Colossians 1

In my mind, it is apparent that as Paul initially preached the divinity of Christ, he also taught the gospel plan or the plan of salvation, being where we came from, why we are here, and the potential of where we may go. It is apparent to me as he writes his epistles he touches on these teachings knowing the saints already have been taught such.

We see this as he introduced the plan on Mars' hill teaching -

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." (New Testament | Acts 17:28)

To be His "offspring" would suggest that we lived before this life and were His spiritual offspring. As Paul writes the Colossians, he teaches attributes of the Savior writing -

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God..." (New Testament | Colossians 1:14 - 15)

Or in other words, the image of His Father or our Father in Heaven, or the Father of our spirits. And then Paul teaches the doctrine that Christ is -
"...the firstborn of every creature..." (New Testament | Colossians 1:15)

It becomes obvious that being the "firstborn" must have taken place before His birth into mortal life for in mortal life He was -

"...the only begotten of the Father..." (New Testament | John 1:14)

It is even more clear that this birth took place before his mortal existence because Paul explains -

"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist." (New Testament | Colossians 1:16 - 17)

Obviously, if Christ was the firstborn offspring, and we are also our Father in Heaven's offspring, we are spiritually related. But we also must clearly understand that He was called to be the Christ, the Redeemer of all, and that by Him and through Him, only by His grace may we be blessed with Eternal life. Thus, He becomes our father in the sense that He provides us life or Eternal life. Thus we honor and worship Him - for eternity.

This doctrine and gospel plan was taught from the beginning where Paul acknowledges -

"Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory..."
(New Testament | Colossians 1:25 - 27)