Redemption Through His Blood
Colossians 1:13-14 (KJV)
Col. 1:13-14 (KJV) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: [14] In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
Everything in this verse is spoken of as already accomplished. We aren't trying to get free from the power of the devil. It's already a done deal. We just need to believe it. All we are fighting against is the devil's lies that tell us we are still in bondage. We aren't trying to get translated into God's kingdom; we are already there, seated in heavenly places in Christ (Colossians 3:1). We only need to believe what has already happened to experience the benefits.
"Who hath delivered" us is in the Greek aorist tense. This means that the action spoken of is to be viewed as complete, as a whole, or as a one-time action. The Christian life is walking by faith in accordance with that which God's grace has already freely given. Romans 6:11 states, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." We don't reckon ourselves as becoming dead to sin; instead, we reckon ourselves already dead, because we are dead through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are not heading toward victory; we are coming from a victory—the victory of Christ over the devil, which has already taken place.
Since we have already been delivered "from the power of darkness," Satan does not have any real power over us. His only weapons are deception and intimidation. Those who know the truth this verse is presenting have nothing to fear.
Col. 1:13: The Greek word for "translated" is "METHISTEMI," and it means to "remove from one place to another... of change of situation or place" (Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon). It is used of a steward being "put out" of his stewardship (Luke 16:4), of Saul being "removed" from his kingdom (Acts 13:22), of Paul turning people away from idols (Acts 19:26), of faith removing mountains (1 Corinthians 13:2), and of being "translated" from the power of darkness (this verse). This verb is relating the fact of the believer being totally removed from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of God's dear Son.
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Col. 1:14: This redemption is not something we are striving to obtain. It's already an accomplished fact. All of our sins, past, present, and even future are already forgiven.
This redemption that has already occurred is in our spirits. Our born-again spirits are already forgiven and as perfect as Jesus is (1 John 4:17). However, the redemption of our bodies (1 Corinthians 15:53-54) and souls (1 Corinthians 13:9-12) is not complete yet. We are waiting for the redemption of those purchased possessions (Ephesians 1:14).
The Greek word that was translated "redemption" here is "APOLYTROSIS," and it means "a buying back, a setting free by paying a ransom price" (The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament Edition). APOLYTROSIS was used in the following scriptures: Lk. 21:28; Rom. 3:24, 8:23; 1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 1:7, 14, 4:30; this verse; Heb. 9:15, and 11:35. God created us for Himself, but we sold ourselves into slavery to the devil. The Lord bought us back through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. The Lord illustrated this in the Old Testament through the prophet Hosea (Hos. 1:2-3 and 3:2).
Col. 1:14: It is through Christ's blood that redemption has been provided. No amount of effort, human works, or mankind's own righteousness could bring the divine favor that we needed. Therefore, Christ's blood was a gift of divine provision in payment for our sin. In the Old Testament, we see that sin was so serious, it demanded punishment by death. Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." The shedding of blood in the O.T. sacrifices symbolized this death penalty. The blood of Jesus was not symbolic, but the actual life of God (Lev. 17:11) that purchased our redemption.
The Scriptures mention a number of things that the blood of Jesus accomplished for us: it purchased the church of God (Acts 20:28), it instituted the New Covenant (1 Cor. 11:25), it brought us close to God (Eph. 2:13), and it provided peace (Col. 1:20). The blood of Jesus purges our consciences (Heb. 9:14), gives us boldness to enter into the holy place (Heb. 10:19), and cleanses us of all sin (1 Jn. 1:7 and Rev. 1:5). It enables us to overcome the devil (Rev. 12:11) and provides propitiation (Rom. 3:25), justification (Rom. 5:9), remission (Heb. 9:22), sanctification (Heb. 13:12), and eternal redemption (Eph. 1:7, this verse, and Heb. 9:12).
Col. 1:14: The forgiveness of sins is one of the great themes of the Bible. There is so much that Scripture says about it that it would take volumes of books to adequately deal with the subject. Suffice it to say that the blood of Jesus is what provided us with the forgiveness of sins. That sacrifice was so great that it outweighed all our sins. It covered all the sins of the world—past, present, and future (see note Romans 4:8).
The forgiveness of our sins is not the ultimate goal of our salvation; it is just a necessary step. The real goal of salvation is relationship with the Father (see note Jn. 17:3), and sin is a barrier to that relationship. Sin had to be dealt with, and it was, through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who stop with the forgiveness of sins and don't go on into eternal life are missing the heart of salvation. Our sins have been forgiven so that we may enter into intimacy with the Lord.
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