14. who forgives our sins and sets us free.
15. Christ is exactly like God,who cannot be seen.He is the firstborn Son,superior to all creation.
16. Everything was created by him,everything in heavenand on earth,everything seen and unseen,including all forcesand powers,and all rulersand authorities.All things were createdby God's Son,and everything was madefor him.
17. God's Son was before all else,and by him everythingis held together.
18. He is the head of his body,which is the church.He is the very beginning,the first to be raisedfrom death,so that he would beabove all others.
19. God himself was pleasedto live fully in his Son.
20. And God was pleasedfor him to make peaceby sacrificing his bloodon the cross,so that all beings in heavenand on earthwould be brought back to God.
21. You used to be far from God. Your thoughts made you his enemies, and you did evil things.
22. But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
23. But you must stay deeply rooted and firm in your faith. You must not give up the hope you received when you heard the good news. It was preached to everyone on earth, and I myself have become a servant of this message.
24. I am glad that I can suffer for you. I am pleased also that in my own body I can continue the suffering of Christ for his body, the church.
25. God's plan was to make me a servant of his church and to send me to preach his complete message to you.
26. For many ages this message was kept secret from everyone, but now it has been explained to God's people.