God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

COLOSSIANS 1:13: GOD HAS BROUGHT US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS SON

' ... he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves ... '

The Bible teaches that God has placed those who believe in Jesus Christ in 'the kingdom of the Son he loves'. This 'kingdom' stands in direct and total contrast to the 'dominion of darkness' from which God rescued us.

It has a different King: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, instead of Satan

It has a different foundation: knowledge of God, instead of ignorance of God.

It has a different operating principle: grace/faith, instead of law/performance.

It has a different verdict: acquittal, instead of guilt and condemnation.

It has a different relationship: reconciliation and union with God, instead of enmity with and separation from God.

It has a different status for its members: freedom, instead of bondage.

It has a different outcome: eternal life, instead of death.

All those who are in this Kingdom of Jesus Christ are there because of God's action: he transferred us, he changed our position, he brought us safely into the Kingdom of his Son.

Membership of this Kingdom is sheer gift, and, because this membership in Christ's Kingdom is the result of God's action, God's will, God's choice, not ours, it is secure. It bears no relationship to our initial or current ability to qualify or justify ourselves, but only to God's gracious saving action in and through Jesus Christ his Son.

[Scriptures: Colossians 1:13; Revelation 17:14; 19:16; John 12:31; Ephesians 2:2; John 14:6-9; 2 Corinthians 4:4-6; Romans 11:16; Galatians 2:21; Ephesians 2:7-9; Romans 3:19-26; 8:1; 5:9-11; 2 Corinthians 5:14-21; Colossians 1:19-22; Galatians 5:1-13; John 3:16; John 1:12,13; 10:27-29]

 

COLOSSIANS 1:14: IN CHRIST WE HAVE REDEMPTION

' ... he brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption ... '

Here salvation is depicted by the concept of 'redemption'. Redemption presupposes a state of slavery or bondage, from which a person or property is set free.

In the Old Testament the liberation of the Hebrews from their centuries of slavery in Egypt is recorded as 'redemption' and God from that point onwards is known as their 'Redeemer'.

Also in the Old Testament, provision was made for the 'redemption' of property or persons handed over to another because of debt. A 'redeemer' would purchase freedom for a relative so indebted. At the payment of a price property lost to a creditor could be recovered.

In the Year of Jubilee, scheduled for every fiftieth year, a massive redemption/liberation of people and property held by creditors automatically occurred: those enslaved because of debt were given their freedom, and forfeited property reverted to its original owners.

When Jesus came he announced that the ultimate expression of this Year of Jubilee, this year of God's favour, had arrived and was fulfilled in his person. In him the ultimate redemption, the ultimate liberation, is put into effect.

He, by his life-poured-out, pays the price for our sin-indebtedness to God. He, by his death, liberates us from our inescapable bondage to law, sin, condemnation and death.

Because of his death, by which our sin is forgiven, we are liberated forever from having to keep the Law in order to be safe in God's presence; we are liberated forever from the heavy condemnation and guilt which our sin incurred; we are liberated forever from that death which is the ultimate penalty of eternal separation from God.

[Scriptures: Colossians 1:14; Exodus 12:31-15:21; Leviticus 25:8-54; Luke 4:19; Galatians 3:10-14; 5:1]

For further study: check out the Redemption study in Words of Salvation on this website.