Being Delivered

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)

When a person acknowledges their sin and places their faith in Jesus, the process of salvation and redemption is neither gradual nor progressive; it is immediate. The person is immediately saved and delivered from the power of Satan. Their sin can no longer condemn them to eternal death, but they become a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) with access to God's presence and all the privileges granted to believers. A new life begins.

The word translated "delivered" in this verse means "to draw to oneself." In this sense, God is not simply seeking to deliver us from the power of darkness and abandon us to ourselves. That would put us back in the same situation. He delivers us from Satan's kingdom to draw us closer to His Son, with the goal of establishing a personal relationship with us. This is what Jesus calls the new birth.

When Paul speaks of "transporting into the kingdom of his Son," he is referring to the process of regeneration and transformation that the Holy Spirit will bring about in us after our deliverance. However, we have our part to play in this process, which is to pursue holiness and live in holiness. While your salvation requires no effort on your part, living salvation is your responsibility. As a believer, delivered from the power of darkness, you must walk and live as one who has been delivered and saved by the power of God.

May the grace and peace of God be with you all.