 |
The God of the Old Testament wiped out the world with a flood, sent plagues on the Egyptians, and commanded his people to kill the Canaanites. He revealed himself only to the Jews. In the New Testament, we are told that God is a God of love and that his followers were to go into all the world to tell others of his love. How can we say that the God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New Testament?
Two different Gods?
There is a caricature that the God of the Bible in the Old Testament was all law and fury and in the New Testament all gospel and warm fuzzies. As a result, some believe that God has grown softer on sin since Jesus came into the world.
That thought would be a hard sell for some in the New Testament. Try telling Ananias and Sapphira, both of whom fell dead at Peter’s feet for their deception, that God is soft on sin (Acts 5:1-11). Or tell it to King Herod, who was struck down for his pride (Acts 12:21-23). The New Testament gives ample evidence of God’s justice.
Also the Old Testament is not all law and fury. Some of the most beautiful gospel promises come from the Old Testament:
- “I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34).
- “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12).
Simply, we do not see two different Gods in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Our God is just
Our God does not change. James 1:17 says, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
You may be asking, “Then why doesn’t he judge sin today? Isn’t he tolerating sin by not judging it?” The apostle Paul wrote to the congregation at Rome who seemed to have the same question: “Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgement will be revealed” (Romans 2:5). We risk looking at God’s patient grace and confusing it for tolerance. The people in Noah’s day did the same thing when Noah preached for 120 years about an impending flood, but no rain was seen. God is just.
Our God is patient
Then why doesn’t he judge the sinner now in this life? The Bible gives the answer: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Can you see his grace? God is giving us time to repent. God is giving us time to turn away from our sin and turn toward our Savior, Jesus, who loves us and gave his life up for us. God is giving us time to come home.
It is like the father in the parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). Though we have run away, the Father sits on the porch, watching and waiting for us to return. This is the patient love of our loving Father in heaven.
In both the New Testament and the Old Testament, God has always been consistent. God is not soft on sin. He is serious about salvation.
Ask a question at forwardinchrist.net/submit.
- Q&A: Why is Pontius Pilate immortalized in our creeds?
- Q&A: How does remembering my baptism help with the guilt I carry?
- Q&A: Do parts of the Bible teach works righteousness?
- Q&A: How can I overcome my struggle with lust and pornography?
- Q&A: How should I help my child struggling with same-sex attraction?
- Q&A: Should Christians pray to saints?
- Q&A: Is anger sinful?
- Q&A: How can parents encourage adult children who wander from the faith?
- Q&A: Does the doxology belong in the Lord’s Prayer?
- Q&A: Is God fair?
- Q&A: When we pray, “Your kingdom come,” what are we praying for?
- Q&A: How can I better manage what God has given me this year so that I glorify him?
- Q&A: What are ways to glorify God besides singing in church?
- Q&A: I have no special gifts, and I mess up all the time. Does God really need me?
- Q&A: How do I overcome the feeling that my life has no purpose and I don’t make a difference?
- Q&A: My friend died and was not a professing Christian. What do I say to the family?
- Q&A: How can my mother and I forgive my father for being unfaithful and causing my parents to divorce?
- Q&A: Why were demon possession, gifts of healing, and gifts of tongues more prevalent in biblical times?
- Q&A: Is Christianity the only religion that gives the certainty of heaven?
- Q&A: If people go to hell, isn’t it their fault because God gave them free will and they rejected him?
- Q&A: Why are the 40 days between Jesus’ resurrection and his ascension important for the disciples and for us?
- Q&A: Can you explain Jesus’ words to the wailing women he met on his way to be crucified?
- Q&A: What if spouses don’t “love” each other anymore?
- Q&A: Is it wrong to have a cross with Jesus’ body on it?
- Q&A: Is our time of grace really unchangeable?
- Q&A: I know that we are saved by grace apart from works, but how can it be that easy?
- Q&A: Are there degrees of glory in heaven as a reward for good works?
- Q&A: Do Lutherans take the Bible literally and teach millennialism?
- Q&A: Are there different interpretations of the Bible?
- Q&A: How can we be sure the Bible includes what God originally gave us?
- Q&A: Why does it seem like Christianity is so negative?
- Q&A: How can I explain how Jesus’ resurrection is possible and if the Bible is reliable?
- Q&A: Is it okay to live together if we are planning to get married?
- Q&A: How is the Bible God’s Word?
- Q&A: Were we “created to make a difference”?
- Q&A: Am I being judgmental if I point out someone’s sin?
- Q&A: Do I need to read the Bible to have a relationship with God?
- Q&A: Can a Christian vote for a political candidate who supports abortion?
- Q&A: Does God really care?
- Q&A: Does it really matter how God made the world?
- Q&A: Does God send people to hell?
- Q&A: Is death natural?
- Q&A: How can I forgive and forget?
- Q&A: Does God help those who help themselves?
- Q&A: How can we say that the Old Testament God is the same as the New Testament God?
- Q&A: Is Jesus the only way to get to heaven?
- Q&A: Doesn’t God want me to be happy?
- Light for our path: Does God hate us?
- Light for our path: What kind of comfort can you give someone when a loved one commits suicide?
- Light for our path: What does a submissive wife in a Christian marriage look like?
- Light for our path: Is it a sin to want to die from a terminal illness?
- Light for our path: What advice can you give about applauding in church?
- Light for our path: Can you please explain Matthew 5:20?
- Light for our path: What is karma?
- Light for our path: Can the devil personally be tempting me and a lot of other people at exactly the same time?
- Light for our path: Does the word Easter refer to Ishtar, the Babylonian fertility goddess?
- Light for our path: What role does emotion play in contrition?
- Light for our path: What does the white stone in Revelation 2:17 mean?
- Light for our path: Is the cross symbol now anti-Christian?
- Light for our path: Were Joseph and Mary engaged or married when Joseph learned of Mary’s pregnancy?
