June 3

And hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.—Colossians 1:13.

THE apostle having mentioned our deliverance from the power of darkness, annexes a new benefit, which much enhances the loving-kindness of God. For it seemed a light matter to him to deliver us from the power of darkness, that is, from a condition of the deepest misery, unless he translated us from thence into the kingdom, that is, into a state of the greatest felicity and joy.

There are three points to be well considered in these words: What is the nature of this translation? What may be understood by the kingdom into which we are translated? Why it is called the kingdom of his dear Son, and not of God, or of heaven, or of light? which, regard to the contrast seems to have required.

1. What is the nature of this translation? And hath translated us. This word seems to have been borrowed from those who plant colonies, and compel people to migrate from their native soil, in order to inhabit some new region: for so God has translated us from the kingdom of darkness, which is the native soil of us all, into the kingdom of the pious and blessed.

But how hath he translated us? We may understand that from the contrast. We are living in the kingdom of darkness, in consequence of our blindness, infidelity, and impurity; but from this kingdom to that other we remove by means of effectual knowledge, faith, and holiness. Unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Unrighteousness and wickedness constitute us the servants of the devil; faith and godliness constitute us the household of God.

God translates us then from that melancholy and gloomy kingdom, when he illuminates our hearts by pouring into them faith, when he changes and restores our will by imparting grace; for being enlightened and sanctified, a man is by that very act translated from the power of darkness into the kingdom of his Son; because he can not possibly be at the same time a citizen of two cities, which observe contrary laws and institutions.

Here observe, To be delivered from darkness it is not enough that we be called to this kingdom, and admonished to desert that other; but it is necessary that we be translated and changed by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit from our former condition into this new one. It is manifest that we have need not only of admonishing grace, but of that which changes, heals, liberates, and translates; for without such grace no one gets out of the kingdom of Satan.

Therefore he is to be regarded with the highest and unceasing honor who has translated us into this kingdom: for so are colonies accustomed to honor their founder.

2. What may be understood by the kingdom into which we are translated? The kingdom of God, or the kingdom of Christ, or the kingdom of heaven, in sacred Scripture denotes several things. As, 1. It is put for the state of glory and blessedness. 2. For the gospel dispensation. 3. It is taken for a state of grace, that is, for the acquisition of remission of sins, of renovation, and of divine favor on account of Christ the Messiah and Mediator: also for the whole multitude of those who are in this state. The kingdom of God is within you. The kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. I deem this latter to be the peculiarly proper sense of this expression. For God is said to have translated us into the kingdom of his Son, because he hath communicated to us those spiritual gifts, and wrought in us that spiritual condition, which makes us subjects and members of Christ. Therefore, by the kingdom of Christ we must understand all the benefits of grace which are obtained through union with and subjection to Christ our spiritual king. You now understand what the kingdom of Christ is.

From what has been said, observe now the contrast of these kingdoms, that ye may be able to hate the one, and long after the other. The kingdom of Satan is the kingdom of darkness, that is, of ignorance, of wickedness, of misery: the kingdom of Christ is the kingdom of saving knowledge, of righteousness, of happiness. Who would not deliver himself by flight from that doleful kingdom, and shift his abode to this blessed one? But we find that it happens far otherwise; for all are desirous of remaining in the kingdom of the devil, almost even to their latest breath, and then only to be translated into the kingdom of Christ.

3. Why is it called the kingdom of his dear Son, not of God, or of heaven, or of light, as in other places?

(1.) It is very aptly called the kingdom of the Son, because God admits no one to this kingdom, be it understood either of grace or of glory, except through his Son as Mediator. He is the channel of grace; through his mediation its streams flow to us, and we are planted in this spiritual kingdom.

(2.) This kingdom is called the kingdom of the Son, because Christ the Mediator received from the Father to order the government and administration of it to the end of time. He is the Head and the Saviour of his church; he confers both grace and glory after his own good pleasure: I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me.

(3.) The apostle probably called it the kingdom of the Son, rather than of God, or of light, because he wished to open the way and make an easy transition for discoursing on the person of the Son. For he immediately enters upon that doctrine, which he could not so aptly have proceeded to unless he had expressly named the Son.

Now since this kingdom of grace and glory may be truly called the kingdom of Christ, we must strive to be one with Christ, and to be grafted in him. For those who are plucked away from Christ, are the withered branches of the vine, and exiles from this kingdom, although they seem to dwell in it, and even to enjoy its privileges.

Of the Son of his love, or his beloved Son. Christ is rightly called the Son of the Father's love, because he hath the Father's whole and entire love communicated to him, even as he had his essence. This God himself hath manifested by a voice from heaven, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. But it is mentioned in this place, that from hence we may understand that we are loved by God in Christ the well-beloved.

This is a great consolation to the godly man, when he calls to mind that he is not merely a subject, but a member of Christ so beloved of God. For hence he derives the hope of obtaining from God whatever is necessary to salvation. For how can he refuse his subjects, his friends, the brethren of his Son whom he loves with a singular love?

Hence, if any one being planted in Christ is seduced through his infirmity, or the temptation of Satan, to commit sin, he takes confidence of pardon; for God, who with such a supreme affection loves Christ himself, can not hate those who are in Christ, and enjoy the having him for their intercessor with God.

To conclude, in a word: The love of God towards Christ, is the cause and most certain earnest of his kindness toward all those who are translated into the kingdom of Christ.