The Incomparable Christ

Colossians 1: 13-23

“13 He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions.”

Observations
· Satan’s realm of evil in which so many are deceived and trapped is called, “The dominion of darkness.” When one is rescued from that realm, he is transferred into the kingdom of Christ. I consider it a mistake to put the greater emphasis upon a coming kingdom, as so many do, to the neglect of the present kingdom, in which we have “redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Some years ago there was a “Kingdom Now” movement that had considerable opposition. It was opposed improperly in favor of a future kingdom. But why not say the kingdom is now, since we have been “rescued from the domain of darkness, and transferred to it?” Being a willing subject in Christ’s eternal kingdom now is one of the Christian’s greatest privileges.
· Our great King is the beloved Son of God, who bears His Father’s image. And being the “first born” Son, He was privileged to inherit the Father’s fullness and to become the Creator and Sustainer of “all things.” “What a mighty King we serve!”
· Christ is also the head of His church, having reconciled us to God in His body through death, and He presented us to Him holy, blameless and beyond reproach. “Holy and blameless” are also in the now; we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to be given this nature. “His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:3, 4). Philippians, Paul said that saints are to be “blameless and innocent children of God;” here he says that they are “presented before God, holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” These are all saintly characteristics, and they are all now! Why should unholy persons claim these virtues and true believers deny them? If you are a true believer, display them to others who need to be where you are and have what you have.

Remarks

· If you have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred holy and blameless and beyond reproach into the kingdom of Christ, it will show. After a moving encounter with the Holy Spirit years ago, I preached a sermon titled “Filled with the Spirit,” after which a woman responded to the invitation saying, “I want what Lacy”s got!” I felt so blessed to have modeled what I preached. If you have the Holy Spirit, let others see that you do; they will also want what you have. If you are a believer who don’t have the Holy Spirit, submit to your King and ask for Him; “Your Heavenly Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him” (Luke 11:13).