From Darkness To Light

Colossians 1:12-20

One theme of historical legends is that of some people who were taken captive by an enemy king, and then some knights coming in to rescue them from the enemy kingdom, bringing them home to their own kingdom.  That is a similar scenario to one of the two major points that Paul brings up in our passage today from his letter to the Colossian Christians.

Ever since Eve took the first bite from the forbidden fruit, mankind has been held captive by Satan.  Satan’s kingdom is not a place one would want to be in. From the outside it might look nice and pleasant, but once inside the walls of that kingdom, we find it is one of darkness, deception, and wickedness.  We were held captives, just like prisoners taken captive by an evil medieval king. However, God did not want to leave mankind in that condition. We have been rescued by God from Satan’s kingdom (vs. 13-14).  Jesus defeated Satan through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. We are redeemed from Satan’s kingdom through the Blood Jesus shed upon the cross. For those who accept Jesus’ gift of salvation, they are redeemed, ransomed from slavery to sin, and brought out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness into God’s glorious kingdom of light.

Through the Blood of Jesus we have been transferred from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from guilt to forgiveness, from the power of Satan to the power of God, and from a rebel kingdom to serve a righteous God.  For those who choose to accept the rescue provided by Jesus, He brings us into God’s kingdom, making us His children. Jesus then makes us qualified to share in His inheritance (vs. 12), and brings us forgiveness of our sins.

The second topic that Paul addresses in our passage is that of the deity of Jesus Christ (vs. 15-18).  The Colossian church was being threatened by a spreading heresy that denied the deity of Jesus. We see that a lot today, as well.  There are cults that say that Jesus was not God, as other religions also teach. Many people today say that Jesus was “a good man”, maybe even admitting that He was a “prophet” or some other “religious teacher”.  That is not what God’s Word, the Bible, teaches. It says here that Jesus is God.  He is the image of the invisible God, God’s perfect image and very form.  Jesus came from heaven, not from the dust of the earth (I Corinthians 15:47).

Jesus is supreme over all creation.  He is eternal, having existed before anything else.  When the universe began, Christ already existed, and He is exalted over it.  Jesus not only created the world, He sustains it (vs. 17). Everything is held together and protected by Him.  Jesus prevents creation from disintegrating into chaos, maintaining the power and balance necessary to life’s existence and continuity.  Jesus ranks over all creation because He is the Creator. The fullness of deity was not spread out among created beings, like the Colossian heresy taught, but completely dwells in Christ alone (vs. 19).

Paul uses the human body as a metaphor for the Church (vs. 18).  Jesus is the head, controlling everything. The Church has its origin in Jesus.  He gave His life for it. Jesus was the first to be resurrected, never to die again.

Before we were saved we were alienated from God, rebellious, enemies, completely separated.  When we accept Jesus as Savior, His death brings a reconciliation (vs. 20). Man is reconciled to God when Jesus restores a right relationship between us and God, and those who believe are no longer at enmity with our Creator. If you haven’ t already, accept Jesus as your Savior now, to be reconciled with the Lord and become a joint heir with Jesus.