Did God change?
Jun 14, 2010
The Base for Grace - part three in a study of the book of Hebrews
Mike Gaudet
God seems to change in the Bible.
In the first half He seems angry and unforgiving.
In the second half He seems loving and forgiving.
Did God change?
“It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified: ‘What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.’” Hebrews 2:5-8
In the Old Testament of the Bible God’s angels speak for Him.
In the New Testament God’s son speaks for Him.
God didn’t change . . .
His spokespersons did.
God’s angels spoke on His behalf from Mt. Sinai. “The law was put into effect through angels.” Galatians 3:9
The person to whom God gives “His Name” is given the authority to represent Him. “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him.” Exodus 23:20
When God gave angels His name, He gave them the authority to represent Him . . .
. . . for a limited time.
God never intended that angelic representation would be permanent. “It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come.” Angels were given an interim role.
God’s intent has always been that His Name would be taken from angels and given to His Son. “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-11
The cross of Christ represents the dividing point in divine administrations.
Prior to the cross of Christ, angels bore God’s name and were vested with authority to be God’s messengers.
After the cross of Christ, Jesus Christ bears God’s name and is vested with authority to be God’s messenger. “You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.”
What does this mean for us?
We can only see God clearly through Jesus’ eyes.
In the Old Testament we see God reflected through the eyes of God’s angels. They know God as master. This is why their depiction of Him is distant and severe.
In the New Testament, we see God reflected through the eyes of God’s Son. He knows God as Father. This is why His depiction of Him is intimate and familiar.
Jesus Christ accurately and authoritatively reveals God. Angels cannot clearly reveal a God they can only know from a distance.
God is not a hybrid of Mt. Sinai severity and Mt. Calvary kindness.
God is who Jesus says He is.
God is our Father.