This coming Sunday (20 Jan) we will begin a new Sunday School class at Grace Church (one of three adult classes). The class I am co-teaching with two colleagues is "Atonement through the Scriptures". It begins, logically with G^d's atonement in Gen. Chapter 3, and continues right through to Revelation. One of the MANY points of the series is the consistency of G^d in atoning for man's sins and restoring of relationship with Him.
In thinking about this, it strikes me that some, otherwise knowledgeable folks, believe that G^d in the Old Testament (I prefer to call it the Foundational Testament--they are both pretty old) was an "angry smiting G^d", whereas in the New Testament (I call the Christian Testament, since it is almost 2000 years old) G^d is a "loving, forgiving G^d".
What??? The UNCHANGEABLE, the ETERNAL, the PERFECT G^d would "change". I put that last word in quotes because it is unthinkable. In Genesis 3, we read where G^d slew animals to make clothing to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve, which only became a problem after their sin. Blood is shed to atone for their fall. In Genesis 22, G^d tells Abram to slay his only true heir, Isaac, but then provides a blood sacrifice in Isaac's place. And over and over, right up until the sacrifice of the Christ, the Messiah, for our salvation--i.e. our atonement.
No, G^d didn't change, and indeed cannot change. Christ was crucified BEFORE the foundation of the world, as noted previously in this blog. And, THANKS be to G^d, that He does NOT change! Hebrews 13:8 tells us, that, "Jesus (G^d) is the same yesterday, today and forever!"
Well, that is talking about Jesus, not G^d the Father., you might object, but there are plenty of verses that say the same about the Father. Ps 55:19, for example, says, "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God." And, James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
So, the same G^d who atoned for our sin in the Foundaitonal Testament, does it over and over, and also in the Christian Testament. And, there is a continuous need, for I am a continual sinner.
Thanks be to the gracious, merciful G^d who does not change! Amen!
In thinking about this, it strikes me that some, otherwise knowledgeable folks, believe that G^d in the Old Testament (I prefer to call it the Foundational Testament--they are both pretty old) was an "angry smiting G^d", whereas in the New Testament (I call the Christian Testament, since it is almost 2000 years old) G^d is a "loving, forgiving G^d".
What??? The UNCHANGEABLE, the ETERNAL, the PERFECT G^d would "change". I put that last word in quotes because it is unthinkable. In Genesis 3, we read where G^d slew animals to make clothing to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve, which only became a problem after their sin. Blood is shed to atone for their fall. In Genesis 22, G^d tells Abram to slay his only true heir, Isaac, but then provides a blood sacrifice in Isaac's place. And over and over, right up until the sacrifice of the Christ, the Messiah, for our salvation--i.e. our atonement.
No, G^d didn't change, and indeed cannot change. Christ was crucified BEFORE the foundation of the world, as noted previously in this blog. And, THANKS be to G^d, that He does NOT change! Hebrews 13:8 tells us, that, "Jesus (G^d) is the same yesterday, today and forever!"
Well, that is talking about Jesus, not G^d the Father., you might object, but there are plenty of verses that say the same about the Father. Ps 55:19, for example, says, "God, who is enthroned from of old, who does not change— he will hear them and humble them, because they have no fear of God." And, James 1:17 says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
So, the same G^d who atoned for our sin in the Foundaitonal Testament, does it over and over, and also in the Christian Testament. And, there is a continuous need, for I am a continual sinner.
Thanks be to the gracious, merciful G^d who does not change! Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment