He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13–14, ESV)
Ham and egging. Brother-in-law’n. Sister-in-law’n. Tag teaming.
If you’ve played in any type of two-player best-ball event, you know what the above terms mean. If you don’t, each refers to two partners taking turns playing well on each hole and picking one another up.
Bobby hits it out of bounds. His partner Sarah hits the fairway, hits the green, two-putts, and makes par. Bobby makes a double bogey. Sarah carried him.
On the next hole, Sarah three-putts for bogey, but Bobby hits it close and makes birdie. At least one of them plays each hole well. Throughout the day, they frequently say to one another, “You saved me on that hole!”
There’s a sense of competitive relief when your partner rescues you from playing a bad hole.
The Apostle Paul writes to the church at Colossae to encourage them, as he received a good report from Epaphras about them (1:7–8), and to warn them of a heresy that was threatening the church—Jesus plus knowledge and Jesus plus works equals salvation (see 2:8, 11, 18; 3:11). Paul urges them to remember that Jesus plus nothing equals salvation.
In chapter 1, he reminds them of the gratitude they should have for what God has done for them—a gratitude rooted in deliverance. The imagery we should have when we see words like deliverance, rescue, and save is utter helplessness remedied by a redeemer.
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son (v. 13).
As people enslaved to the flesh and darkness, we have been graciously delivered by God from the darkness of Satan. Delivered is one of the most glorious words in all of Scripture.
We see in Exodus 6:6 that God instructs Moses to proclaim the coming deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of Pharaoh in Egypt. The New Testament word for deliver is used five times and can also mean to rescue or to save.
In Colossians 1, Paul is painting this picture of being rescued from evil while also emphasizing the transfer into Jesus’ kingdom. For those who are in Christ, our deliverance is joined with our redemption.
“… in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Being rescued from a bad hole by our partner woefully fails in comparison to the saving work of Christ on our behalf. A work that only He could do. A work without which there is no hope for those who are dominated by the forces that reign over our fallen hearts. No wonder Paul starts his letter to the Colossian church with a reminder of what Christ has done.
There is no redemption, there is no forgiveness, there is no deliverance without a gracious God and His beloved Son. May this text serve as a reminder to the saints of God that we have been rescued and delivered from evil and all its repercussions. May we be reminded that our forgiveness is secure in the sacrificial work of the Redeemer. May our living reject the domain of darkness as we live kingdom-focused lives.
Prayer: Father! Thank you for rescuing me from darkness and strengthening me to live my life filled with gratitude for the redemption you’ve given me. Amen.