www.bible.com/1713/1jn.4.7.csb
The darkness of the Old Testament judgment is countered by the grace and truth that comes through Jesus Christ. The Old Testament was Law. The New Testament is mercy. Jesus is the emphasis of both.
It may be hard to see how love is from God when we say that God is the same in the Old and New Testament. It seems God is very harsh with the sinners in the Old Testament, but very forgiving in the New. To this I would ask, did you read the text? Have you read Daniel, where time after time, God reaches out to Nebuchadnezzar to convince him to repent? Did you read Jonah, where he is sent to a nation of strangers to convince them to change their ways? And God forgave them and did not send His judgment? Did you read of the prophets who went to Israel and Judah to attempt to persuade them away from idols and back their their God? Have you read the Psalms to find one of the most precious words repeated over and over, “Your lovingkindness!”? God expressed His khesed, His lovingkindness to Judah and Israel again and again. God is love, and should you take the time to get to know Him, you will discover this yourself.
Jesus is God’s love, expressed on the cross for all to see, His arms spread wide to show how much He loves. Do you know Him?
Meritt Musings 