Introduction Why does God seem so angry and wrathful in the Old Testament and so loving and merciful in the New Testament? Did God change? Did He loosen up from being strict to being more tolerant? The answer is that God did not change at all because God's wrath and judgment on sin is also very apparent in the New Testament. Likewise, His love and mercy are clearly evident in the Old Testament. The following is a sampling of a few biblical passages that testify to the truth of an unchanging God through history. The study is divided into three parts: (1) God's love in the OT, (2) God's judgment in the NT, and (3) God's unchanging nature in the entirety of Scripture. God’s Love in the Old Testament Genesis 1.27-28; 2.7 God created us in His image. He did not have to create us in His image (1.27-28). However, He wanted us to reflect Him because of His love for us. In addition, God also took special concern and methods in creating us, which set us apart from every other created thing (2.7). Exodus 34.6-7 The LORD Himself said that He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and truth. He keeps lovingkindness for thousands, forgives iniquity, transgression, and sin. Even in the fact that God will punish sin in 7b shows that God is looking out for the children of God by warning the fathers to walk uprightly and in holiness. Why would God address this issue? The reason is that this was a real problem: fathers were living such ungodly lives that led to broken lives (e.g. today's abusive homes). Hence, this warning is a severe warning to fathers to live in uprightness or the consequences will come. God is mercifully and compassionately looking out for the human children of wicked fathers. God is saying, think twice before doing something evil that you will severely regret. This is not an unfeeling, wrathful, angry God, rather it is quite the opposite – this is true compassion, mercy, and love. It is the unrighteous, wicked father that is loveless and unfeeling to the lives of those around him. Deut 4.31; 7.9 God is a compassionate God, He will not fail you, nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant which He had made. 1 Corinthians 13 says that love endures, love never fails. (Deut 4.31) God is a faithful God, keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commands. (Deut 7.9) Eze 16.3-14 God reminds His people that they were once Gentiles (v.3). No one cared for Israel in its youth (v.4-5) but rather hated them. God saved His people from death (v.6). God cared for His people, helped them grow healthily, and made a covenant with them (v.7-8). God blessed His people and raised them up to be famous and beautiful (v.9-14). Hosea 11 The heart of God is beautifully depicted in this picture of God’s love for His people. A deep study into Hosea 11 shows a message so moving, so heartfelt, so loving, that you can see that the Gospel of Jesus Christ began from the pages of the Old Testament. Jonah 4.2 Jonah knew that God was a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger, abundant in lovingkindness, one who relents concerning calamity. Therefore, Jonah fled from his duty to warn Nineveh of the coming wrath of God. Jonah desired judgment upon Nineveh, but God desired repentance. Jonah refused to share salvation with the unbelievers, but God desires that even the enemies of God's people receive the saving truth of God's word. Micah 7.18-20 God pardons iniquity, passes over rebellious acts, does not retain His anger forever, He delights in unchanging love. (v.18) He will have compassion despite our failure, He will tread our iniquities under foot, He will cast our sins into the depths of the sea. (v.19) God gives truth and unchanging love to His people in accordance with the covenant that He had made with His people. (v.20) God’s Judgment in the New Testament Mt 5.29-30 Jesus said to tear out that part of you that causes you stumble. If it does not function correctly to glorify God and reflect Him, then it must be judged. Jesus is not saying that we should mutilate our body, but that we should get rid of those parts of our lives that causes to sin (e.g. unrestricted internet access). Mt 7.13-29 The narrow gate and the wide gate. Those who choose the wide gate will be judged. (v.13-14) The good tree and the bad tree. The bad tree which bears bad fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. (v.15-20). Those who practice lawlessness while confessing with their lips “Lord, Lord” will be separated from God because will say to them, “I never knew you.” (v.21-23) Everyone who hears the words of Christ and does not act on them is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. He will fall in times of testing. (v.24-29) Mt 24.25-25.46 Christ will gather the elect to Himself (v.31) in the last days. This means that there are those who are non-elect, these will receive judgment. The coming of the Son of Man will be like the days of Noah – judgment will ensue (v.37-39). There is judgment for the wicked slave that does not do the master’s will (v.48-51). Jn 8.50 Jesus Himself states that God still judges sin. The book of Revelation The book of revelation has a two-fold message concerning the end of all souls: (1) glory for the faithful and (2) judgment on the unbelieving. God’s Unchanging Nature in Scripture Deut 31.6-8; Josh 1.5; Zeph 3.5 God will not fail us nor forsake us. Ps 73.26 God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. God is the psalmist’s full supply for all eternity; there is no changing this truth. Isaiah 46.3-5; 58.11 God sustained His people from their conception and even to their old age He will carry them (46.3-4). God is faithful and never failing no matter how hard the circumstances (58.11). Heb 6.16-17 God’s purpose in unchanging, which He guaranteed with an oath/covenant. It is impossible for God to lie. Heb 13.8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Conclusion It is true that sometimes we see God being wrathful in the Old Testament and loving in the New. But when we see God’s love in the Old Testament and God’s judgment in the New Testament, we see that God is consistent in loving souls and in judging sin throughout the entirety of Scripture. The difference is in HOW God administers justice. In the Old Testament, God judges within history. In the New Testament, God judges at the end of history. A change in the method that God judges is not a change in His nature, who He is. For example, if I say, "I have a blog on xanga" in Korean and then in English, I am not changing in who I am. I don't switch from one person to another when I switch the linguistic method to communicate the same truth. The one truth is communicated in two different ways. How does this help us in daily life? (1) We can have assurance, strength, and encouragement in the eternal hope that God has given us because God does not change, Heb 6.18. (2) This hope is the anchor of our soul. In times of hardship, in times of distress and worries, we know where we need to run to: the unchanging hope of eternal life in Christ. Without this spiritual anchor, our soul will drift to and fro with the waves of life. (3) Christ is our forerunner, our high priest/mediator, he is the unfading guarantee of this hope, cf. Heb 7.22-25. | 
