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Can Jesus’ death on the cross save our planet from the climate crisis?

How the gospel brings hope for planet earth even after exceeding 1.5°C of global warming in 2024.

Written by Philip Powell | 13 Jan 2025

Orange, blue and white background with a photo of a hand in black and white overlaid and the words 'Jesus died to save the planet' to the right.

Jesus Died to Save the Planet resource by the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. Credit: London Institute for Contemporary Christianity

With 2024 being reported as the hottest year on record, there’s a question that might be playing on your mind: can planet earth be saved?

Addressing this topic, the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity has recently published an essay Jesus Died to Save the Planet (2024) by Paul Kunert. But the title of this essay makes an assertion that some Christians might find problematic: that Jesus’ salvation is relevant for our planet too.

The Apostle Paul wrote, ‘if you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.’ (Romans 10:9-10) Isn’t this verse about people, moral agents who can make rational choices, and not about trees, bees or rivers?

Paul Kunert takes on the challenge of directly addressing the separation Christians have made (because of distorted theology, it should be added) between God’s love, care and provision for salvation for human beings and God’s love, care and destiny for his creation.

‘Isn’t salvation about people and not about trees, bees or rivers?’

Jesus Died to Save the Planet is available in print, as a PDF, and to read online. Check out this brilliant resource and supporting ideas for your church.

Get resource

The word that Paul Kunert repeats often throughout the essay is ‘purpose’. Purpose is about the original intention and reason for which something is done or created. What was God’s original purpose for creating human beings as part of the whole of creation? How we answer this question will determine if we agree with Paul Kunert that Jesus died to save the planet.

For the Apostle Paul, the answer is found in Colossians 1:19-20: ‘For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Jesus, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.’ From the very beginning, God's intention was to be close to his people and to make his home with his people in the New Creation. (Revelation 21:3)

But this vision of the future is a far cry from where we are in the present. As humanity, particularly in historically high-emitting countries, we seem to be careering into a disastrous and destructive breakdown of ecosystems. We seem bent on turning our planet into a dead wasteland.

Ultimately, the root cause of the problem is human sin. We have wilfully rebelled against God’s good purposes for his creation and deceived ourselves into playing the role of ‘god’ over creation. Creation is groaning because of our broken relationship with our planet. As Paul Kunert notes in his essay, ‘we have put corporate, individual, and national self-interest above the good of the earth and our neighbour. Self ahead of God’s glory.’

‘God’s purpose is not to discard this broken and marred creation but to redeem and renew it.’

But there is no planet B we can relocate to. God’s purpose is not to discard this broken and marred creation but to redeem and renew it. And that is why he sent his only begotten Son into this world.

So the scope of the Gospel includes every aspect of God’s creation and God’s people are the bearers of this good news in word and deed. We are called to be people of hope even when everything we see happening to the environment makes us feel hopeless. Our hope is in the God who is making all things new.

And so caring for creation is also a concrete way to demonstrate our love for our neighbours living in poverty and experiencing the worst consequences of climate breakdown. For Christians living in an economically privileged country, we are able to do certain things to address the climate crisis like raising awareness and advocating for policy changes that will benefit our global neighbours.

Paul’s essay, with clarity and urgency, helps us to understand that caring for creation is not just an added extra thing for some Christians. It is fundamental to the mission of the church and the calling of the whole church.

Indeed, Jesus died to save us from sin and judgement, and included in this great salvation is the restoration and transformation of our groaning planet.

Written by

Written by  Philip Powell

Philip Powell is a Theology and Network Engagement Manager at Tearfund.

Jesus Died to Save the Planet is available in print, as a PDF, and to read online. Check out this brilliant resource and supporting ideas for your church.

Get resource

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