Accra, Ghana – March 30, 2025 – Renowned theologian and leader of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC), Pastor Mensa Otabil, has emphasized that the New Testament does not contradict the Old Testament, stating that both originate from God and are not in conflict.
Speaking during his sermon series “Jesus (12): Grace and Truth” at ICGC Christ Temple East in Teshie-Accra, Pastor Otabil clarified the meaning of John 1:17, which states, “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
He refuted the notion that this verse implies a contrast between the law and grace as if one is superior to the other. “John chapter 1 verse 17 is not creating a contrast in the sense as if one is good and the other is bad. It’s not as if the law is bad and grace and truth is good. No, it’s just telling us factually the law was given by Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ,” he explained.
Pastor Otabil stressed that both the law and grace originated from God, not from opposing sources. “Neither did one come from the devil and the other from God. The law came from God. Grace and truth came from God. Both originated from God,” he stated.
He also addressed misconceptions regarding Jesus’ teachings on the law, pointing out that Christ never opposed the law itself but rather the misinterpretations and traditions built around it. “By the time Jesus comes on the scene, the Jews are not even reading the law. They are only reading interpretations of the law. The traditions built around the law. And that’s what Jesus criticised. But Jesus had full respect and honour for the law. He actually said he came to fulfil it and not to destroy it,” he noted.
Pastor Otabil reaffirmed that the Old and New Testaments are not enemies but part of God’s divine revelation. “Sometimes you hear people preach and they give the impression as if the New Testament is antagonistic to the Old Testament. But they both originate from God. The New Testament is from God. The Old Testament is from God. They are not enemies,” he emphasized.
His sermon provided a theological foundation for understanding the unity of Scripture and dispelling misconceptions about the relationship between the Old and New Testaments.
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The law shows us our need of the grace and truth we need to find in Jesus. We’re justified through faith in Him alone, not by attempting to keep the law.
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