Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
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Ambrosiaster
AD 400
Freed thus from the condition of darkness, that is, plucked from the infernal place, in which we were held by the devil both because of our own and because of Adam’s transgression, who is the father of sinners, we were translated by faith into the heavenly kingdom of the Son of God. This was so that he might show us by what love God loved us, when, raising us from deepest hell, he led us into heaven with his true Son. .
“And he threw him,” says John, “into the abyss,” meaning, clearly, that he cast the devil into the abyss, and the “abyss” symbolizes the innumerable multitude of the impious, in whose hearts there is a great depth of malignity against the church of God…. Now because he is bound and shut up by this ban, the devil is prohibited and inhibited from leading astray the nations which belonged to Christ but were in time past led astray by him or held in his grip. For God chose those nations before the foundation of the world, to “rescue them from the power of darkness and transfer them to the kingdom of his beloved Son,” as the apostle says. .
Because in Greek “to suffer” is paschein, for this reason Pascha has been thought of as a passion, as though this name has been derived from “suffering.” But in its own language, that is, in Hebrew, Pascha means a “passing over.” For this reason the people of God celebrated the Pascha for the first time when, fleeing from Egypt, they passed over the Red Sea…. And we effect a most salutary passing over when we pass over from the devil to Christ, and from this tottering world to his most solidly established kingdom. And therefore we pass over to God who endures so that we may not pass over with the passing world. Concerning this grace conferred upon us, the apostle, praising God, says, “Who has rescued us from the power of darkness and has brought us over into the kingdom of the Son of his love.”
From this power of evil angels nothing delivers man but the grace of God, of which the apostle speaks, “Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love.” Israel’s own story illustrates this figure, when they were delivered from the power of the Egyptians and translated into the kingdom of the land of promise flowing with milk and honey, which signifies the sweetness of grace.
The whole is from him, the giving both of these things and of those; for no achievement finds its source in us…. Not then so as to deliver man from darkness only did he show his love toward him. It is a great thing indeed to have been delivered from darkness; but to have been brought into a kingdom too is far greater.
Bearing fruit, he says: this has reference to works. Strengthened: this to trials. Unto all patience and longsuffering: long-suffering towards one another, patience towards those without. For longsuffering is toward those whom we can requite, but patience toward those whom we cannot. For this reason the term patient is never applied to God, but longsuffering frequently; as this same blessed one says otherwhere in his writings, Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering? Unto all pleasing. Not, one while, and afterwards not so. In all spiritual wisdom, he says, and understanding. For otherwise it is not possible to know His will. Although indeed they thought they had His will; but that wisdom was not spiritual. To walk, says he, worthily of the Lord. For this is the way of the best life. For he that has understood God's love to man, (and he does understand it if he have seen the Son delivered up,) will have greater forwardness. And besides, we pray ...
“Snatched from the powers of darkness” at such a great “price,” and by so great a “mystery,” and loosed from the chains of the ancient captivity, make sure, dearly beloved, that the devil does not destroy the integrity of your souls with any stratagem. Whatever is forced on you contrary to the Christian faith, whatever is presented to you contrary to the commandments of God, it comes from the deceptions of the one who tries with many wiles to divert you from eternal life, and, by seizing certain occasions of human weakness, leads careless and negligent souls again into his snares of death. Let all those reborn through water and the Holy Spirit consider the one whom they have renounced. –.
Before the law and in the law the angels served God for our salvation, but God did not bring us to the kingdom through them. But now through our Lord, his only begotten Son, the kingdom is given to you. .
