The New Humanity: Introduction . . .

“BEHOLD, I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW”

The purpose of religion might be described as an effort to reconcile fallen man to God, or, as the term religion suggests, to bind man back to God. A famous catechism indicates that the function of religion is to cause man “to love God and enjoy Him forever.” In the series of studies upon which we now embark we are suggesting that religion may be viewed as an experience in newness. Religion is a love story between man and a God whose intention is to make all things new. We intend to show that the new humanity is in reference to God’s eternal purpose, a purpose that figures into all that God has done in human history.

The significance of such a study may be indicated by a reference to some of “the new things” promised to believers in the scriptures.

What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and the new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home (2 Pet. 3:13)

See, the days are coming—it is the Lord who speaks—when I will establish a new covenant with the House of Israel and with the House of Judah. (Heb. 8:8)

I will give them a new heart and I will put a new spirit in them. (Ez. 11:18)

You will be called by a new name. (Isa. 62:2)

I give you a new commandment: love one another. (John 13:34)

For anyone who is in Christ there is a new creation; the old creation is gone, and now the new one is here. (2 Cor. 5:17)

When we were baptized we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father’s glory, we too might live a new life. (Rom. 6:4)

Now we are rid of the Law, freed by death from our imprisonment, free to serve in the new spiritual way and not the old way of a written law. (Rom. 7:6)

Such references help us to understand God’s declaration “Behold, I make all things new,” Our youth these days are speaking of “doing their thing.” Isaiah speaks of God’s purpose in similar language: “Behold, I will do a new thing.”

All this suggests that there is a distinct character to newness. Just what does it mean to be a part of the new humanity? What is the character of the new man in Christ? Our Lord came to save us, to make us whole, to lead us into the abundant life. What is the nature of this new life? In Eph. 2:15 Paul sees the purpose of Christ as “to create one single New Man” of those who are divided by hostility. What does this mean? And how does all this relate to the last things: the new Jerusalem, new heavens and new earth, a new body, and even a new song? We plan to give attention to such questions.

Those words “Behold, I make all things new” were spoken by God, seated upon His throne, the first words He speaks directly in Revelation. It seems to have reference to the saints’ eventual reward in a new universe, being related as it is to the new Jerusalem, the tree of life, and the paradise of God. But it is also saying that God is One who is continually renewing and recreating. Just as it is His nature to be the alpha and omega, referred to in the same passage, it is His nature to be making all things new—those things, that is, related to the saints’ edification for now and forever.

It is hopeful that this study will help us to better understand what it means to be in fellowship with God. It must be impressed upon us that fellowship is a relationship between fellows and God. It is only because God is with us that we can be brothers together. In the same passage where God talks about making everything new, it speaks of His fellowship with men.

I heard a great voice from heaven. “Behold,” it said, “the dwelling-place of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself shall be with them.” (Rev. 21:3)

God Himself shall be with them! This is the fellowship of God, and this is the basis for the new humanity. Men are changed and made new only as God dwells with them. To be born a second time is, therefore, to enter into fellowship with God through His Son. When this occurs one becomes a new creation, and surely all that makes up his personality is new: his desires, thoughts, emotions, habits. Once fellowship with God is a reality and this newness of life is his, he is consequently in the fellowship with all others who have been born anew through Christ. Fellowship, then, is not by our manipulation, but by God’s creation.

Once we see God’s community on earth (His dwelling place) as the new humanity, we will then see what we call “the church” in terms of people, a certain kind of people, rather than in institutional terms. It is probable that we have something beside born-again people in mind when we speak of being “loyal to the church.” It is often more doctrinal than personal, more institutional than familial. To see the church in terms of the new humanity should help us to appreciate the character and implications of newness of life in Christ. And in turn we should also better see the church as the family of God.—the Editor