EMPHASIZE WHAT YOU HAVE

                                   Colossians 1:12-14                                        

Pastor Rick Jackson

Verse 12 says "in light". What light?

John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Verse 14 says "His blood". Whose blood?

Acts 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

God's blood? How is that possible? Rom. 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood...

Rom. 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

Now what do Christians have? And what, dear lost friend that may be here today, can you have if you will accept Christ this day?

I. A KINGDOM [V. 13]

1. The Primary Emphasis here is on a Person- Jesus is the King, it's His kingdom [Hebrews 1:8]

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

2. The Secondary Emphasis here is on a place- a kingdom is a location [2 Peter 1:11]

For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

3. The Next Emphasis here is on a permanence- this kingdom is ours in Him forever [Hebrews 12:28]

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

II. REDEMPTION [V. 14a]

1. The Emphasis here is on an Accomplishment by an Individual [Hebrews 9:12]

Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us

2. The shared Emphasis is on an Actuality bestowed by that Individual [Romans 3:24]

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

3. The shared Emphasis is on the Action the Individual did (redemption is "a releasing effected by payment of a ransom") v. 14

III. FORGIVENESS [V. 14b]

1. The emphasis here is on release ("forgiveness" means a release from bondage or imprisonment) [Romans 8:2]

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2. The shared emphasis here is on result- we have the forgiveness of sins [Ephesians 1:7]

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

3. The shared emphasis is on reality- the debt is cancelled, can't be brought back up [Ps. 130]