There is an interesting phrase in Colossians, “the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Contextually Paul writes that we have been delivered from darkness and that deliverance came about as a result of our transfer of allegiance to Jesus. Which tells us that salvation isn’t about saying the right words, it is about having a right heart, one loyal to Jesus.
Paul’s turn of phrase here is very interesting. He says the Father has, “conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” Spiritually we have moved domains, which is why later Paul references that our lives are ‘hidden with Christ in God’ (Colossians 3:3). There is a lot to unpack here so let’s dig in. We know from the gospels that the kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven are interchangeable terms. Thus, however we view it, at conversion we were moved to another kingdom. Now we look at the implications as seen in John’s gospel. Our initial phrase in Colossians 1:13 reveals the Father’s heart. Knowing that Jesus is ‘the Son of His love,’ tells us that the Father’s motive in the incarnation was to express His love to and through Jesus. While the Father, Son and Spirit are all involved in everything, at times the scriptures focus in on one of them. Here we are looking more closely at different roles. The Father is in view in the famous John 3:16 and later in verse 35 Jesus affirms how the Father loves Him.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:35–36 (NKJV)
The Father loves the Son and the world. Jesus says the Father’s love has placed our future in His hands. We can see this clearly. Yet as we move further into John to the ending of Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, we see what is available to us.
26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” John 17:26 (NKJV)
Here Jesus is expressing that His revelation of the Father has the power to impart to our hearts the same kind of love for Him that the Father has. I can’t fully grasp that yet at the same time I know that this is the potential fruit of having been ‘conveyed’ into this kingdom. So, from the place of intercession let’s ask to receive, for both ourselves and others, a revelation of the Father’s love for Jesus and seek to remain in this love in His kingdom in all that we do.
