Saul of Tarsus was a zealous, "by the letter" member of the Sanhedrin.  He was so opposed to Christ as the Jewish Messiah that he went to the extremes of hunting, persecuting, and condoning the violent murders of Christians.  And then one day on the road to Damascus, Saul had a very personal encounter with the risen Christ.  This encounter was so amazing that Paul instantly converted to Christianity and became known as Paul.  This is the Paul that would travel extensively through perilous country to carry the news of Christ to others, and undergo imprisonment as well as a martyr's death.  Obviously, Paul's new understanding of who Christ was transformed his life. He wants us to also be transformed by understanding who Christ is and who we are "in Christ".

Christ is pivotal to man's salvation.  Once sin entered the world, man was spiritually alienated from God because God is Holy.  Christ , being perfect and holy, became the only one who could reconcile us to God. 

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” ( v13-14)

When we think of Jesus, it's easy to picture him as a man walking upon Earth...talking, laughing, smiling,etc.  But Paul wants us to look beyond the flesh that clung to Jesus in the form of a human and realize that Jesus was also God. As God, He was there from the beginning, giving meaning and substance to all of creation. 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." ( v15-17)

Paul realized Christ was not a Messiah who would become an earthly king as the Jews hoped for but the Messiah who would spiritually rule our hearts and provide us eternal hope and security. Through the shed blood of Christ, God drew near to us so we could draw near to Him.

“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,” (v18-22)

Have you had a transforming personal encounter with Jesus? If not, He longs to make himself known to you.

If you have a personal relationship with Jesus, have you been burdened to share your faith with others?  It's kind of a big deal, as Paul is trying to get us to see...

The God of the Universe cares about each human soul he has breathed life into and has made a way to extend mercy, forgiveness and grace to anyone who will accept his love. We should proclaim the name of Jesus to a lost, seeking world.