Is God the same in the Old & New Testament?

Is God the same in the

Old & New Testament?

 Looking Deeper

 Looking Deeper Is God the same in the Old and New Testament?

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hat’s going on with God in the Old Testament? He’s so angry and violent.

If he’s not flooding the earth then he’s blowing up entire civilisations or telling His people to invade enemy cities and ‘[kill] every living thing . . . men and women, young and old’1. He seems brutal and bloodthirsty.

“Yet after about a 400 year break, once the Old Testament has finished, Jesus arrives. And everything feels different. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.’2 What?! Where did that come from? Did God switch personalities?

Or is the New Testament run by a new God entirely?”

Have you ever asked or thought something similar?

After about a

Many of us have at least 400 year break, wondered about why God once the Old appears to think and act differently in the Old and New Testament has Testaments. For some, it may finished, Jesus be a major hang up. Whether you’re a new Christian or arrives. And you’ve trusted Jesus for a everything feels while, it can be hard to digest some of the things God does different. in the Old Testament—and to really believe it’s the same God who then sent Jesus to die for us.

This is a really big topic to explore, and we can’t cover every Bible story and scenario in this short booklet. But we hope that this overview, with a few key examples, will help make a little more sense of the differences between the Old and New Testaments.

1

Joshua 6:21, 2 John 3:16-17

[2] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

The Bible: the one God’s one story

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he Old and New Testaments can read and feel quite differently to each other. Yet they are both telling the same story. The New Testament is not God starting over, but continuing on from the Old—just as He always planned.

Ephesians tells us that it was always God’s plan from “before the creation of the world” to save us through Jesus Christ (1:4). Jesus’ coming was where the world was headed, right from the start. He was the promised “seed” in Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) who would “crush” sin and the devil. And in the beginning of Matthew’s gospel (1:1-17), we see Jesus as the fulfilment The New of a genealogical line that started with Abraham (and Testament God’s promise to bless all is not God nations through him).

Jesus Himself offers starting over, this analysis of the Old but continuing Testament: “These are the very Scriptures that testify on from the about me” (John 5:39). After Old—just as He His resurrection we’re told, “Beginning with Moses always planned. and all the Prophets,

THE BIBLE: THE ONE GOD’S ONE STORY [3]

he explained to [his disciples] what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The Old Testament, rather than being the outworking of a different, angry god, was in fact all about preparing God’s people for their coming Saviour! As He said to His followers, “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets The Old and the Psalms” (v.44).

In fact, to those who Testament, rather thought Jesus was bringing than being the something new or different outworking of a to the table, He quite clearly stated: “Do not different, angry think that I have come to abolish the Law or the god, was in Prophets; I have not come fact all about to abolish them but to fulfil preparing God’s them” (Matthew 5:17).

Let’s look at a couple people for their of key themes in the Bible show the same story coming Saviour! that runs throughout.

[4] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

Key themes in the Bible

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he theme of relationship: Jesus tells us that He wants to give us rest (Matthew 11:28) and that God makes His home in those who trust Him (John 14:23).

We become God’s own children when we trust Jesus (John 1:12). The New Testament invites us to have a close, personal, family relationship with the living God. But is God as interested in having this kind of relationship with people in the Old Testament, or is He too busy blowing stuff up?

We don’t have to go far into the Old Testament to see that God has always wanted a close, personal relationship with His people. That’s why he made humanity to be like Him (Genesis 1:26) and to partner with Him in the work of caring for the world (v.28). Before Adam and Eve sinned, He even walked with them day by day in the garden He had created for them.

Beyond this, we see time and time again God getting involved with communities and individuals, caring for each person and meeting their needs. God provided angels to literally grab Lot and his family by the hand to rescue them from Sodom before it was destroyed (Genesis 19).

When Gideon was anxious about marching against the Midianites, God’s reassurance was: “Surely I will be with you” (Judges 6:16). King David was able to say, “He is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I shall not be shaken . . . trust in him at all times, you people” (Psalm 62:6,8).

And we see in Isaiah, when judgement was coming on God’s people, that God’s complaint towards them was this:

KEY THEMES IN THE BIBLE [5]

“These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Isaiah 29:13). The problem was that they didn’t have a real relationship with God; they’d cut Him out.

Jesus did not introduce the idea that God wants a personal relationship—He carried it on from the Old Testament and made it a reality for us.

The theme of faith: Throughout the Bible, God asks for the same thing from each person and community— to turn to Him and to trust Him. When He promised Abraham a son and descendants as numerous as the stars, “[Abraham] believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham took God at His word and trusted Him. We see the same thing from Joshua, who chose to trust everything to God, and challenged the Israelites to do the same (Joshua 24:15); from David who trusted his battles to God (1 Samuel 17:45-46) and knew only God could clean him from his sin (Psalm 51); from Daniel who prayed to God even though it had been made illegal and would land him in the lions’ den (Daniel 6:10-24); and from Esther who trusted her life to God when she knew she needed to speak out for His people, saying, “I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16).

“These [Old Testament people] were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39-40). It’s not that the Old Testament people followed a different God to us, but that He revealed Himself to them in a different way. He spoke [6] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

to them through prophets and kings, and gave them a written word (the Old Testament law) to follow, but “God had planned something better for us” in the New Testament: Jesus, the Word-become-“flesh” (John 1:14).

And just as our salvation comes through trusting Him, theirs also came through “faith . . . so that only together with us would they be made perfect”.

Peter explains that the Old Testament prophets were “searching intently and with the greatest care” (v.10) for how and when God was going to provide salvation for the whole world (past, present and future). The Old Testament characters trusted God to rescue them through a coming Saviour. We trust God to save us through Jesus, because we now have the full story and know exactly how He achieved our rescue.

This statement from Ephesians stands true throughout the Bible and history: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (2:8-9). The point is that God wants from us what He has always wanted from each person since the beginning: trust and dependence, knowing that full payment for all sin would be made in His Son (Hebrews 9:26).

The theme of sacrifice: Reading through just the first few chapters of Leviticus, we see God’s people needed to make burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, trespass offerings, etc. So what’s going on here? Did God just like death and covering the altar with blood in the Old Testament?

There is much to be explored and unpacked in the Old Testament Law, including the sacrifices. But for now we can turn to the Bible to sum it up for us: the laws of

KEY THEMES IN THE BIBLE [7]

the Old Testament were “a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ” (Colossians 2:17). The sacrifices are part of this “shadow”, or picture, of what Jesus would do.

The sacrifices give us a glimpse of what it costs for sinful, broken people to have peace with the almighty, holy God. The sacrificed animals show the cost of sin, and the brutal way that sin has to be dealt with: “The one who sins is the one who will die” (Ezekiel 18:20). The penalty for sin has always been death. The animals symbolically took the place of sinful people, bearing the consequences of their actions.

We might say, “But that’s just another example of how bloodthirsty God is in the Old Testament!” In fact, God’s stance towards sin has always been (and will always be) the same: it cannot be ignored. Sin is all about how our lives fall short of God’s ways—both through our selfishness and our lack of love towards Him. Romans says “no one is good” (3:10-20) and our sin must be dealt with.

The sacrifices in the Old Testament were an illustration for the people then, and for us, because “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). Which brings us to the New Testament sacrifice—which this time does not involve animals.

Jesus Christ died on the cross as the fulfilment of all the Old Testament sacrifices promised: Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. —Hebrews 9:27-28 [8] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

In the way God views and judges sin, both halves of the Bible tell just one story. The New Testament also spills blood to pay for sin—but this time it is the blood of God Himself, the only sacrifice that could truly take away the sins of the world for good. He paid for all our failings, and the failings of those in the Old Testament, who made sacrifices trusting that God would provide forgiveness as He promised.

One question we may have at this point is, “Why did it take God so long to send Jesus to pay for sin?

There is so much judgement, sacrifice and slaughter in the Old Testament—why did He wait so long to send the answer?”

While it’s hard to say exactly why Jesus came at the precise moment that He did, the Bible assures us: “When the set time had fully come, God sent his Son” (Galatians 4:4). God’s timing was planned and perfect. As hard as it is to read in places, the Old Testament’s full collection of stories, laws and prophecies allow us to see quite clearly how much we need a Saviour and are unable to follow God’s ways on our own.

Also, in arriving when He did, Jesus’ life, death and resurrection took place during the Roman Empire. This global empire allowed more accessible travel to more of the world, and a commonality of language. In essence, it helped pave the way for sending the gospel message to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)!

One thing is for certain, Jesus didn’t arrive late. God has always been in control. From the very beginning, He was heading to the precise and planned moment that Jesus would rescue us.

KEY THEMES IN THE BIBLE [9]

What about God’s judgement?

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lthough the Old Testament comes across as more violent than the New, God’s judgement is consistent throughout. It’s not that God’s judgement got watered down by the time Jesus arrived. Actually, Jesus came so that God’s judgement could be directed onto Him on the cross—and away from us.

Genesis 19 is a good example of God’s Old Testament judgement. God destroyed Sodom and everyone who lived within that great city. “The Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous’” (18:20). They had Jesus came completely cut God out of their way of life, and in doing so that God’s so had become accepting of judgement (and involved in) terrible and uncontrolled behaviour (see could be 19:5). Yet God was prepared directed onto to save any “righteous” people within the city—and Him on the even the whole city if a cross—and righteous (God-centred) community could be found away from us. there (see 18:26 and 19:15-22).

[10] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

God’s judgement and destruction of Sodom was not the action of a reactive, impulsive god. It was the total removal of sin, as He has promised to do since it first entered the world.

We see the same thing in Jesus’ death on the cross where the full payment for sin was made. Although we are more used to this story it is no less brutal, as Jesus was heavily beaten, scourged and mocked before being nailed to the cross to die slowly of asphyxiation. Sin is not something that can be swept under the carpet or pushed away, it must be utterly destroyed because it is so dangerous and damaging to our relationship with God. That’s why Sodom had to be destroyed. That’s why Jesus had to die in such a destructive way: Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. —Isaiah 53:4-5 Perhaps we would still ask, “But why would a loving God tell His people to completely exterminate enemy nations in the Old Testament, including the young and old?” We see this when the Israelites entered into the Promised Land, and then wiped out Jericho (Joshua 6). It’s a hard question to answer—too hard to answer fully here. But there are a couple of things we can bear in mind that may help. Firstly, the Canaanite inhabitants were not innocent. They needed to be removed from the land so their influence would not

WHAT ABOUT GOD’S JUDGEMENT? [11]

turn God’s people away from Him (Leviticus 18:24-25).

God’s Also, those who turned to judgement, God were not killed. Rahab and her family were rescued because although they recognised the God of acted out in a Israel was “God in heaven” (Joshua 2:11). They had the same different way, warning and exposure to God is no different as everyone else in that city. All had the chance to ask for God’s in the Old mercy. God does not just smash Testament to civilisations out of existence without first knowing each the New. individual, and saving all who cry out to Him. God’s judgement, although acted out in a different way, is no different in the Old Testament to the New. Israel, with God as their King, were given specific commands at specific times to carry out His judgement to remove the rule of sin from around them. In the New Testament, that judgement is carried out on Jesus to remove the rule of sin from all of us. Throughout the Bible the same God judges for the same reasons: to remove whatever opposes Him and to protect His people.

[12] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

What about God’s mercy?

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ust as we might feel the Old Testament is filled with judgement and destruction, so we can think it lacks the mercy that God shows in the New Testament. Whilst it may be true that God’s mercy is emphasised more in the New Testament, that does not mean it is lacking in the Whilst it may Old. God has always been be true that merciful.

A great example is King God’s mercy David. He surely deserved is emphasised destructive judgement—he slept with another man’s more in the New wife, and then had that man Testament, that killed to cover his tracks.

Thinking he’d got away with does not mean it, he got on with his life it is lacking (see 2 Samuel 11). That is, until God sent Nathan to confront in the Old. him, at which point David said, “I have sinned against the Lord” (12:13). Yet to this Nathan replied, “The Lord has taken away your sin. You are not going to die” (v.13). There were terrible consequences to David’s actions (vv.11,14), but God showed David mercy. Why? Because of the same reason we are shown mercy: David repented. He admitted his wrongs and took

WHAT ABOUT GOD’S MERCY? [13]

responsibility for them, and could only turn to God for God has what would happen next always been a (which included trusting God through the painful God of mercy, consequences of his sin). reserving Was David any more deserving of mercy than the judgement people of Sodom? No. But they only for those received judgement because they had absolutely no who stubbornly intention of returning to God. refuse to turn The violent people of Nineveh were in exactly the same to Him for position (see Jonah 1:2), but salvation. again, because they listened to the warnings of Jonah and turned back to God, they also received mercy.

God has always been a God of mercy, reserving judgement only for those who stubbornly refuse to turn to Him for salvation.

[14] IS GOD THE SAME IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT?

Jesus: Saviour or Judge?

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uthor and pastor John Piper once said, “There is a lot of death and killing and the earth swallowing up families in the Old Testament; and you don’t read much of that in the New Testament, except for in Revelation.”3 He goes on to say that the Old Testament looks bleak compared to the three years of Jesus’ ministry— which is intentional. Jesus shows us God’s love and welcome for us, and that He is the only way to experience it. Piper describes us as living in a “window of mercy” right now (before the horrific judgements of Revelation come into effect) where we can come into the safety of Jesus.

Revelation reads more like the Old Testament because God is the same throughout the Bible. His judgement towards sin and those who refuse Him must be total.

Revelation tells us, “Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire” (20:15). Whether it’s in the Old Testament, on the cross or in Revelation, God’s judgement is hard to read about—but that doesn’t mean we should try to blame it on some other god.

When we struggle with reconciling the God of the Old Testament and the God of the New, we’re really struggling with the idea that a God who judges can also be a God who loves. If we struggle to believe a loving God could really destroy sinners, we need to have our eyes opened to who Jesus truly is. We are given this sobering description of Jesus on the day of judgement:

JESUS: SAVIOUR OR JUDGE? [15]

His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron sceptre.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. —Revelation 19:12-15 The truth is that Jesus is returning to judge the living and the dead. The destruction of everything and everyone who cuts God out will be brutal and final, even more so than in the Old Testament. Whether anyone meets Jesus as this terrifying judge or as a loving, compassionate and secure Saviour is up to each person to decide.

This understanding of God’s judgement shouldn’t make us anxious or fearful. As Christians, His love and care for us is never in question and there is no judgement left to face. We can have wonderful peace and security in knowing that this great, mighty judge has made us His own children and has taken all the punishment we deserve for us. No one can undo His work and decisions. If the judge says we are without condemnation (Romans 8:1) and that He Himself is preparing us a place in His home (John 14:1-3), then we can be sure we’re safe with Him. God has made us His children and no one can snatch us from His hands (John 10:29). But He is also a good judge who will not allow sin to continue forever. That has always been His story, from Genesis to Revelation.

Why Was God So Harsh in the Old Testament but More Forgiving in the New?, John Piper, desiringgod.org/interviews/why-was-god-so-harsh-in-the-oldtestament-but-more-forgiving-in-the-new 3

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