Colossians 1:13–22

¹³He rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son, ^14*by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

The Person and Work of Christ

¹⁵Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the firstborn Son, superior to all created things. ¹⁶For through him God created everything in heaven and on earth, the seen and the unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities. God created the whole universe through him and for him. ¹⁷Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. ^18*He is the head of his body, the church; he is the source of the body’s life. He is the firstborn Son, who was raised from death, in order that he alone might have the first place in all things. ¹⁹For it was by God’s own decision that the Son has in himself the full nature of God. ^20*Through the Son, then, God decided to bring the whole universe back to himself. God made peace through his Son’s blood^c on the cross and so brought back to himself all things, both on earth and in heaven.

²¹At one time you were far away from God and were his enemies because of the evil things you did and thought. ²²But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.