Rescue and Redemption (Colossians 1:11-14)

¹¹ being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, ¹² and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. ¹³ For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Over the next two verses, the author gives four phrases that describe how one walks in the way of the Lord. First, Christians must do good which shows how the Spirit has transformed us. Second, Christians must grow in knowledge of God. We must continually seek to know more about him and increase our experience of him. This knowledge of God also helps us to bear fruit. Third, we must be strengthened by God’s power. He is the ruler of the universe, and his power resides within us too. This will help us endure threats with patience.

Fourth, we mist give joyful thanks to God. Joy is always central to Pauline teaching, and here it is presented as a characteristic of walking in the Lord. Note that the emphasis is on the Father who is the active one. Significantly this is before the Christ hymn and acts as a kind of lead in to it. We give thanks because God has called us to his kingdom and saved us from darkness. There are two powers in this world, often symbolized by darkness and light. Humans follow one or the other. God will defeat all other powers and bring us to Christ’s reign over the universe. But Christians are already citizens of this kingdom for the rescue has already taken place. Note the use of tenses here. Marcus Maxwell argues that Pauline thought makes a distinction between the kingdom of God which refers to God’s future rule “over his renewed creation” and the kingdom of Christ which exists already.

We have redemption in Christ which serves as an introduction to the Christ hymn. Note that redemption was used for freeing someone from slavery which is what Christ has done. Of course, redemption costs something, and Christ paid this price through his incarnation, crucifixion and death. The idea of God delivering his people should make us think of the Exodus, and the echoes of the Exodus reinforce the idea of freeing from slavery. Baptism should also come to our minds here, since it makes us members of the family of God. Note that redemption here is defined as being freed from sin, since sin cuts us off from God.