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Cross Words: Out with the Old, In with the New?
Many people have the thought that the Old Testament became somewhat irrelevant when the New Testament came into existence.  The Old Testament, it is assumed, speaks of nothing but God’s wrath, punishment, and judgement.  And who needs that when the New Testament ushered in the ministry of Christ along with God’s forgiveness, grace, and mercy?  As the old saying goes, ‘Out with the old, in with the new.’
It’s of course okay to read aloud a few of the more benign Psalms at funerals and such;  maybe even a Proverb in a motivational speech.  But for the most part the Old Testament has been relegated for use in illustrations, not for theology.  Few really want to hear anything seemingly distateful from the throne room of Heaven.  Afterall, didn’t we usher in a new and improved God some 2000 years ago?
The Bible says that God, “is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb. 13:8).  In other words, what He has been like before, He is like today. And what He is like today, He wiil be like in the future.  Exactly like.  Never to change.
While God’s anger and wrath are apparent in the Old Testament, His love and forgiveness always follows close behind. The Israelites (God’s chosen people) were allowed to be taken over by the Assyrians, Babylonians, etc. because of their sinfulness.  Yet God always came to their rescue when they would simply admit their wrongdoing and turn back to Him.
God’s grace and love are certainly front and center within the New Testament.  Yet God’s judgement rears its unpleasant head when sin begins to reign among men; even within God’s own people (the church).  Passages in Acts, 2 Thessalonians, as well as the majority of the book of Revelation, just to name a few, underscore this fact.
Bottom line?  The Old and New Testament weave together the perfect picture of God in His fullness;  One who will reign down His wrath in order to show His distaste for sin, as well as One who will lay down His own life in order for sinners to be saved.  Same God.  Same plan.  Always has been.  Always will be.

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