Do you think the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath, and the God of the New Testament is a God of love?
The truth is that God is the same throughout the entire Bible. His wrath and His love are revealed in both the Old and the New Testaments.
So why, then, did God destroy so many people in the Old Testament? Why did God respond with anger, and sometimes, even command the killing of entire families? Did He change over time? Is He still the same God?
When God’s people would disobey Him and worship false gods, He would punish them. However, He gave them many warnings and opportunities to repent before doing so. When they repented, He would forgive them and bless them. Over and over, the Lord pleaded for people to simply turn back to Him for He delights in showing mercy.
God is a God of justice and judgment. His anger is not an emotional outburst, but rather, a righteous response against sin. He must punish the evildoers and see that justice is carried out.
On the other hand, many people describe Jesus as only a God of love. They paint Him out to be entirely accepting of all people, and tolerant of all sin. Is that an accurate picture of our Savior? In the New Testament, God hasn’t changed, however He has reserved His judgment and wrath until the Tribulation period coming on the earth, and for the Great White Throne Judgment.
He has reserved His judgment because He already poured out His wrath on Jesus on the cross. His anger against sin has been appeased but if someone rejects the provision for their sins, Jesus Christ, then they will have to take the wrath in an eternal hell. Jesus was promised in the Old Testament and fully revealed in the New Testament. That’s why the New Testament provides a greater revelation of God’s love.
A person would be wise to call upon Jesus Christ today and receive Him as their merciful Savior, rather than meet Him on Judgment Day as Almighty God and the Righteous Judge who must sentence them to an eternity in hell.
Bill Wiese is the author of New York Times best selling book, 23 Minutes In Hell, the story of his life-changing visit to hell in 1998. Bill has since authored six additional book titles, and continues to share his experience around the world. He and his wife Annette founded Soul Choice Ministries in late 2006 and have dedicated their lives to reaching the unsaved. For more information about Bill Wiese and Soul Choice Ministries please visit us at: https://soulchoiceministries.org/. You can find more of Bill’s teachings at: https://www.youtube.com/user/BillWieseTV.
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