If God never changes why is there such a big difference between the God in the old testament and the God in the new testament.
The God in the old testament is Jealous and vengeful, yet the God in the new testament is like ok maybe i can attract more flies with honey.
2007-05-25 17:13:54 · 32 answers · asked by Cat's Eye Angie 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most early Christians thought they were two different deities.
Modern Christians have regressed.
2007-05-25 17:30:53 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
There really isn't. I will tell you why I say that.
The God of the Old Testament rewarded those who trusted Him. The God of the New Testament rewarded those who trusted Him.
The God of the Old Testament condemned doubt. And that was Sodom's real sin. Not what Christians are commonly going on about. And the God of the New Testament also condemned doubt.
So they are the same.
What God changed was to way to come to God. It was actually that way before, just less pronounced until Jesus came.
So God didn't change, what He did was clairify the truth, that man is incapable of living by a standard or rules to get to Him. So He through Jesus Christ revealed His plan for how mankind is to be saved.
2007-05-25 17:39:20 · answer #2 · answered by Christian Sinner 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a great question and one that requires a much longer answer than I'm willing to give, or probably for you to read. Basically, He didn't change at all. You're probably pointing at the biggest question - why does He insist on so many ruthless battles, right? From what I understand of God, His goal is to reach as many people as possible so that they can come to repentance and let God pay the price for their sins (2Peter 3:9). The problem was nobody really believed in Him over any other god so He needed to show His power and might in a way that they could understand. Keep in mind how ruthless and war-ready groups were back then.
I think it broke God's heart for it to play out like that. In fact, I'm pretty sure it hurt like hell because of how much He loves. But I know God didn't want any more in this world to have to pay their own price and I don't completely understand why I couldn't play out differently. Of course, I haven't existed from the dawn of time either...
Anyway, the short of it is - the goal was not to "smite 'em all!" but rather to reveal Himself to the other nations so that they might know and believe and not have to pay their own price for sin.
Open Isaiah sometime and check out how mad God gets when the Israelites stop helping the needy and start trampling all over people. He's always been fiercely concerned for those in need, a theme notably carried over into the NT. (Side note, Isaiah is the most frequently quoted book by Jesus and the authors of the NT.)
2007-05-25 17:52:05 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are starting to notice. Something is different.
If God does not change, then what did? It is the same God from a different perspective, maybe?
Your own perspective must change before you can see the matter from mine.
If I brought with me a million people and told you I can show you where a treasure is buried, and it is all yours, would you be a fool for not asking where it is? How about if I gave you a map? What if those people began to relate to you that I am telling the truth and that they have claimed their own? Suppose I supplied all the tools needed to dig it up? Would you walk away and dismiss me as a fool under those circumstances?
I can tell you for a certainty that if I ever went to that much trouble on your behalf and you repaid my efforts with scorn, I would think again before repeating the offer. No amount of scorn would change the validity of the offer to the next person in line. Does that mean I have become a different person?
2007-05-25 17:42:00 · answer #4 · answered by sympleesymple 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercy and grace did not come into the picture until the New testament...and all because of Jesus Christ. It was not strange in the old testament for the Lord to kill people instantly for their sins. But He never did so without the people having foreknowledge of God's ways. The Lord is actually more merciful today than in the old testament for the mere fact that America and all people in it are still standing when the vast majority maliciously offends Him every time they open their mouths!
2007-05-25 17:28:30 · answer #5 · answered by HeVn Bd 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Even in the old testament we see Him extending grace and mercy..He spared lot, He spared Hezekiah, etc. The difference between the OT and the NT is that the OT contains the promises of God and the NT contains the fulfillment of those promises beginning with the ministry of Jesus, His resurrection, and the birth of the Church. So, it is not that God changed, we changed and He used different techniques to get our attention.
2007-05-25 17:28:50 · answer #6 · answered by Wisdom 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
God never changes.
Sin changed the world, and God changed it back.
The difference between the old testament times and the new, is the sacrificial and atoning work ... on behalf of sinful humanity ... of the only begotten son of God ... who is Jesus Christ, the Lord.
2007-05-25 18:00:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The God in the New Testament is the same as the OT, he is just giving ppl grace right now until Judgement.
2007-05-25 17:28:33 · answer #8 · answered by wisdom 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Answer? God doesn't change in either testament. And...He still hasn't changed 2000 years later after sending His Son Jesus into the world. Since Jesus is what distinguishes the "old" from the "new" testament, that's probably why you notice a "difference" in God's character. God didn't want to kill people for their sins and mistakes any longer, so that's why He offered to kill his own Son Jesus in our place...so we would stand no longer condemned. Jesus took all the guilt...all the bagage off of our shoulders to give us a new life, hense a "new testament". All Chrisitans are part of a "living" new testament today. Hope that helps! :)
2007-05-25 17:19:49 · answer #9 · answered by Joshua R 2 · 4⤊ 2⤋
He's the same in both. The God of the OT is just as kind and just to people as He is in the NT. He does not change.
The flies are the very ones He's not trying to attract. They have their, um, special place in life that seems to attract their kind.
2007-05-25 17:35:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He's the same God. Even after the fall, God granted mercy on Adam & Eve. However, the NT has lots of fulfillment and God's only begotten son, Jesus came to be the final sacrifice for sins.
2007-05-25 17:31:49 · answer #11 · answered by **Matt** 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋