The Pulpit Commentary — Colossians — Section 40

Hie the darkness of death (Pa, lxxxviii. 12). (5) It is the darkness of hell-'' utto,r darkness." 2. It is darkness organized for the ruin of men. It is " the power of rlark- ncss "-an arbitrary, usurped power, and not "a true kingdom." The prince of dark- ness is at the heacl of this dreary realm and strives to keep all his slaves in darkness, lest" the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ Jesus should shine into them" (2 Cor. iv. 4). II. 'l'HE BEB0UE FROM THIS POWER OF DARKNESS. "Who delivered us." None but God can do th'is work. The strong man will keep his own till the stronger come (Luke xi. 22). He delivers us iu our effectual calling. 1. He enlightens our mind~ in the knowledge of Ghrist, who is "the true Light." (,John viii. 12.) 2. He persuades and enables us to embrace Ghrist as offered in the ,gospel. (John vi. 44; Phil. ii. 13.) 3. He renews our wills and causes as to" wr1llc in the light as he is in the light." (1 John i. 7.) 4. Be clothes us "with tlie arm-0ur of light." (Rom. xiii. 12.) III. THE NEW KIKGD0M OF THE RESCUED CAPTIVES AND ITS NEW RELATI0~S. "And translated us into the kiugclom of the Son of his love." The word usually suggests the transplanting of races and the settlement of them in a new territor_v-. 1. The significance of the translation. (1) It implies separation (a) from the "·orlcl, (b) from sin, (c) from the devil. "Go out from among them, and be ye separate" (2 Cor. vi. 17). (2) It implies the assumption of entirely new relations. The believer is a member of a new society-" the kingdom of grace;" is "a. fellow-citizen with the saints;" is heir of the kingdom of glory. He has a new name, new hopes, new fdends, and works for a new heaven. 2. 'l'he new kingdom of the saints. '"!'he kingdom of the Son of hi;j love." (1) It is not the kingdom of inferior angels, as e1TOrists might fancy (eh. ii. 8), but that of God's own Son. (2) It is a kingdom already in existence. (3) It is a. kingdom that cannot be shaken like the kingdoms of earth (Heh. xii. 2d). (4) It is a kingdom that will endure to the end (Luke i. 33). (5) It is a kingdom in which the number of the possessors will not diminish the blessing~ enjoyed by each. (6) It is a kingdom in which Chl"ist now reigns by his Word and Spirit; the saints rejoicing to have him reigning over them. (7) All the subjects of this kingdom are kings (Rev. i. 6).-'l'. C. Ver. 14.-Redemption through the blood of Christ. "In whom we have our re,lemp- tion, the forgiveness of our sins." (See homiletical hints on Eph. i. 7.)-T. C. Vers. 15-17.-0hrist's headship over nature. The Gnostic errorists at Colossre fa.ught that the gulf between the infinite God and finite man was bridged across by subordinate angelic agencies. 'l'he apostle teaches that the gulf is bridged by Jesus Christ, who, being both God nnd Man, touches both and is the Reconciler of God and man. He shows that Christ has a double sovereignty, a twofold mediatorial function -in relation to the universe and in relation to the Church. 'l'hus we have a most pregnant statement concerning the doctrine of the person of Christ with the view of showing that there is a real mediation between God and creation. I. His RELATION TO THE INVISIBLE FATHER. "\Vho is the Image of the invisible God." Christ i8 likewise called "the Brightness of the Father's glory, the express Image of his person" (Hcb. i. 3). 1. The meaning of this image. (1) Christ is not a. mere likeness of the Father, like the head of a sovereign stamped on a coin, or as a. son bears the features of his father. (2) But he is nn essential manifestation and embodiment of tbe Father. 'fhus the invisible God becomes visible to man, according to our Lord's own words, "No man bath seeu God nt any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, ho hath revcalecl him" (John i. 18). "lie th:\t hath seen me bath seen the Father" (John xiv. !l). (3) It implies his perfect equality with tho Father in respect to substance, nature, nod eternity. 'l'hc Son is the Father's Imngo except in rospcct that he is not tho Father. 2. Lessons to be drnwn from this representation of Christ's ylury. (1) If \\'O wonhl know ihc Father, wo must get into Christ by faith (2 Cor. iv. 4). (2) As it is Chri~t•s glory to be God's lma~e, bu it om honour to bo Chri~t•s imago, in knowlcd'.-!e (eh. iii. 10), in holinc8~, in ri·.'.litcuus- nc~B (Eph. iv. il). We arc" pre,lestiualc,1 lo bo conf,,rmcd to the imagJ ut' bis :S,m" (rtom. viii. 2!l). (3) How great a sin it is lo turn llw t,;lury oI tl10 i1,c0,rq>libk Gud into tho image of corrnptible creatures" (!:urn. i. 23) ! COLOSSBNS, D  84 THE EPISTLE '1'0 THE COLOSSIANS. [oR, I, 1-29,