Colossians 1.15 says, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.”

I see this as the necessary answer to the question, “What is God like?” God is like Jesus in every way. There is nothing in God that is not like Jesus. Jesus is the exact, perfect image of God… He is God revealed, God in the flesh, God made-known.

We didn’t always know what God was like. We tried our best to explain Him. We attempted to speak on His behalf. But now God has been shown to us.

In the Old Testament, we have God “revealed” through types and symbols and through the words of the prophets… but these are always a step away from the real thing. When Christ came, we see Him for who he is. We hear his words and we see his actions—we observe his ways and his example.

So for me, the record of the Old Testament is inspired… it’s job is to lead us to Jesus. However, I do not see the OT as perfectly representing the nature of God. And this is why Jesus could say, “You have heard it said… but I say unto you…” This is why the Pharisees could say, “Moses says to stone her,” but Jesus said, “Let he who is without sin throw the first stone.”

Theologian Greg Boyd just released a two-volume series on this topic, The Crucifixion of the Warrior God https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1506420753/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1506420753&linkCode=as2&tag=rek0d-20&linkId=ada11ce2f1d4b2acd2c6904a5bcbf52d

And Pastor Brian Zahnd has a forthcoming book on the subject as well, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News https://www.amazon.com/Sinners-Hands-Loving-God-Scandalous/dp/1601429517

You might enjoy the following posts from Brian Zahnd:

God Is Not A Monster https://brianzahnd.com/2015/10/god-is-not-a-monster/

Jesus Trumps Biblicism https://brianzahnd.com/2014/05/jesus-trumps-biblicism-tale-sticks-stones/

On Brian Zahnd’s post God Is Not A Monster, the following comments resonated with me:

Paul Walker (a year ago)
If there something I’ve noticed about ‘monster god theologies’; is that they cannot stare blindingly in the light of the Son…Jesus the Messiah. There MUST be an appeal to the “God behind God”; to the shadow and not the light source. I think this “shadow gazing” can often take the form of flat readings of Scripture that fail to submit to light revealed in Christ. I regrettably see it all the time. It brings a sadness to my soul whenever the shadows rear their ugly heads under the guise of their “ism’s”.
Yet, the moment we begin to read Jesus as the definitive revelation of what God is like, the shadows can scarcely exist. And in this I hope…. that those who are willing to stare into the blinding light of the Son will experience the end to all their shadows & all monsters.

Ryan Flanigan (a year ago)
This reminds me of a beautiful poem recently penned by a retired priest in our parish reflecting on Psalm 2:
(verse 1)
The lordly ones who seem to rule the seen and unseen realm
Hold goodness, truth and beauty as constraints to be erased,
So they, unhindered by any other will, may take the helm
And be the gods of all that they would grow or see abased.
(verse 2)
You, dear Son, were my darling One long before creation.
Through you I made rule and ruler both, stood them in the light.
Your almighty sway is bounded only by your holy mission
To cleanse from sin, give life, and be my image in plain sight.
(verse 3)
Your scepter shall be gentle kindness to the lowly and meek,
But to the loud and proud you dole frustration and defeat.
Your rule shall be invisible, seemingly absent, even weak
Until you come again to place all things at your Father’s feet.