The Gospel’s Power • Colossians 1:9-23
By Don Hicks
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14 NIV).
If we are to understand the focus of our study this week, The Gospel’s Power, we need to remember what is the Good News of the Gospel: “He has… transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Colossians 1:13 CSB). The “He” who has transferred — brought us into ‘the kingdom of his Son — is God.
The Apostle Paul had a very clear understanding of who is the God of the Bible. He knew the story of Moses and the burning bush from the third chapter of Exodus. God is telling Moses how to explain to the children of Israel who God is and what His name is.
This is the way God told Moses how explain who He is: “Then Moses asked God, ‘If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ What should I tell them?’ God replied to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me you” (Exodus 3:13-14 CSB).
The Old Testament God is totally unique. In the Christian Standard Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4 says it this way: “Listen, Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” Only God can say “I AM WHO I AM.”
To understand the power of the Gospel we must understand the phrase, “… into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” Simply put “the Son he loves” is Jesus. Mark tells us of God’s love for Jesus in his account of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist: “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him [Jesus]: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:10-11 KJV).
God’s beloved Son, Jesus, is identified in Colossians 1:14 as the One in whom “we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (CSB). Isaiah 53:6 tell us, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all” (KJV).
Paul says it this way in his letter to the Romans, “For all have sinned and fall short glory of God” (Romans 3:23 CSB).
Paul stressed to the Colossians that Jesus is our way to “redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:14 CSB). Jesus Himself tells us this: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except though me. If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (John 14:6-7 CSB). Paul writes:
— “He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation” (Colossians 1:15 CSB).
— “For everything was created by him” (Colossians 1:16a CSB).
— “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
— He was with God in the beginning.
— All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
— In him was life,” (John 1:1-4a CSB).
— “He is before all things, and by him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17 CSB).
— “He is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18a CSB).
— “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him” (Colossians 1:19 CSB).
— “…through him to reconcile everything to himself,” (Colossians 1:20a CSB).
— “…making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20c CSB).
— “Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds expressed in your evil actions” (Colossians 1:20a CSB).
— “But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death” (Colossians 1:22a CSB).
Because Christ has reconciled us, we are presented holy and blameless before Him. From this reconciled position, we can join Paul as a servant of the Gospel. This explains the power of the Gospel; it makes it possible for us, like Paul, to become a servant of the Gospel. As a servant of the Gospel, we can boldly share its Good News with those around us.
Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.
