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"To preach deliverance to the captives . . . . . to set at liberty them that are bruised."
And the typical meaning of the year of Jubilee is in view, as the passage continues:
"To preach the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4: 19). Both Eph. 1: 7 and Col. 1: 14
use this word in association with redemption by the blood of Christ. The believer thus
forgiven is free, released, set free, dismissed.
Charizomai means "to be kind or gracious to any one". It is one of a beautiful group
of words, all of which have their origin in grace. Charis (grace) means "an act of
spontaneous favour wherein no mention can be made of obligation" (Cremer). As for
example in Eph. 2: 7. Charitoo is the word "accepted" in Eph. 1: 6. Charizomai ("to be
gracious to"), when used of God, indicates that gracious and unmerited favour that is
bestowed upon poor sinners, who though destitute of any power or means of acceptance
in themselves are the objects of God's free favour and ineffable love. The word is used
not only for the bestowal of grace in general in the gospel, but for that special favour, the
forgiveness of sins--the remitting of all just dues, because of the great sacrifice of God's
own Son on our behalf. It is this word that is used in Col. 2: 13.
To the believer in Christ, Paul declares this twofold forgiveness:--
Aphesis.
"In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins"
(Col. 1: 14 and Eph. 1: 7).
Charizomai.
"Having forgiven you all trespasses" (Col. 2: 13).
"Forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4: 32).
What folly, therefore, to leave the ground of acceptance and grace, for a "religion"
consisting of observances, shadows, negations and rudiments, which are but a vain
attempt to make oneself "perfected by the flesh" (Gal. 3: 3; 4: 9, 10; 5: 2; 6: 15).
I have no need to fear the face of God, but rather, in the full assurance of my beloved
Lord, I can give thanks for meetness for the inheritance (Col. 1: 12). No amount of
self-mortification can rid me of a single sin or break a single fetter; but I need no such
vain attempts to bring peace. As an enemy I have been reconciled by the blood of His
cross, and, being reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, I shall be presented
"holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight" (Col. 1: 21, 22). Shall I dare to
presume that any effort of my own can improve upon that presentation? Does not the
apostle "warn and teach" that he may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus?
(Col. 1: 28). Is not the warning note sounded again and again in Col. 2: 4-23 against
every attempt to accomplish by any means what has been done once and for ever by
Christ?
Just as surely as not one of us can add a cubit to his stature by taking thought; just as
none of us can save himself from sin and death, or accomplish the salvation of another, so