The Mystery of the Union: Colossians

The following is from an article by Scott Prewitt in the Vol. 35, Number 4 2019 issue of The Intercessor magazine:

"Paul tells us again in his epistle to the Colossians that our life is mixed with Christ’s life. He also explains that our union with Christ is hard for us to see with our human eyes. In fact, he calls it a mystery. Paul says, 'Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints.' To them, God would 'make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory' (Colossians 1:26-27).

"The union reality is both wonderful and mysterious at the same time. Even Paul's own teaching on union is done not with detailed exhortations on the subject. Even though the riches and glory of the ways and will of God were revealed to Paul unlike most any other man or woman, the union reality is still not easily taught and imparted. There is no single letter of his that can contain the depth and breadth of Christ-union. However, he weaves a tapestry of faith and doctrine and revelation throughout his letters to the believers in the early church and for us today as recorded in the Scriptures.

"Again, he chooses his words carefully to show that Christ is found IN us. We can see this over and over again in his letters, and he reinforces this point. Christ is not found out there somewhere, separate from us. He does not visit us or become near to us at moments in time. He is found IN us. Now, Paul proclaims this magnitude of union.

"Riches and glory are words used to describe our position of Christ-in-us. Union must not be passed over or taken lightly. Riches and glory are wonderful, magnificent, and something to be sought and treasured. We know that Christ came so that 'we might have life, and have it more abundantly.' Now we can see how we are to be fulfilled with abundant life. Our abundance is Jesus Himself, living in us.

"Paul once again reinforces his point in Colossians 3:3-4 when he says, 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.' Paul says that you (or 'we') are dead, and we see the message of Galatians 2:20 here again in this verse. We have been put to death, sharing in the cross with Christ. Again, the 'I' has been nailed to the cross, and the futility of a life independent of Christ has been buried.

"Our new life is the shared resurrection for we now have new life. This new life exists in union with Christ. Paul even says that this life is 'hid with Christ.'  Since our life is hid with Christ, then the part of ourselves that does remain cannot be detected nor determined. Though we retain our humanity by our flesh (body) and mind and emotion (soul), our core (spirit) is joined with Christ and becomes hidden there."