Jesus and the New Creation: A New Testament Biblical Theological Perspective on Creation Care

Abstract

Creation is not what it was intended by God to be. It has been suffering the effects of the curse over humankind. Yet, God has not abandoned his plan for his creation to make it glorify him, but sent his Son into creation in order to redeem it. This article seeks to explain Jesus’ central role in inaugurating and consummating the renewal of rebellious creation. We see the first signs of redemption in Jesus’ victory over Satan in the wilderness temptation, in his authority over the rebellious nature, and supremely on the cross. His departure from earth meant that the second stage of consummation will follow later. Thus, Paul explains in what ways reconciliation of all things to God have an “already” dimension and a “not yet” one. Presently, redemption through Jesus’ death and resurrection is limited to spiritual salvation, but it anticipates the physical redemption of the human bodies and the material redemption of the natural world. At Jesus’ return, “all things will be made new,” meaning not a replacement of the first creation but a renewal of it. This biblical understanding of the new creation, that Jesus first inaugurated but will eventually consummate, shows that creation has value to God and therefore should have value to those who love God and their neighbor.