Sermon Notes

Colossians 1: 13, 14                                               What Does It Mean?

Kowloon International Baptist Church                        Kowloon Tong

Harry Lucenay, Pastor                                                     16 April 2006

The Easter story is a resurrection story. The key words are He is not here. He is risen (Matthew 28:6). What do these words mean to us?

 
The Apostle Paul wrote for he (Jesus) has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Colossians 1:13-14

 
1. We have been rescued.

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness                 v. 13

God rescued us from the dead-end alleys and dark dungeons.

                                                                                      v. 13 The Message

 
The concept of rescue has a long biblical history. When the Hebrews were slaves in Egypt God said, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.                                                          Exodus 6:6

 
Jesus is the only rescuer we can trust with our lives. He said I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.                                                                                John 14:6

 
Paul speaks of a definite time when Jesus liberated or saved the people who were lost in their own darkness.

 
Men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

                                                                                                    John 3:19

 2. We have been reestablished.

And brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves                        v. 14

He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much.

                                                                                      v. 14 The Message

 We have moved from the kingdom of selfishness to the kingdom of God. Only Jesus (the Son he loves – This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of all my delight. 2 Peter 1:17)) has the power to facilitate such a move. The kingdom is not a physical territory but the sovereign rule of God in our hearts.

 3. We have been redeemed.

In whom we have redemption                                         v. 14

This redemption we have in Christ Jesus is our personal possession. Our freedom from slavery to sin was not without price. Jesus came to give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:35).

 God destroyed sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.                                            Romans 8:3 New Living Translation

 4. We have been released.

In whom… we have forgiveness for sins.                                 v. 14

 I identified myself completely with him (Christ). Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

                                                                Galatians 2:19, 20 The Message

 The forgiveness of sins sends sin away so that it is no longer a barrier between us and God.

The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.                                                                      Romans 6:23

 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.                             1 Peter 1:3

 
The Bible translation used is the New International Version unless otherwise noted.