“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: (13) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son: (14) In whom we have redemption through his blood — the forgiveness of sins… [Col.1:12-14]
From Mt.11:27 we have it taught directly from Christ Jesus that no man knows the Son, but the Father — and “neither knoweth any man the Father, but the Son and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him”. Therefore, for us to be able to give thanks unto the Father, the Son of God must — first of all — reveal Him unto us! And, look at what this great text from Colossians 1 declares that this revelatory experience will give to us. It not only gives to us a knowledge of God the Father, but it also gives to us a knowledge of He who makes us (literally) qualified to be heirs along with all of the saints in light! This, dear ones, is but another way of saying, “For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves” (Eph.2:8).
Col.1:13 goes on to describe of God the Father as being the one “who has delivered (or, rescued) us from the power (or, the ruling authority) of darkness…”! Acts 26:18 tells us plainly that this ruling power of darkness is in truth the power of Satan! God the Father, Himself, intervenes on our behalf to reveal to us the saving, guiding “Light” of this world of darkness. We then are drawn by the Father (Jn.6:44) to come out of darkness to the Light — which is His Son — and from that time onward “we walk in the Light as He is in the Light” (1Jn.1:7) and we enter into a vibrant, living relationship of close fellowship with one another and “the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin”. Praise and glory to His great eternal Name!
In addition, Col.1:13 goes on to say of God the Father that He has (in Christ) delivered us from Satan’s darkness and ruling power over us — and “translated us into the Kingdom (literally) of the Son of His love”! We are transferred from the temporal kingdom of the devil and his darkness to the eternal Kingdom of Christ and His Light; out from being under the enslaving dominion of Satan, sin and death into the life transforming realization of Christ’s “wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1Co.1:30); from being under sin’s reigning influence to being under God the Son’s reign of love and grace.
Yes, we give our most heartfelt thanks unto God the Father for all of this because He has wrought it all for us through His beloved and eternal Son — our blessed and eternal Savior. And, praise to the Holy Spirit of God who personally bears witness unto us of all these wonderful things (Ro.8:16)! He it is that gives us the knowledge that in Jesus we do have “forgiveness of sins” (or, more lit., freedom from the penalty of our sins). Praise to the all glorious Savior!
For Christ’s Glory Only!
John Carpenter
