From the Lineup

Colossians 1:13 (NASB95) — 13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,

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There's always a few core questions that drive a good story.

Who, What, When, Why & How...

Verse 13 answers the How of verse 12

Colossians 1:12 (NASB95) — 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

How did he qualify us? The text says 

...he rescued us...

 Now let's just take a moment to reflect on that. Our culture says everybody is essentially a good person. It doesn't matter what you believe in as long as you sincerely believe it. If you ask our culture, they will say, "you are doing just fine."

Paul is saying something different here....he's saying that apart from God...you need rescuing.

Rescuing from what?

I've heard people say, "I don't need God! I'm doing just fine on my own! I don't need God to be a good person!"

I believe one of the marks of authenticity of the Bible is how counter-intuitive it's core message is. If you were going to "make up" a religion......you wouldn't put at the very heart of it the message that humans cannot be good enough. Even when you become a Christian, it's not like then you're a good person.

Romans 3:23 (NASB95) — 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Christians and non-Christians are all equally sinful, equally bad, equally lost....

The difference between someone who is a Christian and someone who is not is that one has been forgiven and because of that forgiveness they have submitted they're life into God's control. Christians still sin, they still mess up, if perfect justice was executed Christians would go to hell......but the gospel is that through Christ you can receive can mercy instead of justice.

So what are you being rescued from? The text gives the answer.

...from the domain of darkness...

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT) — 4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.

2 Timothy 3:2–5 (NLT) — 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly...

Ephesians 2:2–3 (NLT) — 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

God took us out of this domain and

...transferred us...

That means he made us change teams. God did that....while you may have had a part by finally making a conscious decision....it has been God that has been pulling you towards Him the whole time.

He took us away from the control of the devil, and has placed us in a different situation.

Romans 6:17–18 (NLT) — 17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. 18 Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.

There are only two teams, either you are on God's team....or not.

Remember recess where you would have to line up to get picked by the team captains? This is like if you were the worst, nerdiest kid who couldn't even run 5 steps without tripping over yourself...and God picks you from the lineup to join his team of all-stars.

Who's the team captain for God's team?

...His beloved Son...

John 3:16 (ESV) — 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.