Jesus God of the Old Testament
Orientation
Many view the God of the Old Testament as a distant, unknowable judge, which fractures the unity of Scripture and obscures the gospel.
- This creates a false division between the Testaments.
- It treats God's revelation as two separate stories or plans.
- It undermines the foundation of our assurance in Christ.
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am. (John 8:58)
— John 8:58
Clarification
The Old Testament does not reveal a different God, but the same eternal God who is Jesus Christ.
- Theophanies and divine appearances were encounters with the pre-incarnate Christ.
- Messianic prophecies foretold the coming of the Lord Himself.
- This unity is essential, not optional, for understanding the gospel.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son... (Zechariah 12:10)
— Zechariah 12:10
Structure
Biblical logic reveals Christ as the divine Actor from Creation to Consummation, affirming the continuous revelation of His deity.
- Christ is the Creator, present from the beginning (Alpha and Omega).
- He is the God who walked with the patriarchs and led Israel.
- The entire biblical narrative is His unified self-revelation.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)
— Genesis 1:1
Weight-Bearing Prose
The core theological assertion is the continuity of Christ’s deity from the Old Testament to the New. This is not a secondary detail but the foundation of the gospel itself. To separate Jesus from the God of the Old Testament is to sever the root of justification, sonship, and inheritance. The gospel is the story of the same God fulfilling His covenant promises in Christ. Paul’s revelation affirms this unity, showing that our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption are found in the Person who has been God from eternity. Objections that create a fractured revelation ultimately present a Christ who cannot save, as they deny the eternal scope of His work and identity. The scriptural evidence—through typology, prophecy, and direct statement—establishes Jesus as the ‘I AM’ of Exodus, the pierced Lord of Zechariah, and the Creator of Genesis.
Integration
Your assurance is anchored in the fact that the God who saved you is the same God who walked with Abraham and spoke through the prophets. There is no division in His character or plan. Christ is your righteousness, sanctification, and redemption—and He has always been God. This truth is not a challenge to master, but a foundation to rest upon. The unity of Scripture testifies to the faithfulness of the God you trust. Your faith is in the eternal Son, revealed fully in the gospel. There is no pressure to advance in this; it is simply who He is. Let this stabilize your heart: the Jesus who died for you is the God of the Old Testament, and His love for you is as eternal as His nature.