Wednesday, July 18, 2012

"Old Testament GOD"

I have run into this expression a lot in my life. "He went all Old Testament on X...", or "He's more like the GOD of the Old Testament..." Let's think about this now...

They are one and the same GOD.

HE was just as loving, good, righteous and holy then as HE is now.

Even as HE ejected Adam and Eve from Eden, GOD hinted that HE had a plan for their redemption.(Genesis 3:15) A plan HE had conceived of before they had even sinned. A plan that included HIS beloved SON going to the cross. Seems to me that the love we sing about was there from before the beginning...hmm?

What people get uncomfortable about is how quick GOD acted on sin in the Old Testament.

But even there... let's look at David.

He conspired to murder one of his most faithful men and sleep with that man's wife.(2 Sam 11) Nathan confronted David with his guilt. David confessed his sin and ...was forgiven?(2 Sam 13)

But wait the Old Testament GOD did this?

Yes. HE forgave David. Just like us when we confess our sins in the New Testament era.

Boys and Girls, just because you aren't zapped from on high in the New Testament era immediately when you sin does not mean there are not consequences. They may not be as flashy as the fall of Jericho but they are just as devastating to our faith journeys.

Sin always causes death. (Romans 6:23) Perhaps not literal death(though that too can be a consequence) but death of relationships, opportunities, and our utility to GOD. Moreover it damages a Christian's joy.

Let me hammer this into our heads. The GOD of all creation is unchanging. HE can not tolerate sin because of HIS holiness. There is always a cost when we sin.

GOD's character did not change between Testaments. What has changed is our ability to see more of HIS salvation plan.

To those who think that JESUS will act any different than the FATHER did let me show you a peek from Revelations...

It is JESUS who opens the seals on the scroll for the final judgments on mankind and sin.(Rev 6) And anyone who is not written in the LAMB's Book of Life will be cast into the Lake of Fire.(Rev 20:11-15)

GOD is always willing to forgive but HE always judges sin. Always. HE is a loving GOD but HE is also our Judge and our King. Forget this at your peril.

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