When witnessing to someone how do you answer a question about all the preceived evils in the Old Testament. The God of wrath so to speak ?
How do you answer someone....
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by RightFromWrong, Sep 13, 2005.
Page 1 of 2
-
-
First, find out what the truth is behind those "perceived" evils---then just simply tell the truth about the perceived evils!! Its that simple!
-
Just point out that the evils that befall nations and men are according to their iniquities and that deliverance is not and never has been according to their righteousness neither individually nor collectively.
May God Bless,
Bro. Dallas Eaton -
Circuitrider <img src=/circuitrider2.JPG>Site Supporter
A key fact in witnessing is to remember that these kinds of questions are often sidetracks to the main goal of getting the gospel out. Sometimes we just need to put off the question by saying, when we get done then we can look at that issue. Then you can go on with your presentation of the gospel. If they were to get saved, then the question may not be important or even need to be answered at that time.
As to the actual answer to that question it all goes back to sin, the fall of Satan, the fall of man and the sin-blighted creation. Paul says its groans and travails like a woman in birth awaiting redemption. Come, Lord Jesus! -
-
Thanks all
It does seem that God was a God of wrath in the Old Testament and a God of Grace in the New. Ok for me personally, what is peoples understanding of this ? -
My understanding is that God was a God of wrath and Grace in both the Old and New Testaments.
Joseph Botwinick -
yes, God is the same in both. The OT is a broad look of God's working with man over a period of at least a couple thousand years. The NT is a view of God's working in individual lives and through the Individual, Jesus Christ.
-
Would cleansing in the OT have to do with anything? Thats the only thing I can think of. God choose Israel to be his people. And he was trying to keep them clean and dependant on him, as an example of Gods Character and grace.
-
Joseph Botwinick -
Well I'm not quite sure but when you read the old testament God is always dealing with the Jews either to get them right with him ( seems even today ) or to use them as an example for the gentiles. In Duet. it says that kids would be stoned to death for disobeying their parents. To me that means that was done to STOP any more disobedence and hurting the name of their God. Jehovah. There are also many examples of Gods Grace in the old like Hosea and Gomer. There were so many wars also ( this is where I think people have trouble ) To me that would be again to keep his people PURE from other nations. Whenever God distroyed something even in the Flood was for starting over for PURITY.
Does any of this make sense ? I have to admit this is all comming off the top of my head this wasn't planned. -
God's "LAW" requires him to "EXECUTE JUDGEMENT" against all unrighteousness, and he is a "RIGHTEOUS JUDGE", who "UP HOLDS" the "LAW" to the "Letter",
if people don't want to suffer God's wrath, let them become "Children of God", then they don't have to worry. -
WOW, I think you folks have made improvement sense yesterday
-
Most modern Americans want to divorce the God of the OT from the Jesus of the NT. Why? Because they perceive the OT as "judgment" and the NT as "loving".
It is an escape mechanism for themselves, so they will not see themselves as sinners and therefore NOT going to face such terrible wrath or judgment (ie, expulsion from Eden, Flood, Babel, captivity).
The best thing to do ihmo is to take them to Romans 1:14ff. Start with the "no difference" between the Jews (OT) and the Gentiles (NT) and then start down the list.
By the time one reaches 3:9 it is horrible. ALL men deserve the wrath of God. And as God showed mercy in the OT (to Israel and others) so He shows mercy today to His children.
Gotta work hard, I've found, to knock that "bad God" v "good God" dichotomy from their minds. It is 100% humanism and (typically) an affront to God. -
dichoyomy????
-
Dichotomy. Means a division or separation, from the Greek "two-parts".
Some try to divide Jesus up in a false dichotomy of man or God. -
God showed mercy after mercy to His Israelites, by not destroying them all.....ever.....even after all their disobedience....just like in the New Testament, God is showing the whole human race mercy even after all of OUR disobedience.
-
thanks i got it
-
-
Some people seem like closet Marcionites on this matter.
Page 1 of 2