The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Colossae about their relationships with one another and about their relationship with God. As part of this letter, he described who Christ is. Colossians chapter one is one of the greatest passages to explain who Christ is. Many people believe that Colossians 1:15-23 made up an ancient hymn used by the church to educate new believers about Christ and His work.

Part of the reason for this chapter is the number of heretical teachers in Colossae. These teachers believed that the material world is evil. They even believed that Jesus did not have a physical body because anything physical is evil.

What does this chapter teach about who Christ is?  Here is a brief summary of who Christ is and what God has done through His Son.

Christ is the creator. Colossians 1:16 makes this clear. In accordance with John 1:1, Colossians teaches that Christ was active in creation. Like God the Father and God the Spirit, God the Son worked in creation. He was not created; He created. Everything created came into being by the work of Christ.

Christ is the fullness of God. Paul explicitly said that in Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell. Christ was God in the flesh. When we see who Jesus is we begin to understand who the invisible God is.

Christ had a real physical body. Paul said that we have been reconciled to God by the sacrifice of His physical body.

Christ is the head of His body, the church. When we think of a head, we often think about a leader. Christ is the leader of the church, but He is also the source or origin of the church.

Christ reconciles those who are at war with God. God is not at war with us, but we are at war with God. God  sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. He came to give us peace and to make us right with God.

Christ calls us to holy living and faithful obedience. God did not save us to allow us to go on as rebels. He died for us to make us new creatures who live for Him and for His glory.