Of all the ways that Christ is preeminent, the most significant to us is His superiority in redemption, the symbol of which is the cross of Calvary.  On the cross Jesus died for the sins of mankind, making Him the most important figure in the history of the world.

There have been many heroes throughout the history of the world, but none who could measure up to Jesus.  Paul put it dramatically in Colossians 1.

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)
¹³  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, ¹⁴  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

To be delivered from darkness is to be rescued from the evil clutches of Satan and the soul-damning captivity of sin.  In the end, it means to be saved from the wrath of God and eternity in hell.  If that was not dramatic enough to get the attention of the Colossians, Paul then used a word that would be emotional to any Jew who would read this epistle.  Not only have we been delivered from darkness, but we have been transferred into the kingdom of Christ.

The word transferred is from the Greek word methistemi, and it means to carry away.  In times past, when one empire won a victory over another, it was the custom to take the population of the defeated country to the conqueror’s land.  Thus, the people of Israel were carried away into Assyrian captivity and the people of Judah into Babylonian captivity.  This would have a negative connotation to the Jews, but for us it is positive.

We were in the kingdom of Satan and under the dominion of his darkness; but, the devil has been defeated and we have been carried away to a new country were the glorious light of God’s Son shines forth.  No wonder we sometimes sing about the amazing grace of God.  We have been carried from the land of the lost to the country of Christianity (we were lost, but now we are found).  We have been translated from darkness to light (we were blind, but now we see).    

What made it all possible?  Special knowledge?  No!  Adherence to a law that was contrary to us?  No!  The question is not what made it possible, but Who made it possible, and the answer is Jesus.  He is preeminent in our redemption because He was able to deliver us from the domain of darkness and transfer us to a better place.   The price was high.  To fulfill His role as our Savior, Jesus had to die.  To be crowned with glory and honor, He had to taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9).  When He died on the cross, Jesus became the perfect and preeminent Savior of all time.

Hebrews 5:8-9 (ESV)
⁸  Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. ⁹  And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,

Only in Christ is there forgiveness of sins.  No secret passwords are required as the predecessors of the Gnostics were teaching.  Attaining perfection by the keeping of the law was not necessary as the Judaizers were demanding.  Just faith in Jesus and obedience to the gospel is all that man has to do because Jesus was willing to do the most important part, the part that only He was qualified to do—become the Captain of our salvation by shedding His blood on the cross.  Thank God for the preeminence of Christ.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.