Lesson 7. God Is Immutable

Transcription

1 Dr.JackL.Arnold EquippingPastorsInternational ThePersonofGod Lesson7 GodIsImmutable Weliveinaworldofconstantchange.Thereseemstobenostabilityorcertaintyabout anything.nationsriseandfall,governmentscometopowerandtumble,thedollarinflatesand deflates,armiesmarchandretreat,healthypeoplebecomesickandonandontheworldgoes. Theonlythingthatiscertaininthislifeisdeath,andmostpeoplementallyescapefromfacing therealityofphysicaldeath.thewholeworldisinfluxandchange.wecryout, Isthere anythingthatisstable,certainandfixedinthisworld?arethereanyanswersforaconstantly changingsociety?wherewillitallend?whatisthepurposeforlivingwhennothingisstable? TheChristianhasananswer.Thereisonlyoneabsoluteinthewholeworldandthatis God.GodistheCreatorandSustaineroftheworld,andapartfromHimtherearenoanswersfor existenceinachangingworld.godistheanswertoamutableworld,forheisimmutable. GOD SIMMUTABILITYDEFINED ByimmutabilitywemeanthatGodisunchangeableandunchanging.Godisperpetually thesame.heissubjecttonochangeinhisbeing,attributesorplan.agodwhocouldsufferthe slightestdegreeofchangeisneitherself existent,self sufficient,noreternal,andso,isnotgod. GodisunchangingorimmutablebecausetheBibledeclaresHimso. Inthebeginningyoulaidthefoundationsoftheearth,andtheheavensarethe workofyourhands.theywillperish,butyouremain;theywillallwearoutlikea garment.likeclothingyouwillchangethemandtheywillbediscarded.butyou remainthesame,andyouryearswillneverend. (Psa.102:25 27) Everygoodandperfectgiftisfromabove,comingdownfromtheFatherofthe heavenlylights,whodoesnotchangelikeshiftingshadows. (James1:17) BecauseGodhasnobeginningorendingHecanknownochange. GOD SIMMUTABILITYANDHISESSENCE GodinHisessence,natureorsubstancedoesnotchange.

2 ItheLord,donotchange... (Mal.3:6) Godneitherevolves,growsorimproves;nordoesHematureordeteriorate.Heneither changesforthebetterortheworse,forheisperfect.allthatgodiswithinhimselfdoesnot change.therefore,god sattributesneverchange.theattributesofgodcannomorechange thandeitycanceasetobe.hispowerstaysinfinitelystrong;hisknowledgestaysinfinitelytrue; Hislovestaysinfinitelyconstant;HisholinessstaysinfinitelypureandHisglorynever diminishes. GOD SIMMUTABILITYANDHISPLAN AnunchangingGodhasanunchangingplanforthisworld.GodisimmutableinHis decreeoreternalcounsel.whatgodhasdecreedfrometernityisunalterable. TheplansoftheLORDstandfirmforever. (Psa.33:11) Mypurposewillstand,andIwilldoallthatIplease. (Isa.46:10) God spurposeneveralters.oneoftwothingsmakesahumanbeingchangehisplans. Thefirstislackofforesighttoanticipateeverything,butGodisomniscient(allknowing)sothis isnoproblemtohim.thesecondthingislackofpowertoexecuteone splans,butthisagainis noproblemtogodbecauseheisomnipotent(allpowerful). GodtellsusthatHiscounselisimmutable.TheauthoroftheBookofHebrews,when referringtothecovenantofgracewhichgodestablishedwithhispeoplebasedonthedeathof Christ,couldspeakofthe unchangingnatureofhispurpose (Heb.6:17).God sunchanging plantosavesinfulmenthroughthepersonandworkofchristisstillinoperationatthisvery moment. AtthispointakeenBiblestudentwouldsay, Butdoesn tthebiblespeakofgod repenting,andthisimpliesthatgoddoeschangehismind? AnditrepentedtheLordthathehadmademanontheearth,anditgrievedhimat hisheart. (Gen.6:6KJV) And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not. (Jonah 3:10 KJV)

3 First,wemustcompareScripturewithScriptureandwhenwedowediscoverthatGod inhisessencedoesnotchangebyrepenting. Godisnotaman,thatheshouldlie,norasonofman,thatheshouldchangehis mind.doeshespeakandthennotact?doeshepromiseandnotfulfill? (Num. 23:19) He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind. (1 Sam. 15:29) Isthis,then,acontradictioninScripture?Absolutelynot,fortheanswerisnotfoundin achanginggod,butinchangingmen.second,whenwespeakofgodrepenting,thisiscalledan anthropomorphism,whichisattributinghumantraitstogodtoexplainhisactions.godoften accommodateshislanguagetoourlimitedcapacities.forinstance,godisspokenofashaving hands,earsandeyes,butweknowheisaspirit.thebiblespeaksofgodaswakingupand sleeping,butweknowthatheneitherslumbersofsleeps.repentanceingodisan anthropomorphism,forinrealitythechangeisnotingod,butinmanandhisrelationtogod. Third,GodalwayscarriesoutHissecretwill,althoughinHisdealingswithmenitappearsthat hechangeshismind;however,inactualitygodisonlycarryingouthishiddenwill.theremay beachangeingod swork,butnothiswill.hemaywillachange,butnotchangehiswill. GodistheEternalNow.WhileweknowthatGodhasaplan,thisshouldnever discourageusfrombelievingthatgodworksnow.wedonotknowhisplan,buthehasgiven suchthingsasfaith,obedience,prayer,thepreachingofthegospelandtheteachingoftheword asmeanstoaccomplishhisends.fromourperspectiveweknowthatgodcananddoesworkin ourexperience,butwealsoknowthathehasaplan.godhasallowedustoknowofhisplanto comfortus,butwemustbelievethatgodcanworknowinourexperience. GOD SIMMUTABILITYANDFALLENMAN SMUTABILITY Everypersonbornintothisworldishumanandcorruptedbysin.Humannessand sinfulnessmakeallmenmutable.theyarefickle,changing,inastateoffluxandunstableas water.menaltertheiropinionswitheverynewwhim.theychangetheirresolutionsatthefirst signofcrisis.theyfluctuateintheirfriendships,fortheyarequicktoloveandquicktohate. Menchangetheircolorsaccordingtotheirenvironment.Theyspeakwithaforkedtongueand theirwordcanneverbefullytrusted.theirthoughtsaredividedaccordingtotheirown prejudicessothatyouneverreallyknowwhattheyarethinking. MenchangebutGoddoesnotchange.TherearechangesineverythingbutGod.Godis andgodhasaplanthatwillnotchange.onlygodcanbetrulytrustedbecauseheisimmutable. Fallenmanisinconstantandcannotbedependedon.Completetrustinmanwillonlyendupin frustrationanddisappointment. Stoptrustinginman... (Isa.2:22) Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. (Psa. 146:3)

4 OnlytrustinanunchangingGodwillstabilizeasinfulmaninhishumanness. ThisiswhattheLordsaid, Cursedistheonewhotrustsinman,whodependson fleshforhisstrengthandwhoseheartturnsawayfromthelord. (Jer.17:5) Remember,Godistheonlyunchangingforceinthisuniverseandthosewhogettoknow HimareanchoredtoaRock. GOD SIMMUTABILITYANDTHESAVED AsChristiansourfaithrunshotandcold.Wefindourselvesonspiritualmountaintops andtheninthevalleys.upanddownwego.sometimesgod sloveisaflameinusand sometimestheembersarebarelylighted.allchristiansattimeshavespiritualfaintingfitsand becomediscouraged,despondentanddepressed.butthanksbetogodthatheisnotlikeus.he isunchangeableandlovesuswithaneternallovebecausewehavetrustedinhisson,jesus Christ.WehavetheunchangingpromisethatGodlovesuswithaneverlastinglove,nomatter whatourspiritualconditionaschristiansmaybe. Ihavelovedyouwithaneverlastinglove... (Jer.31:3) OccasionallyaChristianwillbetemptedbythedeviltodoubthissalvation.However, thechristianknowsthatgodisfaithful. Nevertheless,God ssolidfoundationstandsfirm,sealedwiththisinscription: The Lordknowsthosewhoarehis. (2Tim.2:19) If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Tim. 2:13) GodmustbefaithfultoHispromiseandHewillnevercastusoutofsalvation.The devil stemptationscanneverrobusofoursalvationinchristbecausegodisunchanginginhis promises. AllthattheFathergivesmewillcometome,andwhoevercomestomeIwillnever driveaway. (John6:37)

5 TherewillcomeintoeveryChristian slifetimesofsufferingandcrisis,andhecancling togod sunchangingpromisethatitwillsomehowworktogetherforgood. AndweknowthatinallthingsGodworksforthegoodofthosewholovehim,who havebeencalledaccordingtohispurpose. (Rom.8:28) Thinkofit!Godtakestheconstantlychangingworld,whichisathreattotheunbeliever, andusesitforthebeliever sgood.thosewhohavebeencalledtosalvationaccordingtogod s sovereignpurposeknowthathehassovereigncontroloverallcircumstances.whatacomfort! Whatacomfortitistoknow,also,thatGoddoesnotcompromise.Hedoesnotneedto becoaxedorbribed.goddoesnotchange.inalloureffortstofindgod,topleasehim,to communewithhim,weshouldrememberthatallchangemustbeonourpart.wemustchange toconformtogod swill.hewillneverchangetoconformtoman swill. AnunchangingGodanswerstheprayersofHispeople.Godisnotlikeaman,forHe neveraltersorfluctuates.whenwecometogodinprayer,weknowthathisattitudetowards usisthesamenowasitwasineternitypastandwillbeineternitytocome.incomingtohimin prayer,weneednotwonderwhetherwewillfindhiminareceptivemood.heisalways receptivetoourprayersandwillingtoconsiderthemandanswerthemaccordingtohiswill. BecauseGodisimmutable,weknowHecananddoesanswerprayerwhenweask accordingtohiswill. ThisistheconfidencewehaveinapproachingGod:thatifweaskanything accordingtohiswill,hehearsus. (1John5:14) Wehavebeengiventherighttoaskforanyandallthings,andweknowthatifanyof thesethingsaregod swillweshallhavethem.wehaveagodwhoanswersprayer;therefore, wemustmakeallofourneeds,desiresandwantsknowntohim.letgoddeterminewhetherit ishiswillforyoutohaveyourrequests.yourtaskistobelievegodandmakeyourrequests knowntohim. Someonemaysay, WhatistheuseofprayingtoGodwhenHiswillisalreadyfixed? First,Godhastoldustopray(Luke18:1).SinceHetoldustopray,thenprayerisimportantand wemustpracticeit.second,prayerisameanstobringaboutgod ssovereignends.whenwe praythingshappen;whenwedonotpray,thingsdonothappen.third,prayerdoesnotchange GodorHissecretwill,butitdoeschangethebeliever srelationshiptoandattitudetowardthe planofgod,makinghimwhollydependentupongodforresults.fourth,prayeris acknowledginggod ssovereignruleoverthewillsofmenandhealonemustmovethewillsof meniftheyaretobesaved. Wemustnevercometotheplacewherewethinkourprayersarenothavinganyaffect ongodorareinnowaymovinghimtoaction.aclassicexampleishezekiahwhoprayedfor GodtogranthimalongerlifeafterGodhadpronouncedthathewasgoingtodie,andGod grantedtherequest(2kings20:1 6a).DidGodchangeHisplan?HedidnotchangeHissecret planbutfromhezekiah sstandpointgodwilledachange,forhezekiahbelievedthatgodisthe EternalNow.

6 GOD SIMMUTABILITYANDTHEUNSAVED Forthosewhoareunsaved,whoknownotJesusChristastheirpersonalLordand Savior,theymustrealizethatGodisunchangeable.ThosewhodefyGod,breakHislaws,reject HisSonandhavenoconcernforHisglory,mustnotthinkforamomentthatGodwillhave mercyonthemineternity.godwilljudgethem. ThereforeIwilldealwiththeminanger;Iwillnotlookonthemwithpityorspare them.althoughtheyshoutinmyears,iwillnotlistentothem. (Ezek.8:18) GodisunchanginglyholyandHehatesallsinandsinners.Godhatessineternally,for siniscontrarytohisperfectcharacter.butgodisalsounchangingloveandhelovesallsinners whoareinchrist,forchristisgod sanswertothesinproblem.thosewhodieintheirsins withoutasaviorshallfacethewrathofanunchanginggodineternity. CONCLUSION Godisunchanging.Fromthebeginning,GodhaspromisedintheCovenantofGraceto saveallwhotrustinchristasapersonallordandsavior.godhassaved,issaving,andwill continuetosavemenonlyonthebasisofthedeathandresurrectionofchrist. TheunchangingGodhasmadeanunchangingpromise. WhoeverbelievesintheSonhaseternallife,butwhoeverrejectstheSonwillnot seelife,forgod swrathremainsonhim. (John3:36) GodcannotlieorgobackonHisword.IpleadwithallofyouwhodonotknowChrist trustchristandhaveeternallife!