Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Reading the Bible - Part 4 by Ps Michael Podhaczky


Continuing regarding the issue of reading the Bible being boring or hard work. It was also pointed out that over the next few blogs, we will look at a few reasons why this might be so. Then we would look at some possible things to experiment with that might help in the area.



One last reason that we will look at here is that the God of the Old Testament is so angry, not like in the New Testament. As a result, many only read the New Testament. But is this the case? It has rightly been said that,

“(1) There is love in the Old Testament, Ex 34:6-7; (2) There is judgement in the New Testament, the cross, and the book of Revelation etc.; (3) the main difference is a difference between judgment within history and judgement at the end of history… Both of the Testaments reveal a God of love who is also a God of Justice.”[1]



If we read the whole of the Bible with these three points in mind, then we are more likely to see one God, who is the same at all times. He does not act on a whim or is mushy with His love, or explosive in anger with His justice. Instead, God is the same in both Testaments. He is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who is the same. He does not change yesterday, today, or even tomorrow, He’s continuously and absolutely Himself. Therefore, if we are more open to seeing the God of the Old Testament as the God of the New Testament and vice versa, then we maybe be more at ease with Him.

Pause in His presence for a moment and think this over…



[1] Kaiser Jr. Kaiser. et al. Hard Sayings of the Bible. (Downer Grove, IL: IVP, 1996), 44, 47.

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