The Two Kingdoms

You are part of a kingdom right now. Whether you think you are or not, you belong to one of two kingdoms. 

Colossians 1:13-14 says, “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” These verses lay out two kingdoms: “the domain of darkness,” and “the kingdom of his beloved Son.” I want to break each one down. 

What is “the domain of darkness”? It is the kingdom we are all born into because of our sins.   

Ephesians 2:1-2, when talking about the Ephesians’ former way of life before coming to Christ, says, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” 

Later in Paul’s same letter to the Ephesians, he says in Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” 

In his commentary, N.T. Wright says, “Paul shares with other New Testament writers, and with Jesus Himself, the belief in the existence of a dark power to whom the human race, and the world, is subject because of sin - and the belief that, in Jesus Christ, God has defeated this power and is establishing His own kingdom in its place.”  

What is Jesus establishing? 

Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” 

This verse tells us that the Kingdom of God is at hand. 

In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus says, “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.’” 

Jesus established His Kingdom when He came down to earth 2,000 years ago. His Kingdom is here, and it is through His work on the cross that we can belong to it. He has delivered us from darkness by paying for our sins and taking the whole wrath of God upon Himself. 

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul adds, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 

If you believe in Jesus, He has transferred us from the domain of darkness into His Kingdom. Today, reflect on what that transfer was like for you and all that He has saved you from and praise Him for it.