Read: Colossians 1:13-14
Everyone loves a good rescue. It seems most popular heroes and stories involve a rescue of some description. Maybe it is the superhero, who fights off the bad guys to rescue innocent people from certain doom. Maybe it is the dashing young man who falls in love with a lonely women, rescuing her from a (perceived) life of loneliness. Or maybe it is the detective who diligently follows the clues to bring about justice and to rescue future victims. We all love the story of a thrilling rescue.
There is no bigger, more thrilling rescue in history than the rescue that God has performed for His people. Paul describes it here in Colossians 1:13-14:
“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.”
Because of our own choice to rebel against God we were under the dominion of darkness. The powers of evil, death and sin ruled over us and we were totally lost apart from God. Think of the person who is in so much trouble that there is
And yet God intervenes. He rescues us. He takes us from the dominion of darkness and brings us into the Kingdom of His Son, the Kingdom of Light. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness and death into the Kingdom of light and life. We have been brought into the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Himself. We don’t deserve to be citizens of such a Kingdom. In fact, if we got what we deserved we would remain in the kingdom of darkness. But God graciously rescues us and brings us into His Kingdom.
There are two alternative ways that we can live as human beings. We can choose to remain as citizens of the kingdom of darkness, suffering under the dominion of sin and death. This alternative leads to ultimate judgment and condemnation when we stand before God in the final judgment. For those who choose this way of life there is no rescue or redemption.
Or we can choose to be citizens of the Kingdom of God’s Son. We can choose to be amongst God’s people. We can be freed from the burden and dominion of sin and death and be brought into the light. We can experience redemption and forgiveness. For those who choose this way of life there is no terror of ultimate judgment. For we are declared righteous in Christ.
How do we become a part of this Kingdom? It is all in Christ. Through faith in Him and relationship with Him through that faith we can be made right with God and become citizens of the Kingdom of the Son rather than the kingdom of darkness. What way of life will you choose?
Prayer:
Use the Bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
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Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray by name for those you know who are still under the dominion of darkness. Pray that God would give you opportunities to share the gospel with them and that they might turn to Him in faith.
¥ Pray for the Youth as they gather tonight at ChristLife. Pray the Gospel would be clearly taught and they would follow Christ with their lives.
It is our responsibility to present to people the two kingdoms that they can choose to be a part of. They can remain in the kingdom of darkness or they can be citizens of the Kingdom of the Son through faith in Him. There’s no middle ground.
Imagine that you are talking with a non-Christian about Colossians.
1. How would you explain what Paul means by the ‘dominion of darkness’?
2. How would you describe what it means to be a part of the Kingdom of the Son?
3. Explain in simple language what they should do to go from one kingdom to the other.
Intro: Sometimes we can’t get out of things ourselves and we need someone to come and rescue us.
Share: A time when you needed for someone to come and rescue you. What happened? Were you glad that someone came to help?
Read: Colossians 1:13-14 God has rescued us. According to this verse what has He rescued us from? What do you think the dominion of darkness is? What has God brought us into instead? How can we be a part of God’s kingdom? What did God do to rescue us?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has forgiven our sins. Pray that He would help us tell others about Him.
Read: Colossians 1:13-14 God has rescued us. According to this verse what has He rescued us from? What do you think the dominion of darkness is? What has God brought us into instead? How can we be a part of God’s kingdom? What did God do to rescue us?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has forgiven our sins. Pray that He would help us tell others about Him.
Intro: Sometimes we can’t get out of things ourselves and we need someone to come and rescue us.
Share: A time when you needed for someone to come and rescue you. What happened? Were you glad that someone came to help?
Read: Colossians 1:13-14 God has rescued us. According to this verse what has He rescued us from? What do you think the dominion of darkness is? What has God brought us into instead? How can we be a part of God’s kingdom? What did God do to rescue us?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has forgiven our sins. Pray that He would help us tell others about Him.
Read: Colossians 1:13-14 God has rescued us. According to this verse what has He rescued us from? What do you think the dominion of darkness is? What has God brought us into instead? How can we be a part of God’s kingdom? What did God do to rescue us?
Pray Together: Thank God that He has forgiven our sins. Pray that He would help us tell others about Him.
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