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COLOSSIANS 1:12-14

"FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT"

Intro: Paul is closing his prayer for them with a threefold thanksgiving to the Father.

I. "WHICH HATH MADE US FIT TO BE PARTAKERS OF THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN LIGHT."
        A. Being "made fit" shows -
                1. I was not fit or qualified in my natural state.
                        a. Inheritance speaks of relationship.
                                1. I was by nature a chi Id of wrath.
                                2. Jesus said, "You must be born again."
                                3. Adam was the first father of human race and I was
                                   related to him by birth.
                                4. Jesus was the second federal head of the human
                                   race. I am related to him by new birth.
                                        a. By this relationship I am now heir.
                                5. I inherited a sinful nature from Adam.
                                6. Through Jesus I have become heir to the kingdom of
God.
                2. I could not make myself fit.
                        a. I was spiritually bankrupt.
                        b. I was morally weak, now power to resist.
                        c. My salvation is a work of God. "To God be the glory."
        B. "To be a partaker of the inheritance."
                1. Jesus is the natural heir.
                        a. He loved us and sought to share with us.
                                1. Joy is sharing what you have with someone you love.
                        b. The inheritance is so vast you cannot diminish it.
                        c. Once we receive we want to share with those we love.

II. "WHO DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS."
        A. The connotations of word "darkness."
                1. Philosophically - ignorance.
                2. Morally - evil.
                3. Spiritually - kingdom of Satan.
        B. The great power of darkness.
                1. It seems to be an ever present force.
                        a. Ready to move in uninvited as soon as the light is turned off.
                        b. It remains until expelled.
                2. How is power of darkness expelled?
                        a. You cannot drive it out.
                        b. The expulsive force of the stronger power.
                        c. Many making mistake of trying to drive the darkness out of
                           their lives.
                        d. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
        C. Translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.
                1. He did not ask me to reform my life. He transformed my life for me.
                2. The kingdom of His dear Son is the kingdom of light.
                                a. That which man lost by Adam's sin, he has the potential
                                   to  regain through Christ.

III. IN WHOM (I.E. JESUS) WE HAVE REDEMPTION.
        A. Redemption signifies purchase.
                1. I was held as a slave in the power of darkness.
                        a. My sins condemned me.
                        b. I was worthless - worse - a debit.
                        c. The harder I struggled the more emeshed I became.
                2. Oh the wonder of it all." Jesus bought me.
                        a. He gave His life for mine, that I might now live in Him and
                           through Him.
        B. The forgiveness of sins.
                1. Man's greatest need.
                2. Oh how happy is the man w hose sins are forgiven.