Who is Jesus and what did He come to do?

In theological circles those questions have to do with the person and work of Christ.

Who is Jesus?

This was the big question for the church at Colossae. False teachers had come who taught that Jesus was God but not human. Isn’t it amazing? The false teachers of today accept that Jesus was human but not that He is divine.

In Paul’s day the opposite occurred. These false teachers believed that matter is evil. Therefore, they assumed that Jesus could not be human because all matter is evil.

What you believe about Christ will determine how you live and what you believe in every area of life.

What did Paul affirm about the person of Christ? Colossians 1:15-23 gives the answer to these questions.

First, Christ is the image of God in bodily form. The word “image” means “an exact representation and revelation.” Jesus affirmed that those who had seen Him had seen the Father (John 14:9). The greatest revelation of God is through the giving of His Son.

Second, Christ is pre-eminent. He is the creator of all things. All things were created by Him and for Him. Since He is the creator, He is uncreated. The word “firstborn” refers to Christ as the one “of first importance, of first rank.” Jesus was “prior to all creation.” No wonder the wind and waves obeyed Him. He created it all. He is the master of all. All things exist for Him, and He holds everything together.

Third, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ. The word “fullness” was used by the false teachers to describe the sum total of all the divine power and attributes. Thus, Paul turned the table on the false teachers by using their own word. The “fullness” of God was in Christ.

What does all this mean?

It means that the God of Creation has revealed Himself to us through His Son. It means that we know what God is like. And, it means we can trust Him with our lives today and with all eternity.

God through Christ has reconciled us to Himself. We are no longer far off. Now we live at peace with God. We are “complete” through our union with Christ (Colossians 2:10).