The New Creation

[GuessWho]

I invite you all to think about the reality of the New Creation that begun in the morning of Jesus Christ resurrection and will find its complete perfection at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Why do some christians here raise their eye-brows when you talk about the New Heaven and the New Earth, when you talk about the final and complete restoration and renewal of the cosmos?

How come the escapist view of heaven become the norm while the bringing of heavenly peace and harmony on the world is something strange and unfamiliar for most christians?

I do not know how to start a poll but I ask you here: how many of you believe that heaven means escape into a spiritual realm, far away from this evil, wicked world and how many of you believe that the Second Coming of Jesus Christ means restoration, renewal and transfiguration of the whole world? And also, if you have other ideas, please, write them down so that we can discuss them.

 

[Angela53510]

A poll would get you a lot more conversation on this topic. I don't know how to start one either!

 

[SarahM777]

Romans 8

[SUP]18 [/SUP]I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [SUP]21 [/SUP]that[SUP][h][/SUP] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [SUP]23 [/SUP]Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. [SUP]24 [/SUP]For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? [SUP]25 [/SUP]But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
[SUP]26 [/SUP]In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [SUP]27 [/SUP]And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
[SUP]28 [/SUP]And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[SUP][i][/SUP] have been called according to his purpose. [SUP]29 [/SUP]For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. [SUP]30 [/SUP]And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

 

[GuessWho]

Romans 8

[SUP]18 [/SUP]I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. [SUP]19 [/SUP]For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope [SUP]21 [/SUP]that[SUP][h][/SUP] the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God..

So the creation wil be liberated of decay, sin and death (a saving process which already begun with the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ). No sign of escape into a spiritual realm.

[SUP]22 [/SUP]We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. [SUP]23 [/SUP]Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. [SUP]24 [/SUP]For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? [SUP]25 [/SUP]But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

The vivid image of childbirth pain lean to the idea of restoration and renewal which had already begun but it's not yet complete. So, again, no escape into a spiritual realm, but rather painful (but saving!) transformation of the world and of the human being, of course. Other images and beautiful comparisons of the Kingdom of God can be found in Matthew 13 where the New Creation is like a seed of mostard, like yeast, little and apparently insignificant at the beginning but who will grow very big with the work of the Holy Spirit and will reveal and restore the New Creation in its ultimate perfect state at the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

The paradox of the Kingdom of God is that it is already happening but it is just not yet complete (until the Second Coming).

 

[RachelBibleStudent]

i am looking forward to a new heaven -and- new earth!

 

[crossnote]

...and umm err a new body.

 

[GuessWho]

So far, everybody seems to agree with the "restoration/renewal of the creation" (which includes, of course, our bodies). No one said that the christian purpose ends with getting in heaven (and escaping from this world) after you die.

But what do you think about the polarisation heaven-hell, where heaven is a literal place somewhere over the rainbows while hell is below?

Also, what do you think about the idea of heaven and earth being joined together in a marriage-like union? (this idea is very dear to me). God arrives as a King on Earth as in Heaven.

 

[crossnote]

So far, everybody seems to agree with the "restoration/renewal of the creation" (which includes, of course, our bodies). No one said that the christian purpose ends with getting in heaven (and escaping from this world) after you die.

But what do you think about the polarisation heaven-hell, where heaven is a literal place somewhere over the rainbows while hell is below?

I believe the polorization of Heaven with the New Earth on the one hand and the Lake of Fire with Hell on the other will be eternal. I wouldn't use the up/down scenario but rather with/without. Heaven is with Christ, Lake of Fire is without Christ.

Also, what do you think about the idea of heaven and earth being joined together in a marriage-like union? (this idea is very dear to me). God arrives as a King on Earth as in Heaven.

Sounds good,

That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
(Eph 1:10)

 

[birdie]

The word 'creation' in the Bible seems to me to be about God creating saved persons. He creates a bride for Christ by the cross. In regular English usage, creation can be thought of as all of the universe, but to me it seems the Bible is talking about just saved persons when it uses the term. They are the new creation. "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy." When a person is born again from above, they become a new creation.