He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  

Colossians 1:13-14 

Forgiveness of sins lies at the heart of any full discussion of redemption. Adam and Eve broke the covenant of works which God had made with them. Sin entered into the world and death by sin. That has affected every one of us. As Isaiah puts it, ‘All we, like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.’ We are all sinners, breakers of the law of God, by nature and by choice. Thus we need forgiveness of sins. Christ’s incarnation, life, and substitutionary atoning sacrifice was all to the purpose that we might have forgiveness of sins and be redeemed. Therefore when we discuss redemption, we discuss forgiveness of sins. Paul makes much of the fact that this forgiveness of sins is through the blood of Christ. Christ’s sacrifice, most specifically the shedding of His blood, is the foundation of our forgiveness. Thus in preaching the gospel, we make much of Christ and of the blood of Christ. We publish this as far and as wide as we are able. Our challenge today is, ‘believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.’ Rest by faith in Him today.  

Our Gracious God and our Savior, 
we rejoice that You have shed Your blood for us. 
We praise You that because You have, 
we have forgiveness of sins. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  

Colossians 1:13-14 

God makes no apologies for blood atonement. More modern theology blushes at the idea, considering it antiquated and barbaric. God, however, declares it necessary. The Old Testament is full of it from the sacrifice of Abel to the sacrifices of the Tabernacle and later the Temple.  Our text points out that the forgiveness of sins we have is through the blood of Christ. The Old Testament sacrifices were the types, symbols, and shadows of the once-for-all blood sacrifice of Christ. His sacrifice was not optional but necessary. The writer of Hebrews points out that without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins. Therefore he declares that ‘now once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.’ The blood of Christ is indispensable for the accomplishment of redemption. If God does not blush at blood atonement, neither should we. He has refused to spare His Own Son to redeem us. He has given the Lamb of God for us that we might have forgiveness of sins through His blood. Therefore we make much of Christ. He is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.  

Our Holy and Wise God, 
we rejoice that You have not spared Your Son. 
We praise You that with His stripes we are healed. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  

Colossians 1:13-14 

We make much of redemption, and we should. The Scriptures explain our origins and detail how we came to need redemption. They go on to explain to us what God has done to accomplish redemption, and present Christ as our Mediator. The more clearly we understand all these things that relate to the subject, the more we realize the importance of redemption above other pursuits. Whatever else we gain in life, redemption matters more. If we gain the whole world and yet lose our own soul, what shall it profit us? Therefore redemption is a subject which we should examine thoroughly and understand fully. Redemption is bound together with the Person and work of Christ. Thus if we are to make much of redemption, we must make much of Christ. As our text puts it, speaking of Him, ‘in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.’ We cannot make too much of Christ. He is the inexhaustible well of salvation from Whom we can continually draw the water of life. By Him we have redemption.  

Our Great God and our Savior, 
we rejoice at Your redemptive work. 
We praise You that You have brought us up out of 
the fearful pit and the miry clay.  

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning
 

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.  

Colossians 1:13-14 

God rules and Christ reigns. When Pilate challenged Jesus, as to whether He was a king, He responded that He is but at that time His kingdom was not of earth or earthly. His rationale was that if it was, His servants would fight. The time of His sacrifice was not the time for the advancement of an earthly kingdom. Having said that, once He had arisen from the dead and ascended to the Throne of His Father, the ancient prophecy of David came to pass. ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’  This is the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom which is ongoing at the moment.  By the power of the Holy Spirit a great multitude which no one can number is being delivered from the power of darkness and conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love. God is building Christ’s kingdom as Christ is building His Church. This church is that body of people who are all the redeemed of all ages. It means that all whom He has delivered and conveyed are part of the whole Body of Christ and the subjects of the kingdom over which He reigns. This is a glorious company of which to be a member. Christ, not man, is King.  

High King of heaven, 
we rejoice that You rule over all. 
We praise You that every knee shall bow, 
and tongue confess, 
that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning