The New Testament could be summarized as “the Gospel of Grace”. What is the Gospel of Grace? It refers to a message in the New Testament that salvation is solely achieved through God’s unmerited favor and grace, it’s freely given through Jesus Christ, meaning that humans cannot earn their way to heaven through good works but must accept God’s gift of salvation by faith alone. Essentially, the “good news” of the gospel is that God loves us despite our flaws and offers forgiveness and eternal life through Jesus’ sacrifice. We could understand this as no matter what I do here on earth, I will be accepted only if I accept Jesus as my savior.
When we compare Old and New Testament on this subject, we see some contradictions and different messages spread across the pages. Somehow the God of the Old Testament is different to the God of the New Testament. We also know that God “is the same yesterday, today and forever.” So what is the truth and what we should focus on?
The main problem I see in Christianity is mistakenly believing that we are under the new covenant that annuls God’s Law and thus people are not reading or focusing on the Old Testament. The main and only focus is New Testament and the teachings of Apostle Paul. If you have seen my previous posts you can see that I am actually against teachings of Apostle Paul and I strongly believe he was a false apostle. If you remove all of the teachings of the Apostle Paul and only leave Old Testament and the gospel of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, now you have a completely different picture of the gospel and salvation. But that could only work for someone who is not deeply attached to the religion and would like to see the true message of God, through Jesus Christ, that God wanted to give us and for us to understand.
In my previous posts I have explained what does it mean to be under the “new covenant”, which essentially means Jesus’ death and resurrection annuls animal sacrifices, not the Law. The Law of Moses is still very much standing strong and is valid and will continue to be in the kingdom of Jesus Christ on earth. That is why we have this big contradiction between the Old Testament and New Testament. Those that reject Old Testament and only treat it as an “old covenant that we don’t have to adhere to”, miss the point of the salvation. To add to the confusion we have Apostle Paul – a false apostle on who’s teachings the New Testament is mainly based on. So what is the real gospel?
Paul’s teaching on salvation
When we look at Paul’s main teachings on salvation, there is a lot of contradiction with the teachings of Jesus on salvation. Paul preached that salvation comes through faith in Christ and the grace of God. He emphasized that salvation is a gift from God and that cannot be earned through good works.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2: 8-9
He was also preaching or encouraging that it doesn’t matter how much we sin, because God’s grace increases:
“Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5: 20-21
Here Paul is wrongly emphasizing that the more we sin, the more grace we receive “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” which is a statement that very much contradicts with the holy nature of God. When we sin, we are separated from God, sin creates invisible to the eye barrier where we have no connection with God. God is holy and God cannot dwell where sin is. Paul is misleading here to not worry about the sin because God is aware we are sinners and He has grace towards us. However God can only show grace through repentance. The awareness of doing something bad and repenting, so turning away from that action, can reconnect us back with God. If grace without repentance was true – then what would be the point of distinguishing what is good and what is bad? What would be the point of the tree of good and evil? How would you even know that you did anything bad if you can’t reference it to any law? In today’s world you know that if you steal from the shop and you get caught, legally you will go to jail and you will have to pay the fine. Why you know that? Because that is the law. If there was no law, after stealing you could say there is no proof that you did anything wrong and no one has any right to take you to jail. Paul’s teachings are lawlessness = without the law. And Jesus warned about this:
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:23
Paul also emphasized that we should boast about our weaknesses because:
“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
How Paul came to that understanding? We see Paul claiming these were actual words of Jesus, but it’s important to see what was said before and after those words for better understanding:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 7-10
How can we be sure, that this was actually Jesus in the spirit? Paul spent three years as he explains “receiving the gospel not according to a man but through the revelation of Jesus Christ”. Essentially he spent time with Jesus in spirit only, because Jesus was resurrected and back with the Father in heaven, so he couldn’t be with him in the flesh. We can assume or hope that it was Jesus, however there is a big chance that it wasn’t actually Jesus but a spirit deceiving Paul.
“But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1: 11-12
Therefore the words about “grace being sufficient” are not actual words of Jesus, but of a spirit. We have to be so careful with spiritual revelations, because no one else experienced of heard those words but Paul. Paul’s authority here is his words and his believe with no actual and tangible proof. This was just a spiritual revelation, just Paul’s thoughts, we have no evidence that this was actually Lord speaking to him or perhaps a demon masquerading himself as an angel of light and saying those words “as Lord”. That is why I can’t take those words as actual Jesus’ words but more of Paul’s imagination. Moreover, this was only Paul’s experience. With spiritual experiences we have to be careful because they are usually very personal. This might have happened to Paul, but that doesn’t mean it will be the same for others. Clamming spiritual experience as tangible proof is very dangerous.
And this is what God warned us about in the book of Deuteronomy:
“You shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice” Deuteronomy 13: 3-4
Jesus’ teaching on salvation
“Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Matthew 19: 16-22
Didn’t Jesus list most of the commandments from the Law of Moses? Yes, because this is what Jesus was preaching about.
“And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” Luke 10: 25-26
Every time someone asked about eternal life Jesus answered to consider the law. Jesus also was preaching repentance and he never used the word “grace” during his ministry. He showed God’s grace through his actions, but he never said: you are saved by grace so rejoice!
Another aspect that Jesus was preaching about was being born again.
“Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” John 3:3
Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3: 4-8
What does being born actually means?
Being “born again” or inner transformation is the transformation of the mind. It’s the process of dying to your old life, realizing that what you have been doing is wrong and not according to the Law of God. Through the word of God you realize that our world, our environment and our lifestyles are not according to God’s standards, regardless of what someone is trying to convince you about. This then leads to repentance, a true shameful realization of wrongdoings and willingness of improvement. Only through repentance and inner circumcision of the heart we can receive the Holy Spirit which is the process of being born again. Then the Holy Spirit will work through us, on our minds and hearts to bring us closer to the standard that God requires.
Many people will argue that we only have to believe in Jesus and we are saved, which we can see in John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. “
However, the danger of separating the scripture and not showing the full context is having understanding outside the context. Let’s have a look what Jesus said after:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3: 16-21
From this passage we see that believing in Jesus is the first step, after that God requires good deeds and not practicing evil, not sinning. And what is sin? Sin is an action, thought, or a feeling that goes against the moral law, otherwise known as the Law of Moses. Therefore it all comes down to the Law and law is the central point of Jesus’ teachings on salvation. Jesus even highlighted that affirming him is not enough to enter the kingdom of God:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7: 21
What is the will of the Father? – the Law of God.
Contrary to Paul, who said that this is the only thing you should do:
“If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9
From this we can clearly see that Paul and Jesus were preaching two different gospels. Paul was preaching salvation as a gift through faith – Jesus was preaching “whoever does the will of the Father”, Paul was preaching the law is finished – Jesus was preaching “what is written in the law”. Paul was preaching just confess Jesus with your words – Jesus was preaching “not everyone who confesses me shall enter the kingdom of heaven’.
Where can we see grace in the Old Testament?
How God’s grace is portrayed in the Old Testament? God’s grace is more of a response, an application of God’s character to anyone who realizes their wrongdoings and repents of their ways. God desires to bring people back into communion with himself, yet God’s holiness cannot simply allow their sin to pass without retribution. For if God would allow our unholy nature, He would be contradicting with His own holy nature. Grace of God is motivated by love and shaped by holiness, which requires punishment and taking accountability of one’s actions. God cannot surpass seriousness of sin by allowing people to remain sinners, therefore He wants to brings sinners back into communion with him. God wants to shape us into the holy vessels he originally created and that requires action, work on yourself, striving for better and humbly accepting punishment. Only in that way we can learn something. If everything is forgiven without any action and any improvement – how can we learn?
“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn. In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem, like the mourning at Hadad Rimmon in the plain of Megiddo”. Zechariah 12: 10-11
Here we can see the grace applied through actual pain and “supplication” – so humbly accepting emotional pain. This is an attempt to bring people emotionally down so that they can see their fault and have appreciation of God’s grace which they don’t deserve. Thus grace in the Old Testament is not freely given but earned through bettering oneself.
I am not trying to paint God as a “bad God”, but I am trying to present more realistic picture of God found in the Old Testament. We are told that God is the same yesterday, today and forever, God is unchangeable, yet presented so differently in the New Testament. I believe people are following a false image of God and therefore abusing grace. Thinking that since grace appeared 96 times in the New Testament and we are being told time and time again that it’s not through the Law but grace, God will forgive all sins without punishment. But then those people will experience a rude awakening if that is not the case. Therefore it is so important to present the real image of God and there is still time to get to know the real God, fix the image of God in our eyes and work on ourselves. There is a reason why “fear of the Lord” is so important in the Bible. We are not here to be served by God and receive anything we want, but to serve God and work on ourselves through the Law.
“Thus says the Lord:
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when I went to give him rest.”
The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.
Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
You shall again be adorned with your tambourines,
And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria;
The planters shall plant and eat them as ordinary food.” Jeremiah 31: 2-5
Jeremiah is talking about times of remnant of the Israel being saved. All those that will survive the wrath of God at the end will be those who have found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This is still to come as we haven’t gone through the wrath of God and the end times just yet.
Grace applied to those who want to better themselves
God’s grace is a response to those who not only repent but also put action towards bettering themselves. It’s a gift but if you continue sinning and just expect to enter the kingdom of God because you believe in Jesus, this is against God’s holy nature. God through pain and hardship wants us to expand our consciousness, learn from it and strive for holiness. We see that the words of Jesus urging people to work on themselves are matching to what the Old Testament was requiring from us, yet Paul’s words are contradicting and presenting God who not only rejects His own Law but also encourages people to disobedience so that He can show His mercy and grace. If that was the case, the world would not improve at all…
By Dagmara Z.