Colossians 1:13 calls God the One “Who rescued us from the domain of darkness …” (NASB). This verse teaches us that when we were lost, we were under the “domain” — the Greek word is “exousia”: the authority, the jurisdiction, the power — of darkness.

Ephesians 2:2 says that before we were saved we “formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” Lost people are under the power and influence of the devil! That alone should scare a person into salvation! Who would want to remain under the authority and evil sway of Satan and his evil minions, who only desire to dominate and destroy us?

Thank God that in Christ Jesus was are rescued from that evil authority, and that Satan has no power over us. Instead we are blessed to live and serve under the benevolent lordship of One who loved us so much that He died to save us — “rescuing us from the authority of darkness”!