Understanding the Unity of God in the Old and New Testaments

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your insightful question regarding the perceived differences between the God of the Old Testament (OT) and the God of the New Testament (NT). Your observation is a common one, but exploring the core of your question reveals a deeper understanding of the consistent and unified nature of God as portrayed throughout the Bible.

The One True God

It is important to understand that in the Christian faith, there is only one God. The Bible consistently affirms this truth. Some scriptures that emphasize this point are:

Malachi 3:6 - 'For I am the Lord, I do not change'

Hebrews 13:8 - 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever'

These verses make it clear that any differences between the God of the OT and the NT are not contradictions, but reflect the unfolding of God's plan throughout history.

Ezekiel and Future Judgment

Ezekiel 18:21 indicates that God's judgment extends to all, including those who disobey Him, and culminates in the final judgment. This is further reflected in the New Testament, where Jesus promises to judge the nations in Matthew 25:31-32.

Revelation of God's Justice and Love

Revelation 20:11 and following verses describe the final judgment where God will separate the righteous from the unrighteous. Both Old and New Testaments emphasize God's justice and His desire for those who stray to repent and turn back to Him:

Ezekiel 18:21 - 'The person who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.'

Matthew 5:44 - 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'

Universal Love and Divine Perfection

The God of the OT, as seen in passages like Ezekiel 36:25-27, is described as the God who unconditionally loves all His creatures, revealing His attributes of truth, beauty, and goodness:

Ezekiel 36:25 - 'I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you. I will remove the heart of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh.'

Jeremiah 31:3 - 'The Lord has appeared to us; the Lord has expanded the border of Jacob. He has given strength to the one who was weak; the Lord will help Jacob.
He will save the land of Israel

These verses highlight the consistency of God's character, even when conveyed in the OT, emphasizing His intention to bring about the fullness of truth, beauty, and goodness in each individual.

Appearing as an "Evil Twin"?

The idea of the God of the OT being an "evil twin" of the God of the NT is a misguided perspective. This notion typically arises from a lack of understanding of the overarching narrative of the Bible, which spans the Old and New Testaments. The apparent shifts in God's personality are not due to a change in His essence, but rather to the purpose of each testament:

In the OT, God's intent was to reveal humanity's inherent sinfulness and the impossibility of living perfectly on one's own without divine intervention. The stories of Joshua 6 and 2 Kings 5, for example, show God's mercy and justice, extended to those who relied on Him.

On the other hand, the primary purpose of the NT is to reveal the way of salvation through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus, who paid the penalty for all sin. Acts 5 provides an example of this, where Ananias and Sapphira were punished for lying about their possessions, and Elymas was blinded for opposing the gospel.

The Differing Purposes of Testaments

The differences between the Old and New Testaments can be explained by the following factors:

Who Paid the Penalty for Sin: In the OT, it was the responsibility of individuals to make amends for their sins. However, in the NT, Jesus Christ, the sinless one, became the perfect sacrifice for all sin, past, present, and future. Through His righteousness, He offers humanity the means to be free from the penalty of sin.

Isaiah 64:6 - "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags before you," which are made clean in Christ.

Promise of Salvation: The OT foretold of a coming Deliverer, while the NT describes the historical fulfillment of that promise in Christ. The conversion of Rahab and the healing of Naaman the Syrian in the OT are examples of divine deliverance and mercy that were fulfilled more fully in the life and work of Jesus in the NT.

Focus on Grace and Faith: The NT emphasizes the grace of God and the necessity of faith in Christ for salvation, whereas the OT required a deep knowledge and love of God to attain righteousness and avoid sin.

In conclusion, the apparent differences between the God of the OT and the God of the NT are not due to an "evil twin" but rather reflect the progressive narrative of redemption. Understanding the unified nature of God's character helps us grasp the depth and breadth of God's plan of salvation.

Thank you for your thoughtful question. I hope this explanation clarifies the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.