Gospel Conversations Reimagined: The True Story of the Whole World, Restoration/Re-creation
Restoration/Re-Creation*
Our story, the true story of the whole world, began with God’s creation described in the first few chapters of Genesis and culminates in restoration or re-creation in John’s Revelation. The gospel message, from the beginning, has always contained hope and promise for humankind in not only the present age but also the age to come. The Bible is full of images and tangible examples of restoration and re-creation in the past, present and future. I’m including a sampling of passages for your consideration. Isa 65:17–25; Heb 12:26–27; 2 Pet 3:4–13; Rev 21–22.
Jesus Christ through his death, burial and resurrection, renews and restores humankind from the ravages of sin in the here and now. He is triumphantly declared as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.… He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Col 1:15–18). Check out Rom 5:12–20; 1 Cor 15:3–5; 12–23 for a few more vivid descriptions of Jesus’s victory over sin and death.
Significantly, this salvation and restoration is comprehensive in scope and results in the flourishing of all of life and looks ahead to the complete healing of the profound brokenness brought on by sin, evidenced by the new heavens and new earth. This theme of creation and recreation abounds in Scripture. I’m including a set of hope-filled passages from the New Testament for your consideration. These include Rom 6:4–11; 8:9–11; 1 Cor 15:42–49; 2 Cor 5:16–17; 6:16–18; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:4–10; 1 Pet 1:1–5.
Evidence of this transformation from death to life, old to new, creation and new creation is demonstrated by our transformed lives as we yield to Christ Jesus the King. As followers of Jesus are now free to exhibit and practice selfless love and sacrificial forgiveness, radical generosity and care for the poor, longsuffering in the face of injustice, and courage in the face of radical opposition.
The New Testament writers demonstrate how to hold in tension faithful living now and the sure and steadfast hope of the restoration of all things. As believers we cling to the promise of God’s kingdom restored—the promised new heavens and new earth—and we hold fast to this eschatological hope in the face of life’s challenges with faith and courage. Importantly, God has not left us alone, but has filled us with the power of God’s Spirit who provides everything necessary for life and godliness Rom 8:1–11; Eph 4:17–32; Phil 2:1–12; Col 3–4; Heb 6:12–20; 1 Pet 2:9–24; 3:8–15; 4:1–5:11; 2 Pet 1:3–11).
We began this series of stories by considering four dominant themes that echo across the Bible: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration/Re-creation. These four themes while distinct also recur over and over again in the Bible and also find full expression in Jesus Christ. His birth (incarnation) sets in motion the advent of God’s kingdom. His death on the cross and resurrection declares victory over sin, and his resurrection ushers in new birth on a cosmic scale. Jesus Christ is the King and the clue to human history.
I look so forward to unpacking these themes in future posts, but before I do so, I want to remind you, the True Story of the Whole World is radically different than stories that dominate our society today. It is important to cultivate an awareness, to think critically and to read your Bibles—from Genesis to Revelation. Today’s cultural narratives most often find their root in secularization and exclusive humanism and balk at the TSWW.
What are the alternate narratives that vie for your attention today and what is the allure? How do those stories compare with the True Story?
*Portions of this post are taken from: Monaco, Cas. “Bill Bright’s Four Spiritual Laws Reimagined: A Narrative Approach to Meaningful Gospel Conversations for an American Twenty-first Century Secularized Context.” PhD Diss., Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 2020.
