Rescued By The Cross

Rescued By The Cross

Colossians 1:13-20

Introduction

"Throw Out the Lifeline" is a great old hymn composed by Edward Smith Ufford, a Baptist minister who served in Maine and Massachusetts. In 1888 Ufford was visiting Point Allerton, near Boston. While there, he visited a lifesaving station on the coast and watched men practicing rescue procedures that they would use in the event of shipwreck. One of the drills they practiced involved throwing a lifeline to those struggling in the water. He went home and wrote the lyrics and melody to this hymn. The hymn has been popular since its initial publication and has been recorded by such diverse artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Burl Ives, the Wilburn Brothers, Mahalia Jackson, and Shirley Caesar. Along the way some verses were added to the original song.

This is the life line, oh, grasp it today!

See, you are recklessly drifting away;

Voices in warning, shout over the wave,

O grasp the strong life line, for Jesus can save.

That is our message for today - that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is a rescue mission. Colossians 1:13 tells us, “For he has rescued us…” No matter how strong, fast, brilliant, creative, or accomplished we are, everyone who follows Jesus has been rescued. The power of that rescue effort is found at the cross.

Today let’s be reminded that we have been saved and rescued. Remember what you’ve been rescued from! What kind of life would you have without Christ?

1. Jesus Came To Our Rescue Us from Darkness

Colossians 1:13 Who rescued us from the authority of darkness…

The Enemy has a hold on this world and we can see effects of his work. He steals, kills, destroys (John 10:10)

Without Christ we are living in darkness. Spiritual darkness. Evil influences that have us veering off into dark areas. Bruce: “…the sinister forces marshaled against him for a decisive combat in the spiritual realm.” Directional darkness - how do we know the best ways to live, how to grow deep in relationships, how to overcome the struggles of life without the guidance of Jesus / Scripture. Religious Darkness - how do we worship, love, and serve God when we are in the dark, surrounded by false ideas? Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord….

2. Jesus Rescued Us From Rejection

Colossians 1:13b ...brought us into the kingdom of the Son

In Jesus we find the acceptance that every person needs. God has taken us right out of the sphere in which we used to live into His own kingdom and into His own power … it was a rescue.

Col. 1:21-22a Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you. In Christ we have a new Family, Father, Future. Before we were “lost”…now we are “Found”.

3. Jesus Rescued Us From Bondage

Colossians 1:14a in whom we have redemption

Redemption is "a releasing effected by payment of ransom”. Barclay “Without God men are slaves to their fears, slaves to their sins, slaves to their own helplessness and their own fault. In Jesus Christ there comes a liberation…". We have been "released" from the bondage of sin through the payment of Jesus' blood. (Ephesians 1:7). This is so amazing when we consider the awfulness of our own sins. How could Jesus take people like us and turn them into redeemed, righteous, saved, heaven-bound, secure souls? Amazing Grace how sweet the sound!

4. Jesus Rescued Us from Guilt

Colossians 1:14b the forgiveness of sins.

He has forgiven us - he has released us from the bonds, the imprisonment of sin. He forgives us - letting our sins go as if they had never been committed. Matthew 1:21 says, "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give

him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins.” Wiersbe - “…He has canceled every debt so we cannot be enslaved again. Satan cannot find anything in the files that will indict us!”

5. Jesus Rescued Us from Self-Dependence.

Colossians 1:15-19

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him, all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,