dwell.
And what then though wee be forced to live among thornes and bryars, Vſe 3, among ſerpents and ſcorpions, among men wholly ſet upon miſchiefe, whoſe tongues are ſwords, who have the poyſon of Aſpes under their lips? Let this comfort us, that the Lord Ieſus Chriſt liveth amongſt us, and in us, by His Holy Spirit, and will be with us to the end of the world.
This CHRIST he deſcribeth by His effect toward us, calling Him the hope of glory; that is, He in whom, and by whom, we hope and looke for glory: So, 1 Tim. 1.1. He is called Our hope. Obſerv.CHRIST then is He in whom we looke and wait for glory. God, which cannot lye, hath promiſed to give us further aſſurance of it, Hee hath lift up CHRIST on high, placed Him at His right hand farre above all Principalities, &c. and made Him partaker of His glory: When He ſhall appeare, then ſhall we alſo appeare with Him in glory: this wee wait and looke for, this is our reſt.
What then though reproach and ſhame befall us in this evill world? Vſe 1 Let us beare it with patience, and with joy looke up to the glory prepared for us. And what if an armie of evills meet with us here below? by the helpe of Chriſt we ſhall overcome them all, and be more than conquerours, and in the end crowned with a crowne of immortall glory. There wanteth nothing but a little waiting; Yet a little while, and He that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. Behold Hee commeth in the clouds, and His reward of glory is with Him.
In the meane time let us live as thoſe that look for His glory, Vſe 2 and not diſhonour our ſelves with baſe actions of ſinne, that are appointed for ſuch glory.