It seems to me some people, who call themselves Christians, all but disown the God of the Old Testament. Is that a good idea?
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The God found in the OT is the same God of the N T.
To try to distinguish or separate Him is spiritual schizophrenia.
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Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. - Hebrews 13:8
The God who gave the Law on Mount Sinai is the same God who raised Jesus from the dead.
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He is the same God. He can and will do the same things; however, NOW we have the blood of Christ and the grace to cover our sins. Make no mistake about it. Look around. America today is in decline and is becoming more and more like Sodom. We know what happened there.
Peter
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The differentiation is often made by people who do not understand and want to define God not in terms of the selfless love of the bible, but in terms of the emotionally self-stimulating sensations they call “love” and is closer to auto-eroticism. It is sad, but it is just the opposite of God as it is the elevation of self.
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I have to smile at your wordplay about “Christians,” but no, Christians who actually study the Scriptures do not disown the God of the Old Testament, the יהוה (YHWH) revealed in the Torah, the Nevi’im, and the Ketuvim, whom Scripture identifies as “יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל” (YHWH Elohei Yisrael), the same covenant God who declares, “אֲנִי יְהוָה לֹא שָׁנִיתִי” (“I am YHWH, I change not,” Malachi 3:6), and whose identity, character, and redemptive purpose remain continuous from Genesis through the prophets and into the New Testament.
- Who is the only God?
- Who is the only immutable Creator and Sustainer of all things?
- Who is the only Savior that can save us from sins?
- Who is the only One that is exalted above all creation as the Most High?
- Who is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, and the First and the Last?
- Who do we call on, pray to, and invoke?
- At Whose Name will every knee bow and every tongue acknowledge?
Ol’ Sam Shamoun.
J.
We actually have a few articles that speak to this exact question! I’ll link them here:
Is God More Violent in the Old Testament Than the New?
Is God the Same in the Old and New Testaments?
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God is the same. My God who showed himself as God back then, shows himself to be God now. But with Jesus Christ came grace and truth, John 1”17. From, the beginning man decided to be their own God. This is what we see with Adam and Eve. They determined their possibilities based on their capabilities and yet not acknowledging where their capabilities even came from. When they saw that they were limited and needed help, what did they do? They looked to false gods. But God showed himself to be the one true living God. BANG! “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me…”, Isaiah 45:5. He showed that he is mightier than all, that he is the Almighty, Genesis 17:1. He chose a people to be God to and others saw how God blessed those that belonged to him and cursed with defeat all those that came against his people. And to those that were his, he showed them his ways and taught them how to be blessed and remain blessed and what would happen if they disobeyed. Curse (Death). God was merciful then and is merciful now. He made a way for man to be blessed then and he has made a way for man be blessed now. Yet, for them then, being blessed was temporary. For us who is of Him, we are blessed forever. God was good then. He is good now. I am not sure how we Christians see God any different today in your opinion. Sin was present then and God dealt with man because of it. Sin is present now and Christ Jesus came and made a way that man can be with the Father again. He paid the wages of all sin with his life, yielding it to death. Therefore, have grace and truth.
I view Sin as a person, who own a property and every time you step foot on that property, you owe Sin wages and the wage that you owe is death. That is what Sin requires. Well, what if you reside on that property that belongs to Sin? That is where the people of (not in, but of) the world resides. It is in a state called Sin and that state remains as long as the world remains. Therefore, death is constant because sin is constant. You are birthed in sin. It is not because the body of man does the sin acts. That is a result. Man having sinful thoughts, is a result. The spirit of man is dead, and will remain in the state of sin until it is born again by the spirit of God, when they believe in the one that has paid for the penalty of Sin, Christ Jesus.
In the spirit realm there is a knowing. Within the spirit realm there is a knowing. When Adam sinned, that that was of God, which is the spirit of man, disconnected with God. In this, death came. The spirit of man died, meaning separated from, or dead to God. It was no longer connected to the source of life Remember, Jesus said in John 6:63, “…the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life”. Whenever God spoke, speaks, will speak, it is his Word that goes forth. It is his Spirit (his power) that manifests his Word in this world. We, having the same Spirit of God, which has made our spirit alive again, having therefore the ability to speak and give life. Don’t sell yourself short. It is so and evident in the word of God. So, man no longer believed or trusted God to be God and decide for him, but had made himself his own god, to make his own decisions contrary to the Father. And just as a child who thinks to do the same in this world, is put out. So was Adam put out of Eden, from the presence of God.
There goes the Super! What’s left? Oh, the natural.
Man, therefore looked to the soul for guidance. As we all know, the soul is not stabled. What a person does now depends on how we feel, the thoughts we are having, what we understand verses what we don’t understand. There simply a lack in our knowing. Therefore, we suffer. But here is the kicker. Even with what little we do know and understand, we still choose not to make the better choice, 
. And why do we do this? Well, when you are in Christ, Jesus is Lord. Because he is your Lord, there should be a desire to want to do his will or a desire to want to want to do his will. While the flesh, that old man, screams out for us to yield to do its deeds, our spirit man, the new man desires for the soul to do the deeds of the spirit.
I believe that a person can have two or more desires about a thing (for a thing). But a will, is a thing that has been determined.
Example, Jesus praying to the Father before he was crucified (Matthew 26:39). He, the natural man asked, “if it is possible”, if there be any other way, “let this cup pass from me”. Then he said, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt”. The spirit man responded, not my will but your will (Father) be done. He yielded his will to be that of the Father. A lot of people miss this and simply say that Jesus and the Father had the same will. Yes, because he yielded will to be that of the Father’s. This is also seen when he was led “by the Holy Ghost” to be TEMPTED. Are you stinking kidding me, 
. Two things here gives me goofy vibes. He was tempted, and WHAT…led by the HOLY GHOST! We know that the scripture says that God can not be tempted with evil, James 1:13. But yup, Jesus, the Son of Man was tempted and Jesus, the Son of God responded. Likewise, when we, sons of man are tempted, those of us that are born again sons of God, are to respond by doing God’s will.
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I think it’s just because it was originally mistranslated and sounded more cruel – i stick with the new Testament, because of that. 
I was thinking something like that to. You read the old testament. You see a very different god that is a little different than Christians portray today. He was hard on them jews. To the point they started trying to make there own god. I think they were trying to get away from him honestly. It says somewhere they will be hiding under rocks when he comes down. And how I read it. The scripture was talking about his people. Jesus did not come to bring peace, but a sword. To Turn families against each other. And he stated himself he does things he learned from his father. And what does he do with his successor. Gives him a rod of iron to rule the nations. The way revelations read this over will dash them into pieces. So clearly there is no resemblance. To the god of the old testament.
Exodus 34:6 Then Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed, “Adonai, Adonai, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness and truth, 7 showing mercy to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, yet by no means leaving the guilty unpunished, but bringing the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.
It is interesting that those who denigrate God have no idea of just how much he loves them.
John3:16 “For God So Loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not condemned; but whoever does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not put his trust in the name of the one and only Ben-Elohim.
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JESUS CHRIST: YHWH THE JUDGE HAS COME!!
FURTHER READING
Jesus as the Judge of All the Earth: Additional Evidence from the New Testament for the Deity of Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ – the Divine Judge of All Creation
Jesus as Divine Judge: Rebuttal to the “Do Not Say Trinity” Mohammedans.
J.
If the NT writers believed that Jesus is God we should not be surprised to find them ascribing these very Divine functions to the risen Lord. However, if the NT doesnt teach the full Deity of Jesus then we should not expect them to attribute to Christ the Divine prerogative of judgment since this would be idolatry on the grounds that this would be ascribing to a creature the incommunicable or exclusive characteristics of God. After all, only One who is both omniscient and omnipotent can ever be able to render perfect justice to every creature that has ever lived and will live.
Let us see what the NT books teach regarding this issue.
- Jesus is the Judge of All.
“And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:42
“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31
“in that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” Romans 2:16
“I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:” 2 Timothy 4:1
- Jesus comes to gather his flock and to separate the peoples as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” Matthew 25:31-34, 41, 46
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10
It is interesting to see the way the following passages describe Jesus appearance when he comes to execute judgment:
“This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering-- since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.” Revelation 19:11-16
Jesus will appear in flaming fire and with a sword in his mouth that he uses to strike the nations, which is similar to the way Isaiah 66:15-16 describes Yahwehs appearance when he comes to judge!
- Jesus is omniscient and omnipotent and can therefore render perfect judgment and repay a person according to everything s/he has exactly done.
“For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.” Matthew 16:27
“Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:5
According to Paul, the Lord who is coming to expose the secret purposes of the heart of men is the Lord Jesus:
“so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-8
“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.” 1 Corinthians 16:21-23
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10
Fully agreeing with the Apostle Paul is John the Evangelist since this is what he wrote in his Apocalypse:
J.
There’s more, just ask.
J.
This is true. but how did he get to that point?
Ponder this if he is a true savior. Then if one soul was lost would he not loose the title of righteousness. And his name savior, not be stricken. From record. And to loose a soul while all things are given unto you. From the kingdom to the prison in the earth. All Christians should pray that his titles, and statements are true. But what is he in the end? but a bondservant. A high priest forever. Sounds like a curse to me.
John 6:37–39 (KJV)
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
John 10:27–29 (KJV)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Luke 19:10 (KJV)
For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Isaiah 53:11 (KJV)
He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Hebrews 7:24–25 (KJV)
But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Hebrews 5:5–10 (KJV)
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Philippians 2:6–11 (KJV)
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 8:32–39 (KJV)
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
That is the biblical answer. No additions. No qualifiers. Scripture stands on its own.
J.
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See your tripping. why do you try to lift him up. Does he need it or somthing? And i have found this a concern with many Christians. Faith. To try to prove him is to kill faith. It sounds like desperation. I guess in reality the more you try the harder you fall.
Between you and @bdavidc this was a draining experience for me.
J.
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