He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  (16) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him.  (17) And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.  (18) And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence.  (19) For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, (20) and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things in earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross 

The apostle Paul wrote the letter to the Colossians while under house arrest in Rome.  Colossae was a church primarily of Gentiles (there are few Old Testament allusions).  There appeared to be a serious threat of false teachers working to undermine the divine person of Christ and the sufficiency of salvation in Christ – this letter is Paul’s answer which is basically an antidote to human schemes of salvation

Paul makes his point immediately that the one who redeemed us and delivered us from darkness is the exact image of the invisible God – is God. In Jesus the substance is the same as God. Jesus is the architect/creator/sustainer of the universe. In Christ Jesus there is the reconciler and savior of all.  He is the firstborn meaning positional – He is preeminent; all fullness is present in Him. Salvation is always and only of the Lord not of man

We live in a secular society where man believes in himself and his/her ability to solve problems apart from God and seem not to be aware of the futility of materialism.  There is always a movement rejecting Christ as revealed in Scripture – Christ is being presented as only one of many religious leaders; all equally valid. The letter to the Colossians is as relevant today as it was in the ancient church. Paul is countering heresy with the public and universal truth of the gospel; salvation is available to all in faith in Christ who is sufficient and the fullness of God.