What you all have been waiting for (the big reveal)

Like any good story that has twists and turns, action and romance there is always a big reveal at the end. This is also true for the story of the Bible.

Once everything that God set out to do in the old creation has been done, all mankind has been called to account and Jesus reigns supreme, God will reveal the new creation. He will give it to mankind and mankind to it. All the imagery of Revelation 21-22 points toward the undeniable fact that all are one in God, perfect unity.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.”

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
(Revelation 21:1-8 ESV)

The old creation is no more, with its last remnants swept away into Hell. In that day hope will be realised and the unity (glory) of God will be perfected in all things, he will be all and in all. As in the beginning it is not what it looks like (physically) that matters, rather it is the perfection of unity between God, man and creation that matters.

Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.
(Revelation 21:9-11 ESV)

There will be no barrier and no mediator between God and man, man will live in the presence of God forever. Unrestricted access to the source of life and love. This new union of man and creation (in God) will last forever and the darkness of sin and disunity will have no place in the new creation. This has been secured by Jesus Christ the new head of this new creation.

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
(Revelation 21:22-27 ESV)

While the unity that existed in the beginning was the same type as the unity that will exist in the new creation there is one fundamental difference, Jesus. Jesus is a better head than Adam ever could be. Jesus, the perfect union of God and man, makes all the difference in the new creation. He will not rebel against the union of God because this would require him to rebel against himself and break the mould of unity that all things were created to fit. Instead he will remain true to God and himself forever, securing the lordship of the entire human race over creation.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
(Revelation 22:1-5 ESV)

The End

This is only the beginning.

The importance of Hell

The enemies of Christ must be cast into hell before the new creation can be inaugurated. Hell is not part of the new creation.

Unity can’t exist between God and those who will not willingly submit to his headship (though all will submit, willingly or unwillingly). Not all who are born of Adam will be reborn in Christ and receive all the good that comes with being united to God and others (in Christ).

Hell is not part of the new creation. Those who are cast out out of the presence of God have no place in the union of the new creation. At the end of Revelation 20 the Bible describes the final judgement after the last war. All those who will not bow the knee willingly are thrown into the lake of fire (hell). This is to ensure that they are dealt with before the union of the new creation is inaugurated. If they are judged after the new creation is inaugurated this will restart the cycle of a divided creation making perfect unity in Christ impossible.

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
(Revelation 20:11-15 ESV)

God will have his day in court. There is only one justice, the justice of God. In unity justice for one is justice for all. Only those who are united in him will be vindicated. Those who are not united in Christ will be condemned by their own actions.

The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.
(1 Timothy 5:24-25 ESV)

All that will matter on that day is unity in Christ. God will separate the sheep from the goats, the faithful from the unfaithful. Those who actively and faithfully live out their union in Christ will be set aside to live in union with God forever, in the new creation. By this shall all mankind know the faithful who are in Christ, that they loved one another. Christians will be distinguished by their love in unity, glorifying God by living out their unity in Christ.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
(Matthew 25:31-40 ESV)

The Glory of God is in his oneness/unity. There can be no greater pursuit or life of value than a life lived in union with God. In unity mankind was designed to reflect to glory of God, glorifying him in every action.

Those who will not unite in Christ will be cast out forever. All benefits of unity (in God) received in the present age (though they were not united to him) will be removed forever (the love of family, any good thing, etc). Their fate will be one of eternal torment, beings created to exist in unity with God and one another yet unable to achieve this in the slightest. There will be no hope of reprieve from this torment, no death to look forward to. In that day they will know their own actions condemned them. God will glorify himself by condemning those who will not unite in him, vindicating himself before all.

“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For iI was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
(Matthew 25:41-46 ESV)

“…there is a war coming. Are you sure you’re on the right side?”

There is a war coming between sons of Adam and the sons of God. This is a war between the old and new creations, between the broken union of man and the new humanity in Christ. This must happen before the new creation is established. The amnesty of the present age is passing and when it does the sons of God will unite for the last human war. This is a human war because mankind was given authority over creation (in the beginning), so at the end of the present age mankind will regain its place over creation, in Christ. Order will be reestablished.

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
(1 Corinthians 15:24-28 ESV)

This war is necessary. Christ, who is head of this new human union (and new creation), must subjugate every other government and authority who does not subject themselves to his rule willingly. So that all may be brought to account under the good order that God established in the beginning.

In the process of uniting all thing under his authority Christ will dominate death and raise all from the dead. Just as mankind is united in death the sons of God be united in life. Once Jesus Christ has put all things under his feet he will then put himself under the authority of God the father. The phrase “…that God may be all in all” (vs28) is the language of unity, a union that all Christians will share in as part of the new creation. This is an image of complete consistency with and submission to the authority of God the Father, where no part of creation is in revolt or rebellion against God. The kingdom of God is a perfect union under the order, rule and authority of God the father. Christ will hand over all authority to God so that all things will be subject to God. Never again will mankind seek to wrestle control of creation from God because Christ who is the head of all will not fail where Adam failed, to do so will require him to rebel against himself (he is God also). In this way the future of the new creation will be secure in Christ.

During this last war, creation will unite in rebellion against God one last time. Seeking to destroy their common enemy, God’s chosen king (Christ). They will not prevail, they will be defeated swiftly and without mercy.

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.  And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, “Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh.
(Revelation 19:11-21 ESV)

Those who will not unite in Christ willingly have no place in the new creation, this is why hell is so important (more on this later). At the end of the book of Matthew describes the final judgement of God where he will separate those who are united in Christ (the sheep) from those who would not submit willingly (the Goats).

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
(Matthew 25:31-34 ESV)

While similar in some respects, sheep and goats are not the same species and as such they have no place coexisting, the goats must be separated out. Note that this distinction between species is not made effective until the final judgement and it is God who makes this distinction not man. So in the present age while there is still time Christians must strive to make Christ known and leave the judgement and punishment of the goats to God at the time of his choosing.

“Always look on the bright side of death.”

Inheritance in the kingdom of God is often misunderstood because of a warped view of personal ownership, satisfaction and identity in things. This will not be the case in the new creation.

Simply the inheritance of the saints, as members of this new humanity (in Christ), is one another in unity of all things in God. As the Bible says in Ephesians 1 a Christian’s inheritance is in the saints (i.e. the union of the saints). As such it becomes the rebirth right (after having been reborn into Christ) to take their place in Christ as lords of the new creation, possessing one another and all things given by God (head and all-father) for the common good.

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints…
(Ephesians 1:18 ESV)

This holds true for the crown given to those who are united in Christ. Philippians 4:1 clearly states that the crown Christians will receive is one another. Paul calls the Church at Philippi his love, joy and crown. Not only the Philippian church but the church in Thessalonica too, because it is these who were known to Paul through his ministry and position in Christ as apostle.

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
(Philippians 4:1 ESV)

And again in 1 Thessalonians:

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
(1 Thessalonians 2:19 ESV)

In 2 Timothy it is stated that this crown is the crown of righteous and as such is a direct result of Paul living out his union with Christ now, completing the work Christ started. This crown is for all those who are united in Christ. God is laying this crown up by securing his work in Christ. So that those whom have ministered to and are in Christ will not slip away.

Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
(2 Timothy 4:8 ESV)

The Bible states that there is a direct link between a Christian’s conduct in Christ now and the crown they receive on the last day. Showing the importance of understanding the continuity of relationship (unity) from the present age to the new creation. In 1 Peter 5 elders are urged to use their authority and position in Christ for the good of those Christ has given to them. Not seeking their own benefit or oppressing them, rather as an example for living in Christ now. Knowing that those whom they have faithfully served in the present age will be there on the last day as members of the same union.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
(1 Peter 5:1-5 ESV)

However those who do not faithfully live out their union in this life, using all that they have given by God (in union) for their own gain, may still be saved from hell but will not know the joy of seeing those they loved on earth persevere untill the end. This is not telling Christians to “convert”, do as many ministries or befriend as many people as is humanly possible. It is a call for perseverance in unity (relationship) through faith in Christ, knowing that God has given all Christians to one another to others for their good. If you are indeed united to Christ you must act like it, otherwise you risk taking no one with you into eternity.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
(1 Corinthians 3:10-15 ESV)

So seek out the joy of unity in Christ, faithfully serving one another until you are called home to be with him face to face and share in the saints.

It is not what it looks like…

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”(John 4:21-24)

While the time of worshiping God in spirit has already come (in Christ), it has not yet reached its fullness. Not until all Christians stand in the presence of God, in physical spiritual form, will all who are one in Christ be able to worship God (in unity) unrestrained and unreservedly for all eternity.

THE FULLNESS OF TIME
God’s plan for the fullness of time has always been to unite all things (creation) in Christ. So that through his death and rising to new life he would put into effect a new human unity that would take its place as lords of creation under God. So that every blessing we have been given are blessings of renewed unity and relationship with God. These include being:

• chosen before the foundation of the world
• redemption through the blood of Christ
• adoption as sons
• shared inheritance as sons
• revealation of the mystery of his will to (as sons)

All Christians have been adopted as sons in Christ sharing in the inheritance of the kingdom of God. As sons of God, in Christ, Christians are given the keys to the universe and given insight into mystery of renewed unity in Christ. It is unity in Christ that secures these blessings for all Christians.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(Ephesians 1:3-10 ESV)

When it says all things will be united in Christ it does not include everything and everyone that exists in the present age. Not everything that currently exists can exist in union with God (especially if they don’t want to). This can not include the current creation and those who reject God.

“Then out spoke Horatius, the Captain of the Gate:”

Joy is one of those things that everyone seems to know about, but can never give a clear definition of. This has meant that joy has been widely misunderstood, especially in light of verses like:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
(Philippians 4:4 ESV)

How are you supposed to have joy in God at all times? Are we meant to be happy all the time? The Bible states that Christians are to expected to suffer with Christ (Romans 8:17 ESV). Therefore it can’t be a matter of being happy all the time. More than this the Bible clearly states that Christians should rejoice in suffering, because the end result of suffering is steadfastness and maturity in Christ (which will have its full effect on the last day).

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
(James 1:2-4 ESV)

The Bible clearly states that suffering and discipline are the mark of a true child of God.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”

It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birth right for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.(Hebrews 12:1-17 ESV)

Also experience tells us that there are those who suffer from depression and are physically unable to experience happiness for long periods of time.

JOY
You have heard it said that JOY is an acronym standing for Jesus, Other, Yourself. While this has some merit in helping to understand priorities, it is largely unhelpful and confusing for understanding what joy in unity actually is. This acronym does not intuitively provide an explanation of joy it merely gives a list of priorities and is an over simplification of the Bible’s view of joy While priorities are good in light of unity this acronym is dangerous, pitting them against one another as if they were competing priorities. As already discussed, loving your family is fully in line with unity in Christ. Also in unity actions (love in unity) to benefit part ultimately serve to benefit the whole (Christ). This means that Christ can be glorified by loving others. Meaning that loving God with your whole heart and mind and loving your neighbour as yourself are a single command. Therefore as unity grows all members benefit. Also the work of Christ that all are involved in (building and sustaining unity) the present age is indeed Christ’s work.

In defining joy there are a few things that need to be understood. Firstly, joy is not an exclusively Christian concept and as such it should be defined with broader contexts in mind. Secondly, joy is not exclusively an emotion otherwise it would be perfectly interchangeable with happiness. Thirdly, joy is more about the object of desire and affection (good things) rather than the emotion or concept.

Therefore joy can then be defined as; a person’s attitude and reaction to good things.

Good and Evil
In the present age a “good” is understood as something that you can purchase. What most people don’t understand is that the term “good” (in this context) is a specific term used in economics. It describes anything that is intended to satisfy some want or need of a consumer. Things people want or need are things people desire to have, therefore goods are desirable.

As previously discussed, Genesis 1 reveals the living God through the story of creation. In creation the unity of God is clearly seen. At the end of each day God judged each part of creation to be “good” and ultimately judges the entire order of creation as “very good”. This judgement is a statement of approval, unity and harmony between the one true God and his creation. “Good” in this context is something that is associated with God, defined by God and is desirable to God.

Attitude and Reaction
Therefore it becomes clear that a person’s attitude toward those things that they determine to be good should be one of desire when they are withheld and happiness/satisfaction when they are obtained.

When the Bible says “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” emphasis should not be on the joy but on what the object of desire is, Christ. What the Bible is commanding all Christians to do is to align their desires/wants and needs with Christ. That is to say all Christians should ever want or need is Christ and what he wants (unity). Therefore the Bibles view of what is good and what is most valuable for the Christian is Christ and unity in him. Seeking what most highly valued and seen as the greatest good will in turn produce a positive reaction (happiness/satisfaction) to obtaining it. The more closely aligned the desires of the Christian are with Christ the stronger the desire and reaction, even though they may not be able to “feel” it.

Reactions to good things not only encompasses an emotional reaction but rational decision-making also. When Christ and what he wants is the sole object of a Christians desire their reaction to him will be one of elation, happiness, etc. while the way it is expressed will be in a manner that is appropriate to one who is united to Christ. When a Christian experiences any good thing their appropriate response is to praise the God who has given all good things (in Christ). This means that the emotion is not necessary for joy.

Therefore idolatry can understood as; replacing Christ and unity in him as the object of desire and affection with something else. For example, When a person desires the feeling of happiness they seek out anything that can make them happy.

God is the greatest good from which all other goods come. Therefore if you share in the spirit of Christ, being united to him, you must align you attitudes so that you seek and desire him alone. Seeking to reflect him in everything you do. Knowing that your union with him will not be fully realised untill you are with him in his spirit.

JOY IN OTHERS
When Paul declares to the church at Philippi that they are his joy this doesn’t conflict with his desire for Christ.

Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
(Philippians 4:1 ESV)

This is a very important passage because it brings together the concepts of love in unity and reward in heaven. To love one another with the love that Christ demonstrated is what it means to be in union with one another (in Christ) and God.

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The Mystery of Marriage
As discussed, God gave mankind marriage so that Adam would be one as God is one. While the creation of Eve from the flesh of Adam made them the same species it was marriage (order) that made them one as God is one. Eve was never created to be a dissident part of the same humanity, she was created to be united to him in flesh, love and marriage.

After the fall God did not abolish marriage, rather he cursed it, telling Eve that her desire would be to rule over her husband and that he would always dominate her (by force). Therefore their marriage became the root of all conflict and disunity in the human race rather than the basis for God-like unity and the template for all human families. Now that Christ has re-established human unity in the image of God he has restored the integrity of marriage for all Christians. Human unity would not be “human” without marriage, as determined by God in the beginning. By submitting to Christ in the order of marriage Christians will reflect their union in Christ in and out of marriage.

To summarise:
• Marriage is the relational mechanism of human unity God established in Genesis 1-2, this has not changed. To submit to the order of marriage means to submit to Christ and God in unity.
• Adam and Eve’s marriage just like the marriage of Christ and the Church is the unification of the entire human race (Eve then the Church) to it’s head (Adam then Christ).
• Just as Eve was never created to operate as a separate/dissident part of humanity to Adam, so too the Church has not been reborn to operate apart from Christ. The two parts must be united for there to be true human unity.
• Unity is only broken in death, because marriage is a key part of unity it is broken in death.
• The marriage between Christ and his Church will be perfect and unbroken. Unlike the marriage between Adam and Eve.
• Christian marriage in the present age looks forward, expecting the fulfillment of their union in Christ.

The Bible reveals that the final consummated union of Christ (on the last day and beyond) is the basis for understanding the conduct of Christians in marriage (union) now.

Your future commands your present
In the same way that Christ is head of this new human union so too each man is the head of his family union (for their benefit). Just as Christ was given his role over the Church by God (and the church under him) so too wives and husbands are given specific roles (by God) within their union. As it says:

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.
(Ephesians 5:25-30 ESV)

While husbands have been given headship over his wife (family) this headship is for her (their) good, not to be used for his own selfish purposes. is required to imitate Christ and be savior to his wife giving his life for her benefit. Husbands are to love their wives so much that he withholds nothing good from her for the purpose of preserving unity in Christ (for both of them). Her salvation is his responsibility (as much as it is in his power).

In light of the requirements placed on the husband as head of the marriage the wife is required to submit to them. Just as we who are members of Christ submit to him as our rightful head women are to submit to their husbands. This is not the reluctant submission of the oppressed to an oppressor (marriage in Adam), it is the willing and loving submission of a loving wife to her husband who lovingly gives her every good thing she needs withholding nothing of himself. Therefore just as the union of Christ is carefully built up by God, each part with its own place seeking the benefit of every other part in love, so it is with marriage.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
(Ephesians 5:22-24 ESV)

While in the present age it is important to look back to the original union of Adam and Eve to understand the continuity of the profound importance of marriage in the union of species, we ultimately look to Christ because we are made new in him and our marriage to him will last and remain untainted (unlike Adam and Eve’s marriage). All Christians must understand central importance of marriage to the Christian faith.

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
(Ephesians 5:31-33 ESV)

Unity is for all
Unity in Christ not only commands the actions of married Christians but the actions of all Christians. Unity is the the only ethic of the Bible (more on this later).

“You didn’t, like, say how it works?”

If you love me…
While practically speaking the process of becoming mature in Christ is not simple or clear-cut, there is no mistake that love is the end goal (love in unity). Love is the nature of God, while the term “divine nature” is not often used in the Bible there are mountains of material on the centrality of love in God and how Christians partake in it.

It is only through our union with Christ through the Holy Spirit that we are granted access to God who is love himself (for there is no love apart from God). Just as it says in Hebrews:

We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
(Hebrews 6:19-20 ESV)

The love of God can’t be over emphasised it is at the core of who he is. That is why it is impossible to talk about biblical unity without talking about love. Love is the glue that binds a union together; it is the self-sacrificial nature that is love that makes it good for the preservation and growth of unity.

As Jesus says, if anyone considers themselves born of God then they would love him. Therefore the outward indication of anyones membership in this new human union is that they love Christ because Christ came from God and is God.

Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me.
(John 8:42 ESV)

However unity in God not only requires that you love him but that you love anyone who loves him too. Just as it says:

If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot[a] love God whom he has not seen.
(1 John 4:20)

The union of Christ will grow strong in the love of God, where each member concerned with the welfare of every other member seeks the best for the whole. In doing this they will express the love of God appropriately within the order determined by God as the head of all things. So how do you show our love for Christ?

Jesus states that obedience to his commandments is proof that you love him. As he says:

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments…
(John 14:15 ESV)

Love in unity is reciprocal. Christ who came from God and is loved by God will love those who love him, more than this his father will love them too. This is the nature of unity:

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”
(John 14:21 ESV)

“Do as I say, then I will know you love me.” this is not the manipulation of a friend or lover who wants their own way. This is the command of the head of a new human union, of God himself, to seek first his kingdom by upholding and expressing the unity of the Holy Spirit. Christ does not speak out of turn or from selfish ambition, he speaks from obedience and love of his father. By his obedience we know that he loves his father who sent him. So Christ is asking all Christians to do what he is already doing, practicing love in unity through obedience to his head.

Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
(John 14:24 ESV)

And also:

…but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
(John 14:31 ESV)

Therefore this is the command that Jesus gives to all who are united in him, that they love one another with the love he has demonstrated (love in unity). By practicing this love it will be evident to the world that you are united in Christ, the unmistakable love in unity that comes from God.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:35 ESV)

However love is not an ethic in itself, it is not enough. Love needs to be expressed within the context of the order of unity, otherwise all forms and expressions of love would be permissable.

“Love to the power of love”

God is Love
1 John 4:8 clearly states that God is love, not merely that he loves nor that he is the definition of love, rather that he is the only love. This is why it can be said that if you know love you know God. It is impossible to understand God without understanding love, on his terms. This is why when Adam and Eve rebelled against God their attitude toward each other (also creation and God) changed. Their actions had broken unity with love himself and in so doing they no longer shared in him. Therefore human nature became not-love.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love
(1 John 4:7 ESV)

The mark of those who are united to God is that they love. Not that they are capable of love, but that it defines them and they live it out constantly and consistantly.

When Christ came he revealed the love of God to the world, i.e. “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ denied himself the position rightfully his as God, subjected himself to the flesh of Adam, the blood thirsty hands of men and ultimately death so that those who hated him might be brought into union with him (Philippians 2).

In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
(1 John 4:9-12 ESV)

Therefore in Christ the world learned what true love is, the love of God in unity. How does this relate to Christian love?

The Divine Nature: One Love
2 Peter 1 is an important passage that explicitly draws the link between the nature of God and the nature all Christians are to strive to reflect (though imperfectly) in the present age. The same nature that is their birth right in Christ.

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
(2 Peter 1:3-9 ESV)

It is only by knowing God in unity, through Jesus Christ, that all Christians are called to a life of unity for the glory of God. It is their unity in Christ, who is the fulfillment of all God’s promises, that all Christians become partakes of the divine nature. This is their inheritance in Christ after having been released from the corruption (disunity) that was their birth right in Adam. Once released from this corrupt union they become creatures of God’s design (as Adam was in the beginning), fully disposed to him, seeking his glorification and forgetting the ways of their former lives in Adam. All this is only made possible by the authority and power of God actively working to restore unity in himself.

Therefore in light of restored unity in Christ Christians are commanded to make every effort to take hold of this nature and promote their union in Christ while they are still in the flesh of Adam. It is because they are still in the flesh of Adam that they must make every effort, because they will not take hold of their true selves until the resurrection. So by increasing:
• faith with virtue, and
• virtue with knowledge, and
• knowledge with self-control, and
• self-control with steadfastness, and
• steadfastness with godliness, and
• godliness with brotherly affection, and
• brotherly affection with love.

Generally speaking reflecting the love of God in unity is not a simple matter of advancing through measurable stages of maturity to finally arrive at enlightenment (perfection). The Bible clearly states that as long as the flesh of Adam remains the sinfulness (nature) of Adam will also remain. What this process in 2 Peter 1 does is emphasise this fact, just like the command for Israel to constantly remind themselves of the law (Deuteronomy 6). In the present age reflecting the love of God is not a simple proposition this is why Christians are commanded to make “every effort”. This means that maturing in Christ will be a difficult process requiring constant reminders and significant suffering, and even then this process will not be complete until all Christians are reborn into the image of Christ on the last day.

One Love – The union of Spirit and flesh

There is only one love, the love of God in unity. This is the same love that is in Christ and the same love that all Christians are to demonstrate.

THE NATURE OF CHRIST
As previously discussed the flesh and order of marriage given to man still existed after the fall even though Adam and Eve’s attitude to them both had changed. Every subsequent generation of mankind was born into a state of disunity making this attitude (not love in disunity) the nature of fallen man. Therefore sharing in the flesh (disunity) of Adam brings with it a common nature/mind set defined by disunity with God. When Christ took on human form he became a member of Adam’s broken union, sharing in Adam’s corrupt flesh, literally subjecting himself to a decaying body (mortal, limited and dead). This raises an interesting question, How can Christ share in the flesh of Adam but not his fallen nature?

Before the fall Adam and Eve were human, sharing in an undefiled nature consistent with God (in union with/sinless). Yet after the fall they were still considered to be human even though they shared in a corrupt nature (because of their rebellion). Before his death and resurrection (a spirit only remains with a body while the body is alive) Christ shared in the flesh of Adam without sharing in the corrupt nature of Adam. This seems to indicate that the necessary condition for being human is sharing in the flesh (limitations included) of Adam but not necessarily his corrupt nature. Why then is the nature of Adam unavoidably transmitted to his race but not Christ? How is Jesus different from us and Adam?

There are a few reasons why Jesus does not and cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam:
• Christ is a member of two unions, man and God.
• If Christ is indeed God he cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam and maintain the unity of the trinity. Being God he must share in the divine nature and spirit of God.
• If Christ is indeed a sinless man then he cannot share in the corrupt nature of Adam, he must share in a nature that is consistent with God.

Before Christ was born into this world he was already part of a more important union (the trinity) that is the template for all unions. Meaning Christ was a member of two distinct unions (man and God). For him to maintain his links with both unions simultaneously he needed to share in the essential characteristics of both unions. For humanity it was a union in the flesh of Adam, for God it is a union of spirit (form) and love (divine nature, the original nature). Therefore Christ was one in flesh with man and one in spirit and love with God merged together in one person.

It is important to uphold both because Christ’s perfection (sinlessness) existed and originated in the context of the unity of God (the trinity). This shows that Christ must be understood in the context of his union with his father revealing that perfection can’t exist without a perfect union (i.e. he isn’t a rouge perfect human). Because Christ was not cut off from God he still had a direct link to the source of love (himself, the trinity).

While this sounds similar to the way Adam and Eve were able to be part of a human union and the union of all things under God it isn’t. While both are examples of people being part of more than one union the similarities end there. This is because of the distinction between God and man in the beginning, Adam and Eve were not united to God in the same way Jesus is (i.e. members of the trinity), this made it possible for the fall to occur.

The flesh of Adam can’t last beyond this temporal existence like the rest of this creation it must be destroyed to make way for the new creation. By his death and resurrection Christ died to the flesh and corruption of Adam and was reborn into a new spiritual body, immortal and of a greater glory than the flesh of Adam.