Chico Alliance Church
“Redeemed How I Love to Proclaim It”
Introduction
Not many of us have experienced actual imprisonment. We can only imagine what it might be like. There are Christians all over the world experiencing such punishment even as we meet this morning. There are more Christians being tortured and imprisoned for their faith in our time than were persecuted before our time.
Imprisonment comes in all many different categories.
Prisoners of war Prisoners of faith Slavery Prisoners of politics Prisoners of drugs and alcohol Prisoners of sex and pornography Prisoners of demonic authority Prisoners of sin
Wherever you have authorities, you have the possibility of imprisonment and captivity. Everyone born since Adam was born in slavery. We were all born under the authority of darkness. Scripture describes this woeful condition in many places and many ways.
Dead in trespasses and sins
Slaves of sin
Having no hope and without God in the world
Slaves to those who were not gods
Children of the devil
The defining term given to the authority holding us captive is darkness. No light, no truth, no freedom, and no ability to see the things of God. All of us were born under this kind of authority. We were subject to an evil kingdom, the kingdom of darkness. It is a kingdom that has a king, and army, a purpose, a culture. Eph 6 outlines the authority structure.
12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Ephes. 6:12
Under the authority of the prince of darkness, there is no freedom.
We cannot exercise free choice.
He blinds our eyes and binds our life.
He enslaves us to things that destroy our soul.
He encourages destructive thinking and behavior.
He continues to energize us to engage in activities that further his evil kingdom.
He keeps us enslaved to self-centered living.
He continually opposes the purpose and person on God.
The result of citizenship in this kingdom and consequences of allegiance to the prince of darkness is eternal separation from the God who made us. Although in the real world there is always a possibility for escape.
Prisoners have done it for centuries. Without outside help there is no escape from the authority of darkness. We were slaves of a kingdom far more powerful than any earthly kingdom. Without a special rescue from someone more powerful than us, there is no hope.
What did God do to rescue us from this hopeless bondage? What we study today is a truth that should continually be in the forefront of our thoughts. If we do not fully appreciate the gravity of our condition from which the Father lovingly rescued us, we will not be able to fully appreciate the glory of our current citizenship. It is my hope that today will help to bring a greater appreciation.
I. Paul exhibits effective prayer
A. Paul offers thanksgiving to the Father
1. Focus of thanksgiving – the Father
2. Frequency – continual
3. Factor (occasion) of thanksgiving – Belief of the Colossians
B. Paul offers petition for the Colossians
1. The Petition – may they be filled with a knowledge of God’s will
2. The Product – a worthy walk
3. The Power – His glorious might
4. The Purpose – attain steadfastness and patience
5. The motivation
II. The Father’s glorious transfer program
A. The Rescue
Every person born was borne in Adam’s family subject to the prince of the power of the air. Ephesians 2 makes the situation abundantly clear.
Life in the kingdom of Satan is a hopeless life. It is filled with bondage. It is filled with ambition, anger.
James 3:13-16 describes the nature of life in this kingdom.
Galatians 5:19-22 talks about the characteristics of a system driven by Satan.
Apart from God’s supernatural intervention, this is the kingdom we would continue to serve. The world for rescue used here in this passage is conveys the idea of to guard, ward off, deliver, draw near. It is used in a past sense, a present sense and a future sense. Here Paul refers to a past settled event accomplished by the Father. He not only qualified us to share in the inheritance, but he organized a dynamic rescue operation. We are intrigued by military operations that organize daring rescues in hostile territory.
God rescued us. God drew us out of the kingdom of darkness. In fact, we would not have come to Him were it not for the active drawing work of the Father.
"No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44
Please do not take for granted your rescue from Satan’s kingdom ever become something you take for granted. The prince of this world has already been judged and those who follow him and belong to his kingdom (no matter how good they live or act) will come under God’s judgement. Citizen’s die in war because the leaders are under attack. Those citizens of hell are enemies of God. James makes it clear there is no middle ground in God’s economy.
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4
The fate of the enemy is clear. (Rev 20:10-15)
The Father in his love rescues us from such a fate. He rescued us. Not only that he transferred our citizenship to a new kingdom. It is one thing to rescue someone or free them, it is quite another to give them a new life. Many of the emancipated slaves ended up in far worse physical conditions. God did not leave us as people without a country. He transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.
B. The Transfer
The word used here describes a dynamic one-time event. It means to transpose, transfer, remove from one place to another. The Father rescued us from Satan’s authority and kingdom and transferred us into a new kingdom; the kingdom of His Son.
It is a kingdom of light. It is a kingdom of righteousness.
17for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17
James talks about kingdom culture.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:17-18
Galatians
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
This is a new citizenship. We have an eternal inheritance.
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Philip. 3:20-21
Our citizenship could be transferred from one kingdom to another and life would not really change. We could be transferred to another country and never meet the king.
The Father rescued us and transferred us into the kingdom of His son. That same Son took special interest in us and sacrificed himself that we might be in His kingdom.
9But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY. 1 Peter 2:9-10
C. The Benefits
1. Redemption
The word used here is a very rich word. What does it mean to have redemption? First of all, it is a present reality, a continuous possession. This word further defines the action God took in rescuing us and transferring us. The result is redemption. We were slaves, sold into sin to Satan, and alienated from God. The Father took the initiative to do something about it. The action he took is further described by this word “redemption”.
This word carries the idea of rescue from a hostile power, which has one in its absolute control. It is like a kidnap victim, captive in war. The release of the captive is accomplished through the payment of a price. Our King, the leader of this great kingdom into which we have been transferred made it all possible through the ultimate payment.
looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; 14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:13-14
This freedom has already been accomplished for us. It is every Christian’s present possession. All who are in the kingdom of Christ have been transferred there by reason of redemption. What did our freedom cost? 1 Peter 1:14-
encourages kingdom behavior by keeping in mind just what it did cost. Hebrews 9:11-12
The Scriptures expand this vital life changing truth by another term translated redemption.
This carries the idea of purchase. The word comes from the word for market place. Whereas the first family of terms had the idea of release from bondage by a price, this second family of terms carries the idea of purchase for possession. We were in the slave market of sin. Jesus paid the price that we might belong to Him and become citizens in His kingdom. 1 Cor. 6:19-20
The focus of heaven’s praise will be Christ’s redemptive work. Rev. 5:9-10
When you think of this truth of redemption think of two things:
A slave market – purchase for possession.
A prisoner of war camp – release from bondage by a price
2. The Forgiveness of sins
We can be rescued, transferred and redeemed but there is an item left that is crucial to our spiritual and emotional health. While a slave in the kingdom of darkness we engaged in many hurtful things. We acted shamefully. We rebelled against God and His ways. Now that we understand our sinfulness, we are faced with incredible guilt. We have offended the very one who gave His only son to rescue us. What do we do with the guilt? Not only do we have redemption but God has also given us forgiveness of sins. This too is a continual present condition. We have (present tense) forgiveness of sins. Psalm 103:11-14
Only when we realize our daily need for God’s forgiveness and realize that He in
His grace grants it, will be ever be able to offer it to others as freely as it has been offered to us. We started as citizens of a dark kingdom where our future held only eternal torment and devastation. The Father, because of His great love and power, rescued us from that kingdom and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved son. In this kingdom we can enjoy freedom from the authority of our former prince. We can enjoy the freedom from the penalty and power of sin. We can enjoy guilt free communion with the Father and with our LORD Jesus.
Paul continually explains the glorious message of redemption in Christ -- true freedom. Paul also exhorts us to live in light of our heritage. Don’t use your new freedom for selfishness but to serve in the love and power of Christ. Salvation is more than adopting a set of principles and rules.
We have been transferred from servitude to a cruel king to sonship in the kingdom of God.
We are here to proclaim the excellencies of Him who did that work.
We are here to dedicate our lives to his service out of our deepest obedience.
The greatest act of worship is not singing the songs but serving the Savior.
Re-affirm this truth this morning by means of a powerful hymn.
This week
• Pray Paul’s prayer for your family and the church.
• Brainstorm a bit about what life in Satan’s kingdom would be like.
• In what areas might you have willfully returned to slavery to Satan. (We are slave to the one we obey).
• Think of all the benefits of being a citizen of heaven.
• Concentrate on thanksgiving.
• Rest in the forgiveness of God.
