On the Last Day we will see the full unveiling of the new creation.
Christ presently rules over all on behalf of the Father — though many are self-blinded to it. When Jesus returns in all his glory, ‘and all the angels with him,’ with all the nations gathered before him (Matt 25:31-32), the gospel tells us two things will happen.
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.’
Two Things, Not One
First, as all have sinned, so all who do not receive Christ will be judged according to their just deserts as measured by God’s holy law, and face eternal retributive punishment. The devil and all his works, all evil, will be overthrown and banished (Matt 25:31-46).
Second, as the first heaven and the first earth marred by sin passes away, God will come and dwell directly with us, his people, and make all things new.
‘“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away”’ (Rev 21:4).
The eager longing of creation for the full redemption of our bodies — our glory as sons and daughters of God — will be consummated. Material creation will, with us in our glory, enjoy freedom from sin and travail (Rom 8:18-25).
Notice that creation isn’t discarded at the end. It’s released, and renewed.
Loving Each Other Without Pretending
Christians are commanded to love each other despite differences of race, gender, privilege, and social, political and economic background (John 13:34-35; Gal 3:28-29) — and to be of one mind wherever possible (John 17:20-21; Phil 2:2; Rom 14:1-15:13).
Divisions among Christians hinder our witness in the world, and we should desire greater mutual understanding and truth-speaking in love.
But there’s a limit, and it needs stating alongside. As trustees of God’s revealed truth we cannot embrace any form of doctrinal indifferentism, relativism or pluralism by which God’s truth is sacrificed for a false peace.
So doctrinal disagreements call for debate. Dialogue for mutual understanding and, if possible, narrowing of differences is valuable — doubly so when the avowed goal is unity in primary things, liberty in secondary things, and charity in all things.
That formula is worth memorising, because it names both failures at once. Insisting on uniformity in secondary things destroys liberty. Treating primary things as secondary destroys unity.
Saying It Plainly
Useful dialogue requires not only charity in our attitudes but clarity in our utterances.
Which is why what follows casts the key points into specific affirmations and denials regarding the gospel and our unity in it and in Christ. Out of love for God’s truth and Christ’s church.
Whose Gospel It Is
We affirm that the gospel entrusted to the church is, in the first instance, God’s gospel (Mark 1:14; Rom 1:1). God is its author, and he reveals it to us in and by his Word. Its authority and truth rest on him alone.
We deny that the truth or authority of the gospel derives from any human insight or invention (Gal 1:1-11). We also deny that it rests on the authority of any particular church or human institution.
Where the Power Sits
We affirm that the gospel is the saving power of God, in that it effects salvation to everyone who believes, without distinction (Rom 1:16). This efficacy is by the power of God himself (1 Cor 1:18).
We deny that the power of the gospel rests in the eloquence of the preacher, the technique of the evangelist, or the persuasion of rational argument (1 Cor 1:21; 2:1-5).
That is worth sitting with if you’ve ever felt inadequate to explain the gospel. The power was never located in your delivery.
What’s Wrong With Us
We affirm that the gospel diagnoses the universal human condition as one of sinful rebellion against God and his goodness towards us, which rebellion – if unchanged – will lead each person to eternal loss under God’s condemnation.
We deny any rejection of the fallenness of human nature, or any assertion of the natural goodness, or divinity, of the human race.
Only One Way
We affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation, the only Mediator between God and humanity (John 14:6; 1 Tim 2:5).
We deny that anyone is saved in any other way than by Jesus Christ and his gospel. The Bible offers no hope that sincere worshippers of other religions will be saved without personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Everyone, Without Exception
We affirm that the church is commanded by God, and is therefore under divine obligation, to preach the gospel to every living person (Luke 24:47; Matt 28:18-19).
We deny that any particular class or group of persons, whatever their ethnic or cultural identity, may be ignored or passed over in the preaching of the gospel (1 Cor 9:19-22). God purposes a global church made up from people of every tribe, language and nation (Rev 7:9).
Who Jesus Is
We affirm that faith in Jesus Christ as the divine Word (or Logos, John 1:1), the second Person of the Trinity, co-eternal and co-essential with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Heb 1:3), is foundational to faith in the gospel.
We deny that any view of Jesus Christ which reduces or rejects his full deity is gospel faith, or will avail to salvation.
And What He Became
We affirm that Jesus Christ is God incarnate (John 1:14). The virgin-born descendant of David (Rom 1:3), he had a true human nature, was subject to the Law of God (Gal 4:5), and was like us at all points, except without sin (Heb 2:17; 7:26-28).
Faith in the true humanity of Christ is essential to faith in the gospel — as essential as faith in his deity. Both, or neither.