Reflecting on Truth #26
Q: What else does Christ’s death redeem?
A: Christ’s death is the beginning of the redemption and renewal of every part of fallen creation, as he powerfully directs all things for his own glory and creation’s good.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. (Colossians 1:19–20)
Why does this matter?
In Question 16, we asked: “What is Sin?” And we answered: “Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, rebelling against him by living without reference to him, not being or doing what he requires in his law—resulting in our death and the disintegration of all creation.”
Sin not only destroyed our lives, but it also destroyed the entire cosmos. Sin not only resulted in our death but also the fall and disintegration of the creation that God created good. And I’m sure we experience, every day, the fallenness of the creation we live in.
Perhaps we first understand the gospel to be the glorious salvation for sinners. But as we dig deeper into the gospel, we start to see a more complete and more glorious picture of the gospel. Not only are fallen humans redeemed and renewed, but that is the beginning of an all-encompassing redemption and renewal of all creation - and Christ Jesus set this in motion.
Colossians 1:18 “And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
What does this mean for us?
I think it means we can be really excited about the new creation, and that looking forward to it can help us press on each day.
I sometimes like to imagine what it would be like. Scripture helps me to do that - I read a passage like Isaiah 65:17-25 and imagine what it would be like to live in a creation like that.
I think of undesirable things around me, things that exist due to the Fall (disease, pain etc.). And I spend time imagining what it’ll be like without it in the new creation (no more hospitals??).
I think of desirable things around me, things that are enjoyable, good gifts from God (food, relationships, sceneries etc.). And I spend time imagining how much better they could be in the new creation, without the taint of sin.
This has brought me so much hope, and has helped me press on and persevere towards the new creation, to stand firm and wait expectantly for the Lord’s return.
“The Eagle is right,” said the Lord Digory. “The Narnia you’re thinking of . . . was only a shadow or a copy of the real Narnia, which has always been here and always will be here: just as our own world, England and all, is only a shadow or copy of something in Aslan’s real world. You need not mourn over Narnia, Lucy. All of the old Narnia that mattered, all the dear creatures, have been drawn into the real Narnia through the Door. And of course it is different; as different as a real thing is from a shadow or as waking life is from a dream.” . . . The new [Narnia] was a deeper country: every rock and flower and blade of grass looked as if it meant more. I can’t describe it any better than that: if you ever get there, you will know what I mean. It was the Unicorn who summed up what everyone was feeling. He . . . cried: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this.” - The Last Battle, The Chronicles of Narnia, CS Lewis.
May we rejoice in the Lord that all of creation will be redeemed and renewed. And may we live in light of the glorious new creation and persevere towards it.