From ancient times God has revealed Himself to man, yet man has not perceived God's true nature. Until Jesus Christ was born into the world, man's only knowledge of God came from the Old Testament prophets and God's creations viewable in nature.
Today, a born-again believer receives revelation about God and His true nature through God's Word (i.e., the Bible) as revealed by the Holy Spirit. This is where many see contradiction between messages of warning, judgment and wrath as promulgated by the Old Testament prophets and writers, and messages of love, patience and kindness as promulgated by Jesus.
How do we make sense of this? First, we must understand that we are currently under a New Covenant which was initiated by Jesus Christ by His death on the cross. The prior Old Covenant was based on the Mosaic law (i.e. the law and commandments given by God to Moses on Mt. Sinai) and was ineffective for attaining salvation. The only purpose of the Old Covenant law was to reveal sin and to show that one needs a savior. Thus, the New Covenant allows one to be saved by having faith in Jesus, who died to take away the sins of all men for all time. Our own "good works" cannot save us. Only faith in the one true Savior and God, Jesus Christ, brings salvation to us. As it is written, "the righteous shall live by faith"!
Regarding God's true nature, God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The punishment and judgments He initiated against individual sinners during Old Testament times is not the way God operates with us today. We are currently in the Age of Grace under the New Testament, initiated by Jesus' death on the cross.
To be just, and God is just, God loves the sinner but He hates sin and must punish it. But, unlike Old Testament times He is not judging individuals for their sin, now. But, those who reject Jesus while living here on earth will be judged and punished upon their death. Until death, one lives under grace from God and sins are not imputed. But, upon death one who has not accepted Jesus as savior will face eternal punishment (lake of fire). It is written that it is appointed for man to die once, then the judgment.
The only way to avoid judgment for one's sins upon death (for without exception, we have all sinned) is to accept God's wonderful free eternal gift, i.e. accept the truth that Jesus suffered and died for YOU and has taken YOUR punishment for YOUR sins that would otherwise be held to your account, payable by you at your death.
How is this salvation possible? Ask God. It's His plan for us. How do we accept Jesus and God's free gift of salvation? Simply call out to Jesus with a true, penitent and believing heart for Him to save you from your sins. He will eagerly welcome you into his Heavenly Kingdom and save you eternally, without exception. Jesus is the ONLY way to be eternally saved. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me."
Trust in Jesus. He loves you and wants you to live with him forever.
2009 - True Believer
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