25424 Aldine-Westfield, Spring, TX. 77373

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THE NEW CREATION

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here” (2 Corinthians 5:17 - TNIV).

We often talk about this verse in the context of conversion; that when we are baptized into Christ, we become a new creature in the older translations and a new creation in recent ones. The old person of sin has been done away with and a new life has begun (1). In the immediate context, Paul is speaking about being ministers of reconciliation, looking at people through the eyes of Christ and presenting the good news of salvation to them. This context is based on what came before it, that in Christ, one day we will receive a new body in the coming age (2 Corinthians 4:16-5:10). Let’s explore this idea of a new creation and what it might mean.

When God created the heavens and the earth, He saw all that He had created and called it good. Adam and Eve sinned corrupting God’s good creation and bringing it under a curse. The creation itself eagerly looks forward to its redemption with the children of God (Romans 8:18-25). That idea brings the thought of the new heavens and new earth coming when the Lord returns (2). In Revelation we get a glimpse of heaven, of what it is like to be around the throne of Glory, the Lord God Almighty. It is an experience that none of us have had with the exception of Jesus. Glimpses of the future have been given to us in scripture.

One glimpse of the future is found in the miracles of Jesus. We often talk about the miracles as evidences or proofs of the authority of Jesus, and this is true. But there is another aspect to them. When we see a blind person healed, a leper cleansed, a lame person walking, we have a glimpse into the future, and the past, of what God intended and intends His creation to be. Sin brought disease, war, hatred, and evil into this world through humankinds disobedience. We have lost sight of what God really wanted in the Garden of Eden. In the Garden we see fellowship with God, where life had responsibilities that were joyous (3).

Israel is another picture of what God intended and wants to return to. It often comes in how we see the wilderness. The wilderness is a barren, harsh, hot, wasteland where what life exists is often dangerous; snakes and scorpions. Yet in that harsh environment we see God’s people, living and surviving and worshipping (4). It is a place where God provides food and water. Both in the Psalms and the Prophets we see the idea of creation becoming uncreation in Jim McGuiggan’s words, and of uncreation becoming creation. By that I mean that a lush and well watered land becomes desert and the desert becomes an oasis. While often figurative language, we still get a glimpse in what God wants the earth to be so that His people can live in it.

Now I think that the intent of the Garden of Eden was to expand beyond its original boundaries until it encompassed the entire earth. When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden, they found themselves in a different environment, one without fellowship with God. Now they would have to think about how to return the land to the Garden state. The corruption of sin however has made that an impossible task. Even today, no matter what one thinks of the environmental movement, it appears at least that they understand the idea of a pristine earth though not the way scripture speaks about it (5). We certainly need to be environmentally conscious within the boundaries of scripture. Keep in mind though that God uses His creation as a means of judgment to cause repentance and to punish those who reject Him setting up other gods (6). Jesus made it clear that God sends rain and sun on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45-46). God blesses all through His creation.

One other glimpse of this new creation is seen in the resurrection of Jesus, where death is conquered and hope is given. The good news is the death and resurrection of Jesus (7). One day Jesus will return and the dead will rise to meet Him in the air (8). This is a picture of a conquering general coming home as a victor as is pictured in Roman history. The Arch of Titus in Rome shows this very thing when Titus returned from conquering Jerusalem in A.D. 70 with items from the Temple. The physical resurrection of Jesus is essential in our understanding of the new creation. We have been raised with Him to begin our journey in new hope.

This brings us to our text. When Paul speaks of us as new creation, this is a glimpse into what will be. Combined with the new body that we will receive, we are headed to a new heavens and new earth in our lives, pilgrims journeying to a new world, a world restored to its original intent. As a new creation, we are being renewed in the image of our Creator, becoming like Jesus as we see ideas and people through the eyes of Jesus. We are developing this new creation in our hearts, minds and actions as we draw closer to God in Christ. This gives us and others a glimpse into what is coming when the Lord returns. This makes our journey very exciting, though at times difficult. But we look forward to when we come to the new Jerusalem in the new heavens and new earth, or when it comes to us.

There are some problems to be avoided in understanding this idea of new creation (9). One idea is that we cannot separate the physical and the spiritual. Both are important. We might have to give up things that are in and of themselves not sinful in order to pursue the developing of the new creation in us through Christ. We can look around and see the beauty of God’s creation, or to say it another way, to stop and smell the roses. There is good in creation and in humanity. The Gnostic view was that the physical body and earth had no good in it; we do not want to go in that direction. We have been created as a being with body, soul, and spirit which we cannot separate.

Another aspect is that we all are under the Lordship of Jesus, acknowledging the rule of God in our lives. We share in our lives with one another, the phrase “one another” used frequently in the New Testament. Another idea comes from the book of Hebrews where the speaker states that in a number of things, “let us” do it together. While we like the thought of individualism or a private relationship with God, Biblically, it is a community that we are involved with which we call the church or assembly.

Finally, we recognize that Jesus is Lord and that we are a new creation, “saying no to the things that diminish human flourishing and God’s glory and saying yes to the things that enhance them” (10) is not an option as new creatures. We are committed to live in Christ and develop that life through the radical ideas that Jesus taught us. This is a challenge for all of us.

So enjoy the journey!

George B. Mearns

(1) See Romans 6:1-14.

(2) See Revelation 21-22.

(3) See Genesis 1:26-30.

(4) See Exodus through Deuteronomy.

(5) While no one wants to see a barren environment on earth, and there is great concern about pollution and damages done to the ecosystem, the extreme environmental movement worships earth as god and finds humankind as responsible for the damages done to the earth, and so humankind should be eliminated. This clearly contradicts Genesis 1 and explains why there is a conflict between environmentalists and Christians.

(6) See Amos 4, Psalm 29.

(7) See 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.

(8) See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:5.

(9) Thoughts for these from N.T. Wright, Surprised By Hope, Harper One, 2008, p. 228-229.

(10) ibid.