“Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” – Colossians 1:13
LIGHT FOR NOW: To be delivered is to be translated from one point to the other.
Romans 7:24 says, “… man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul used it in the above text for the law and sin. Also, Romans 15:31says “That I may be delivered…” Here, Paul used it in relation to the preaching of the gospel. It should be noted in the texts seen that from the way it was used, deliverance has a purpose. It is always from somewhere to another.Again 2 Corinthians 1:10 “Who delivered us…” Take proper note of this text. The line of thoughts stems from the previous verse (verse 9). He uses the word “deliver” three times (in the past tense, present tense and future tense).1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for…” 2 Thessalonians 3:2 “And that we may be delivered…”
Why the deliverance in 2 Thessalonians 3:2? This was so that the word of God would run a free course. The deliverance is from unreasonable men (unbelievers). 2 Timothy 3:11 “… but out of them all, the Lord delivered me”. Notice that severally, the use of the word deliverance by Paul was to enable him preach the gospel more. 2 Timothy 4:17-18 says, “Notwithstanding the Lord…” From what we’ve seen so far, it is observed that it is always from and to. It implies that something happens to the delivered person.
in our text for today, the word “power” was translated from the Greek word “exousia” which implies authority. So, “power of darkness” here implies the authority of darkness.The word “kingdom” was translated from the Greek word “basileia” which implies a sphere of authority. The word darkness was used in the synoptic gospel, the books of Acts and the Epistles.
Paul in narrating the account of his ministry recounted what Jesus said to him, it related with the preaching of the gospel. This implies that the word “darkness” across the texts cited here do not refer to a literal darkness. This implies that forgiveness of sins can be called deliverance for the power of darkness. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 says, “But if our gospel be…” Where then is the darkness? Apostle Paul in his epistle to the church at Corinth gave us a lead. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 “But if your gospel…” Notice that Paul in verse 4 used the word minds and in verse 6 used the word hearts. This implies that the darkness is in the heart. If the heart is where light came, then darkness refers to the state of the heart of a man. Further references in the (Pauline) epistles on the word darkness: Ephesians 5:11, 6:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, 1 Peter 2:9, 2 Peter 2:17, Jude 1:13.Let us take another look at Paul’s account of his ministry: Acts 26:16-18 “But rise up and stand up…” It is instructive that forgiveness of sins was the turning from darkness to light, which is deliverance from the power of darkness. It therefore follows that the word “darkness” is spiritual as the preaching is the shining of light into the heart which Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 pointed to.
INSTRUCTION:Acknowledge that you have been delivered.
PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for paying the price of my redemption, in Jesus Name. Amen.
QUOTE: The greatest deliverance that can be ministered to a man is the forgiveness of sins.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: DEUTERONOMY CHAPTER 17; EVENING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 5
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 