“Why is God so different in the Old Testament than He is in the New Testament?” A question that is asked by many who have the misconception that the God found in the Old Testament is a God of wrath while the New Testament portrays a God of love. At the root of this misconception is a misunderstanding of Scripture and the portrayal of God in both the Old and New Testaments. While the revelations found in actions of God in the Old and New Testaments may seem to contradict each other at face value, this misinterpretation hinders many believers and nonbelievers from seeing that the nature and story of God revealed throughout not only the New Testament but also the Old Testament is ultimately one of redemption. The best place to begin understanding
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The epitome of this would, of course, be His proclamation of love for the world found in John 3. But even before sending Jesus to die on the cross, God exemplified His love for His children in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, God deals with Israel much like a father would with his son or daughter. When Israel began willfully to sin against Him and worship idols, God punished them, but once they repented God would deliver them. This is also shown in Hebrews 12:6 which states that God disciplines those He loves and punishes those He calls son. As our Father, God loves His children, but He also disciplines those who disobey Him. Psalm 145 states that God is righteous and that He exhibits love through His works. Some of these deeds are seen in Psalm 146 which tells of the Lord’s will to feed the hungry, heal the blind, and set prisoners free. Proverbs 8:17 speaks of God’s love for all who love Him and even His willingness to be found by those who seek Him. God’s love and faithfulness are explicitly stated in Exodus 34:6 to Moses and also in Psalm 86:15, both of which speak of His compassion, unfailing love, and faithfulness. God’s love and faithfulness may also be seen in His covenants with His people. Deuteronomy 7:9 states, “He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his …show more content…
In Exodus 12, God established strict guidelines for the Israelites to follow in the ceremony of the Passover. Specifically, there was to be a perfect lamb without spot or blemish which would be eaten and the blood of which would be spread along the doorframe of the Israelites’ houses. Seeing the blood on the doorframes, God would spare the firstborns of those who marked their houses but would bring judgment upon those who did not. In the New Testament, 1 Peter 1 and John 19 establish that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover requirements. He was perfect, without any fault or sin, and was sacrificed to save humanity. Much like the lamb, Jesus was sacrificed and through the shedding of His blood, God “passes over” or forgives the sin of believers. Also similar to that of the lamb, the bread symbolizing the body of Christ was eaten during the last supper which Jesus said He would give to save the
The epitome of this would, of course, be His proclamation of love for the world found in John 3. But even before sending Jesus to die on the cross, God exemplified His love for His children in the Old Testament. Throughout the Old Testament, God deals with Israel much like a father would with his son or daughter. When Israel began willfully to sin against Him and worship idols, God punished them, but once they repented God would deliver them. This is also shown in Hebrews 12:6 which states that God disciplines those He loves and punishes those He calls son. As our Father, God loves His children, but He also disciplines those who disobey Him. Psalm 145 states that God is righteous and that He exhibits love through His works. Some of these deeds are seen in Psalm 146 which tells of the Lord’s will to feed the hungry, heal the blind, and set prisoners free. Proverbs 8:17 speaks of God’s love for all who love Him and even His willingness to be found by those who seek Him. God’s love and faithfulness are explicitly stated in Exodus 34:6 to Moses and also in Psalm 86:15, both of which speak of His compassion, unfailing love, and faithfulness. God’s love and faithfulness may also be seen in His covenants with His people. Deuteronomy 7:9 states, “He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his …show more content…
In Exodus 12, God established strict guidelines for the Israelites to follow in the ceremony of the Passover. Specifically, there was to be a perfect lamb without spot or blemish which would be eaten and the blood of which would be spread along the doorframe of the Israelites’ houses. Seeing the blood on the doorframes, God would spare the firstborns of those who marked their houses but would bring judgment upon those who did not. In the New Testament, 1 Peter 1 and John 19 establish that Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover requirements. He was perfect, without any fault or sin, and was sacrificed to save humanity. Much like the lamb, Jesus was sacrificed and through the shedding of His blood, God “passes over” or forgives the sin of believers. Also similar to that of the lamb, the bread symbolizing the body of Christ was eaten during the last supper which Jesus said He would give to save the