Paul teaches in this verse that God has delivered believers from the right and the might of the darkness. The "domain of darkness" now has no right to "fasten" itself on a believer. As a way of life the evil one cannot grasp a believer in a way that exerts a modifying influence on his or her life. Why not? Because God has delivered all believers by this once for all ("delivered" is in the aorist tense = completed action, once for all accomplished in the past). Believers can choose to slip back into the darkness for a season, but if this is habitual or manifest by one's lifestyle, then there is no proof that such an individual has ever been genuinely delivered from the domain of darkness. Do not be deceived. God rescued us out from (ek) the power (exousia) of the kingdom of darkness in which we were held captive as slaves (cf 2Ti 2:26-note). How do you know whose "domain" you are under? John writes that "the one who practices (present tense = continually, as a habit or lifestyle) sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, that He might destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices (present tense = continually, as a habit or lifestyle) sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin (present tense = continually, as a habit or lifestyle), because he is born of God." (1John 2:8, 9) AND TRANSFERRED US: kai metesthsen (3SAAI): (Jn 5:24; Ro 6:17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22; 1Co 6:9, 10, 11; Eph 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Titus 3:3, 4, 5, 6; 1Jn 3:14) brought us safe into (GNB) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/colossians_111-16.htm#t