The Unapologetic God of Newness

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED blog post, the only blog that always responds the same way when someone asks, “What the heck is wrong with you?” The response: “You mean today or like in general?”

“The words ‘Behold, I make all things new’ (Rev. 21:5) highlight the preeminence of the category of the new in Christian eschatology. God’s future is not the eternal return of the same, but the new creation of all things.”

~ Jürgen Moltmann

Let’s face it: we humans are a mess.

Humanity is selfish, destructive, and violent. And yet, God, the creator of this chaotic bunch, chooses to love us anyway. But how does He solve the problem of our inherent corruption?

Does He wipe us out, or does He take a different approach?

The answer lies in the most counterintuitive move possible: He dies for us. Yes, you read that right.

Let me restate it a bit stronger. Among many other things (like loving Father, Ancient of Days, the All-Sufficient One, etc.), God is the creator of selfish, destructive, violent children.

How does He solve the problem?

Either liquidate them all OR die for them so He can dispense His unselfish, non-violent life to everyone who is willing to receive it, making them His biological children.

Yes. God, the all-powerful, all-knowing Lord of the universe chooses to sacrifice Himself so that He can impart His unselfish, non-violent life to anyone willing to receive it. This is the essence of redemption. And redemption is about making things new.

Now, I know what some of you are thinking.

“Frank, is the Fall real? I mean, I read an article by a progressive Christian dude named Dr. Samuel Snicklefritz who said the Fall was invented.”

Well, let me tell you, it’s real.

Just put a cupcake between two three-year-olds, and you’ll see the selfishness that lies at the heart of humanity.

But here’s the thing: While I affirm the Fall, I also affirm redemption. And Jesus is the only Redeemer.

If you want to get biblical about it, you can find the details in Romans chapters 1 through 8.

But the point is this: God is in the business of making things new. He’s the master of renewal, revival, and restoration.

As German theologian Jürgen Moltmann once pointed out, making things new is the preeminent phrase in all of Scripture to describe who God is.

Our Lord keeps making things new—renewing, reviving, and restoring.

For this reason, whenever you see “new” in the Bible, it means God has revived something.

New Birth (John 3:3-7; 1 Peter 1:3, 23)

New Covenant (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 8:8, 13; 9:15; 12:24)

New Commandment (John 13:34)

New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15)

New Man/Human (Ephesians 2:15; 4:24; Colossians 3:10)

New Name (Revelation 2:17; 3:12)

New Heaven and New Earth (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1)

New Jerusalem (Revelation 3:12; 21:2)

New Song (Revelation 5:9; 14:3)

New Wine (Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-38)

New Way (Hebrews 10:20)

New Teaching (Mark 1:27; Acts 17:19)

New Life (Romans 6:4)

New Self (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)

So what does this mean for you? It means that no matter how broken, no matter how messed up you are, God can make you new.

And that includes renewing your relationships.

He’s an expert at making things new.

He can take the shattered pieces of your life and turn them into something beautiful. What’s required is that you are willing to let go of your own selfish desires and submit to His will.

It’s not easy, sure. But it’s worth it. Because when you let God make you new, you’ll discover a life of purpose, of meaning, and of redemption that you never thought possible.

And that includes both new and renewed relationships.

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