One of the requirements for spiritual enlightenment is to have a good understanding of Christ
or the Messiah. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul comprehensively looks at who and what Christ is.
The names,
Christ and Messiah, are interchangeable and mean the anointed one. Messiah is from Hebrew, and Christ is from Greek.
Who and what does Paul say the Messiah is? According to Paul, he is the beloved son of God the father, the king of the kingdom of God, the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the head of the church. We have forgiveness and
redemption in Christ; he exists before all things; he created all things and holds all things together. Through his death, reconciliation with God is made possible.
Paul tells us that Jesus is exactly like the father and that we are shown the Father through Jesus. Christ is God, just as the Father is God. We are led to understand that Christ has always existed and is God. St. Paul tells us that all things were created in Christ, through him and for him. Only God is the creator of all things.
He says that Christ existed before all things were created and that he holds everything together. What are we without Christ? We have been brought into the kingdom of God, into the light with the son that God loves, giving us access to great wealth.
Can you see how you share in that wealth and are God’s beloved?
