Does Gods One Answer differ between the Old and New Testaments? Or what God said in the Old Testament go all the way through the New Testament? Does God change His mind or is He a covenantal God?
The Testaments
God is self-existent with no need of any other. He chose to create man in His own image, Genesis 1:27 and gave man a free will. Then He entered into a contractual relationship with him. God foreknew that man would fail, but He made the Way, John 14:6, for sinful man to be redeemed through the death and resurrection of the Son, Jesus Christ.
Many say the Old Testament was all about the law and only the New Testament speaks about grace. That is not true. Gods One Answer is that His unmerited favour, known as grace, is seen from the Garden of Eden through to Revelation.
God is a covenantal God and the same God who spoke in the Old Testament, spoke in the New Testament and still speaks today. His eternal plan was formed in the distant eternity past, for the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the earth, Revelation 13:8. Our names were written in the Book of Life in the eternal past, Revelation 17:8.
Gods One Answer is Covenantal Relationship
God’s One Answer was revealed through His legally binding covenants. Covenants which established a personal relationship between two parties.
The covenants were sealed with binding promises which defined obligations and commitments on both parties. They revealed God’s legal commitment, and the benefits we receive through grace.
Foundational Covenant
The foundational covenant began with the slaying of an innocent animal, or was it two? God clothed the sinners with garments of skin, Genesis 3:21. This revealed that sin can only be covered by the shedding of blood, Hebrews 9:22.
God established the system of sacrifice. Through it He revealed His plan of forgiveness. Plus the avenue of adoption into the Kingdom of God and His family. All this was fulfilled in the New Testament covenant established through Christ at Calvary.
The Lord told Eve about childbearing pain and the family structure. Adam was condemned to exhausting labour in order to make a living. God also revealed the inevitability of death as the result of sin, Genesis 3:16-19, for the wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. The enmity between Satan and all mankind and the result of Calvary with Satan’s downfall was also prophesied, Genesis 3:14. Man would no longer be self-dependent, but totally dependent on God’s grace and favour.
Old Testament Covenants
A little more of God’s One eternal plan was revealed in each of the seven Old Testament covenants. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter, Proverbs 24:2.
The Old Testament covenants culminated in the New Covenant through Christ. Understanding the seven Old Testament Covenants is vital to understanding the 8th Covenant and its final and eternal fulfilment in Revelation chapters 19-21.
Covenantal References
The covenants include the Adamic and Edenic, Genesis 1:26-30; 2:16,17; 3:15. Noahic, Genesis 9. Abrahamic, Genesis 12:1-3; 6,7;13:14-17; 15; 17:1-14; 22:15-18. Mosaic, Deuteronomy 11. Davidic, 2 Samuel 7:18-16. Palestinian covenant, Deuteronomy 30:1-10. Some parts were conditional, other parts unconditional and eternal.
The greatest covenant of all being the New Testament covenant, Jeremiah 31:31-34. It was sealed with the sinless blood of the Son of God and the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man, so it was God Himself who paid the price for our redemption. Gods One Answer is and ever only can be Himself, the One who is totally self-sufficient and self-dependent.
The Revelation
God gave the promise of the coming Seed to Abraham. The Redeemer who would make atonement for the entire human race. Moses was given the law. He experienced the presence of God dwelling among God’s people.
Noah was shown God’s graciousness. Only eight people were saved and God’s righteous judgement revealed on all who reject Him. David worshipped the Creator and led as a great king under God’s hand. Israel was a great nation proclaiming Gods word to the world. That is a position she will hold again in the millennial reign of Christ.
In New Testament times Paul unpacked all that was achieved at Calvary and the birth of the New Testament church. John was the great revelator of end times, Revelation.
Proof
All this proves several things about God. He does not change with changing circumstances for He knows the end from the beginning, Isaiah 46:10. Nothing takes Him by surprise. The words God speak are eternal and will not return to Him empty without accomplishing what He desires, Isaiah 55:11.
God is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8. He has no beginning nor ending. He dwells outside time, space and matter. This is difficult for the creature to comprehend, for we are bound by time, space and matter. Now we see in a mirror dimly but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known, 1 Corinthians 13:12.
We live by faith, which is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1. Without faith it is impossible to please God. He who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him, Hebrews 11.12.
Gods One Answer
Gods one answer is clear cut and unchangeable. He so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son into the world. Not to condemn the world, but that through Him all might be saved from eternal death, John 3:16.
The tragedy is that many millions of people live and die in total rejection of the One who created them. God, whose name is Jealous, Exodus 34:14, will have no other god before Him. Man was created to worship and fellowship the Creator, who made us for His pleasure, Revelation 4:11.
Some feel that for non-believers to be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity, is not the righteous act of a loving, merciful God. However, God has made it clear, that those who reject Him can never have entry into the presence of God. He is holy and will have no unclean thing in His presence.
Our Choice
The choice is ever ours, for we were gifted with a free will. A free will that God will not override. He will coerce us and call us, yet never go against our free choice.
Jonah experienced this. The sad thing is that the book of Jonah ends with him sitting under a gourd sulking and angry with God. He did not recognize that an entire generation of people had been saved. He did not understand God’s unending love for man.
Gods one answer is, repent and be saved and receive all that God’s undying love has for you.
Dr. Wendy Stenberg-Tendys is a servant of the Lord who enjoys researching Biblical topics and sharing words of encouragement from the Word of God. She asks the hard questions.
Check out our other posts at Whispering Encouragement. We are here to inform and encourage. Subscribe for free so you can keep up to date with what interests you.
________________________Whispering Encouragement_______________________
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.