Colossians 1:13 (KJV) 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
This week we have been learning about the second building block of our foundation, redemption in Christ Jesus. We have looked at redemption from the legal point of view. God created a family. He gave his family the legal right to choose. He also gave them dominion over the world he created for them. Satan deceived the woman into committing a sin before God and man chose to follow her in that sin. As a result of this legal transaction, man, all his descendents and the earth itself became Satan’s legal possession.
Redemption, or the buying back of something previously owned, is the way God paid the price for man’s rebellion. He sent Jesus as propitiation, or full payment, for what man had done. Since Jesus had committed no sin, God was able t apply this payment to whoever he pleased. He chose to apply it to man’s debt. In this way he legally bought back man’s right to choose life.
Man still had to make the choice, but once he did, Satan could not legally interfere with the choice. Jesus, as part of the redemption, took the keys of death, hell and the grave and led Satan captive to display to all the powers of hell that he had been legally defeated. (Rev. 1:18 & Col. 2:15) This action enforced the legal side of redemption. Man now had access to the power of God to enforce redemption in his own life. To access any part of the redemption in Christ, man had to choose.
First, he had to choose to accept Jesus’ sacrifice as for his own sin personally. Second, he had to choose to yield the lordship of his own life to Jesus. Jesus was the one who paid the price. Finally, each believer must choose to receive by faith the freedom redemption purchased. This freedom includes freedom from the dominion of sin, freedom from sickness, freedom from poverty and emotional freedom to name a few.
As we close this week, let us take a closer look at what we have as a result of redemption. First, let me point out something I touched on yesterday. Redemption frees us from the influence of the fall in every area. Whatever came upon man because of Adam’s sin can be reversed by faith in Christ’s redemption. However, one area will not change until the end of the church age.
Romans 8:23 (NKJV) 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.
I believe the bible is clear that healing for our bodies is part of redemption (Is. 53) I also believe that we can believe for divine health as long as we need our bodies on this earth. That of course assumes that we take care of them reasonably well. If we abuse our bodies, we negate the affect of redemption. However, we still must endure physical death.
The reason for this is the same reason that Jesus did not preach to anyone after his resurrection but those who already believed in him. Salvation requires faith. Likewise, if Christian people simply did not die, those who needed to be saved would not be able to receive it by faith. They would have physical evidence that salvation was real. Faith is the key to unlocking salvation. Without it, no one can please God. (Heb. 11:6)
At the end of the age, there will be another phase of redemption in which our physical bodies will be redeemed and we will no longer be subject to physical death. Until that time, we will die physically and there is no provision of redemption that can alter that fact. When I consider that this guarantees that all who are alive around me can be saved, I think it is a small price to pay.
What can we expect from our redemption? Today’s verse tells us that redemption delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and translated us to the Kingdom of his son. I like the KJV’s use of the word “translate” better than the NKJV’s use of the “convey.” We can be conveyed from one place to another by a bus, but the bible tells us that Philip the evangelist was translated from one city to another instantly and miraculously. I believe this is the proper picture of what happens in redemption.
Before I accepted Jesus as the Lord and savior of my life, I was a legal citizen of the kingdom of darkness. I was subject to the laws of that kingdom. I lived under the conditions of that kingdom. My lifestyle and my living conditions were a product of that kingdom. The word “kingdom” implies a legal authority.
I travel a great deal in my ministry. I have been to about 38 countries. In many of them, the living conditions are quite different from those in my country. I have been places where the people live in poverty. I have been in places where the government and laws were very different from my home. While I am in these countries, I must obey their laws even if I do not agree with them. I must endure the conditions even if they make me uncomfortable. I am in their kingdom and under their authority.
When I get home, I am in another “kingdom” under different laws and living conditions. I am no longer subject to the laws or conditions of the “kingdom” I left. If there is some problem in that country, it does not affect me. If they have a natural disaster, it cannot touch me. I am in another kingdom.
Redemption took us from subjection to the kingdom of darkness and placed us under the authority of a new King. This Kingdom is the kingdom of God and the King is the son of God. I am no longer subject to the laws of the old kingdom. When I was living in the kingdom of darkness, the devil had every right to make me sick, poor or depressed. Sin had a legal right over me. I could resist it to a degree, but I was in their kingdom subject to their authority.
God did not have to put me on a plane or a train to get me out of the kingdom of darkness. When I said yes to Jesus, I was supernaturally picked up and translated into the Kingdom of the Son of God. From that moment on, I was no longer subject to the laws or conditions of that kingdom. It is now my legal right to be free from sickness, sin and poverty. I have a right to the peace and joy of the Holy Spirit.
When the old kingdom tries to exert authority over me, I can stand up to the devil and say, “I am no longer your subject. I don’t live in your kingdom any more. Get your hands off me.” (Romans 8:31-35) We have the right to go to the Father based on the promises in his Word and receive them by faith. I am in the kingdom of God’s son now and these promises are mine!
Let me close with one more thing. When I travel to other countries, I know I am submitting myself to their governments and the conditions those people live under. Sometimes there is a degree of danger involved. Spiritually, I know that I am still in God’s kingdom and the power of redemption will protect me. Physically I must endure hard conditions and risk to bring the Word of God to that place.
Too often believers choose to travel back into the kingdom of darkness. When we do, we bring ourselves under some of the authority of that kingdom. Sin takes us there. When we give into the flesh, we put ourselves under the authority of the kingdom of darkness and bad things have a right to come upon us. We are in their kingdom and under their authority. That is why the bible tells us not to give into the flesh or yield to sin.
God loves you. He has redeemed you and provided for every area of your life. Do not allow the devil to lure you back into his kingdom. Stay in the light and believe in the power of redemption. If you do, you will have access to the power of His kingdom to maintain you in this life as well as the ultimate redemption that enables us to live with our Father redeemer throughout eternity.
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