Do we have a totally loving God, or a vengeful angry God like the OT? Or a bit of both?

Answer 1

Both.

Under God's law, anyone who sins is liable to die.

Anyone who sins also declares themselves a follower of Satan and an enemy of God, and deserving of God's righteous anger (wrath) and just punishment (judgment).

That was the vengeful, angry part.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by him.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law:
Gal 4:5 That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God.

That was the loving part.

Since, in Old Testament times, Christ hadn't come yet, all those o.t. guys had was the wrath, and the o.t. scriptures reflect that fact.

Fortunately for us today, Jesus has already come, and God's grace and love now trumps his wrath ... if we choose to believe in his son, Jesus.

Answer 2

I hesitate to answer any questions in this category because everyone is so hostile, but I will take a risk and tell you what I think: In the OT God is angry and takes vengeance because he has made an agreement (covenant) with a group of people who continually fail to be faithful to it and to him. He has made this covenant out of a desire to be close to people and be known by them, and he experiences constant rejection. Through christ, a different kind of agreement is made, which is that people no longer have to try and fail on their own to live up to an agreement with God, because Christ has opened up a way for them to come close to him even in their imperfection. So, in the end, I would propose that the love and "vengeance" as it is perceived are not mutually exclusive; but I would also not represent God as seen in the OT as just angry. In many of the books of the prophets such as Jeremiah in particular, you can get a sense of a God who basically wants the best for people and seeks a relationship with them.

Answer 3

Whenever God takes action against mankind, people always say that He is cruel and vengeful instead remembering the reasons why He is doing so. Mankind always blame God for the badness we create for ourselves, especially if He does nothing to fix those problems. And at the same time mankind desires to live by their own rules and ignore God.....until they need Him

Answer 4

GOD has been a loving GOD since the beginning of time.

Think about what the differences are between then and now. They were speaking to GOD directly(Israelites). They saw, first hand, the miracles of GOD!!! So, why did GOD treat them harshly? If you witnessed wonderous miracles, wouldn't it change your life? Wouldn't it change the way you think? The Israelites were a very hard-headed group. They cried about every little thing. Their hearts were hard.

Today, GOD does not communicate to us with HIS full presence. HE speaks to us in a very soft voice.

Why the change? That question I cannot fully answer at this time.

Pray for the answer to come. I hope you find what you are looking for.

Answer 5

I believe that God is a loving God, as he gave His Son to take our place. We have the opportunity through Christ to have free access to God the Father and to have as close of a relationship as we want.

However, God does not wink at sin but will deal with us in regards to this. I use to believe that if God was coming to town in the O.T way then I was going to be a spot on the floor.

But I found out that as a loving Father, he deals with us in a loving nature to draw us back into His fellowship.

Answer 6

He is the same Yesterday today and forever! He's the God of the Old testament too.

Did you ever read about Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts? Jesus came to fulfill the law and the Prophets not do away with them!

Answer 7

God has many characteristics. God is loving, caring, merciful, graceful, forgiving, understanding, jealous, angry, vengeful God. He has all of these characteristics just as most of us do.

Answer 8

I believe in the God is the big kid with a huge ant farm that he loves to shake up like it's an Etch-a-Sketch every now and then. Not good, nor bad, just bored. We're entertainment, people!!!

Answer 9

It depends on which God you choose to believe in. I prefer the cool God who doesn't have a cow if I forget to say grace before a meal.

Answer 10

the word "God" labels a concept that can not be conceived. there is no definitive description of "God". a self honest human recognizing his position in the universe and his limitations therein knows he can not know. but for the humans that can not endure the uncertainty of mystery, whose sense of self is fragile and whose ego is correspondingly large, God is precisely what they believe It to be. humans create deities to represent their concept of "God" and human deities are inevitably human-like. "God" is a projection of the human psyche so of course "God" thinks, acts and has emotions like a human.


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