Ian & Jocelyn Barker

What is the effect of Paul’s doctrine? Paul gave a new way of being human that Israel had been called into but had failed. 5 ways in which this was flushed out.

The Centre of Renewed Humanity: Worship
Genuine humanity worships the one true God in contrast to pagans who worship many gods (1 Thess. 1:9). The worship of pagan gods breaks down a society as seen in Romans 1. Unbelieving was not much better and brought dishonor to His name (Rom. 2:17-24). The solution is a society where circumcision/uncirucumcision do not matter but what matters is if one is a Jew in heart. This people is the true humanity. True worship of one true God means you are transformed so as to become “a more complete human being.”

The Goal of Renewed Humanity: Resurrection
Resurrection is more than resuscitation, but is transformation. As opposed to Jewish thought in the first-century, Paul saw that the real enemy was sin and death, not the Gentiles. Consequently, more than resuscitation as a form of vindication was needed.

Before saying that we live in the last days, Paul would have said we live in first days after “the great act of God within history to defeat sin and death and liberate the whole cosmos. He then would have added: these are also the last days before the great act of God which will bring to completion that which was begun in Christ” (141). Goal is that believers share in resurrection of Christ, a reality that Judaism had seen but failed to understand and attain.

The Transformation of Renewed Humanity: Holiness
What happens in between conversion and resurrection? Transformation beings now. Worship and holiness are joined together and connected (Rom. 12:1-2). Holiness and worship is the reality of which paganism parodies (Rom. 1:18-32).

Holiness “characterizes all those who are renewed in Christ” (143). Yet, Paul lives with the tension of the “now” and “not yet” making perfection impossible. Holiness is not dependent upon Torah but on the Spirit. “Genuine holiness is seen in terms of dying and rising with Christ” (145).

The Coherence of Renewed Humanity: Love
The mark of Christianity is love which is demonstrated in a family where everyone is accepted as an equal member. Love is the demonstration to powers and principalities that God has achieved victory (Eph. 3:10). Paganism can only collapse into pride and infighting. Lack of love and a divided church (Jew vs. Gentile) threatens the reality of the renewed humanity in Christ.

The Zeal of Renewed Humanity: Mission
Being in the “image of God” was so that God could be reflected into the world. Complete restoration brings end to groan of creation. Paul saw his mission as more than appealing to individuals to be saved into heaven. He was announcing the reign of the King Jesus to “every creature under heaven” (Col. 1:23) and demanded that they come into obedience to Him. He knows he is a part of the renewal of the complete cosmos.