God's Unchangeableness - NEP Church
GOD...His Attributes & Characteristics 2017 THEOLOGICAL STUDY Rev. Sam Letson, III
LESSON 2
February 2017
God’s Unchangeableness This attribute of God means that He does not change. Often referred to as God’s immutability, this characteristic states that God is unchanging in four important areas: His being, His perfections, His purposes and His promises. The opposite of this characteristic is changeableness; being able to experience or undergo change. Whereas, unchangeableness is an attribute of God, it assuredly is not one of man, for change is a daily experience for us.
Importance At first, this characteristic of God may not seem very important. What is the big deal if God changes or not? To answer this question, ponder for a moment what it would mean if God could change. If God were to change in any way (in any of His being, perfections, purposes or promises), whether large or small, then the change would be either for the better or for the worse. If He changed for the better, that would mean God was not the best possible being when we first came to know and trust Him. He has improved! How could you know if He now was His “best?” He still may have room for improvement (be less than perfect), which is a scary thing to contemplate in one’s God. The scenario is even more dire if God could change for the worse. If this were possible, then what kind of God might He become? Might He, at some point, become partially bad, mixed with good? If this could happen, how do we know just how evil He might eventually be? The idea that God could change leads to terrible consequences. Fortunately, the Bible is clear in stating that God is unchanging: “…the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Because I, Yahweh, have not changed....” Malachi 3:6a
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“...with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.” James 1:17c
Trusting God God’s unchangeableness means that He is totally trustworthy. Since He never changes in His being, what you see today, He always has been and always will be. You can count on each of His characteristics forever. Similarly, because He is unchanging in His perfections, you can trust Him to be true to His own character forever. Since He does not change in His purposes, you can trust that His plans will not change or fail. And finally, because He does not change, His promises will stand forever - not one will ever be broken or withdrawn. You can trust God forever, because He does not change!
Does God Change His Mind? “...by Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17b)
Evidence Old Testament God has existed since long before creation, and He will continue to exist long after creation has passed away. The psalm writer captured this truth: Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. But You are the same, and Your years will never end. (Psalm 102:25-27) The universe does change. But in contrast to creation, God never changes. He is “the same” forever. With respect to God’s purposes, another psalmist wrote: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” (Psalm 33:11) God confirms His own unchangeableness through the prophet Malachi: “Because I, Yahweh, have not changed…” (Malachi 3:6a)
New Testament James, the half-brother of Jesus, also speaks of God’s unchanging nature: “...with Him there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17c) This verse is in relation to God’s good gifts which He sends into our lives. James’ point is that we can count on God’s goodness and good gifts continuing to bless us because God does not change. He always has been the God who blesses His children in great ways, and He will continue to be this way. The unknown writer of Hebrews shared the same truth about God. Remembering that Jesus is God in the flesh, he wrote: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Several other verses support that God’s plans or purposes have existed from before creation, and always will (i.e., Matthew 13:35, 25:34; Ephesians 1:4,11, 3:9; et al). God - as Father, Son or Holy Spirit - does not change in His being, perfections, purposes or promises.
Joy Once God has determined that He will cause something to happen (or bring something about), and once He makes a promise, His plan will occur, and His promise will be fulfilled. As you read Scripture, and all of God’s plans for you and promises to you, knowing they will happen should fill you with Joy!
There are passages in the Bible which seem to show that God may at times change His mind. Is this understanding accurate? Such verses should be understood as expressions of God’s attitude in the situation described. As the details change, God’s attitude also changes; but He does not change. Jonah’s mission to Nineveh is a good example of this. God sees the evil of Nineveh and sends Jonah to pronounce His judgment and their destruction. But the people of Nineveh hear Jonah’s message and repent - they turn to God in great sorrow and weeping. In this instance, the situation has changed. The people have, at least for the moment, turned from their evil ways and have sought God. Since the details of the situation have changed, God changes His attitude. Instead of raining down judgment, the people of Nineveh are spared. Of course, since God knows all things from before creation, He must have known the people of Nineveh would repent before He ever sent Jonah. So, in effect, God’s plan never changed at all. He knew what would happen. His judgment was turned away by the change in the people. But this was God’s plan all along, probably as a lesson to Jonah (and to you and me). God does not change His mind. It may appear that He does at times, but a careful reading of Scripture reveals that this is not the case.
©2017 North East Park Baptist Church, All Rights Reserved. With questions, or for more information, contact: Pastor Sam Letson, III, Lead Pastor, at: [email protected]. To learn more about NEP, visit: nep.church
GOD...His Attributes & Characteristics Rev. Sam Letson, III
LESSON 2 - Message Notes
2017 THEOLOGICAL STUDY February 2017
Message Notes ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind.” Numbers 23:19a
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29
“…[I am] God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: ‘My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.’” Isaiah 46:9c-10
GOD...His Attributes & Characteristics Rev. Sam Letson, III
LESSON 2 - Message Notes
2017 THEOLOGICAL STUDY February 2017
(Message Notes Continued)
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:34
“...for [God] chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:4a
“[Jesus] was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you...” 1 Peter 1:20
“All those who live on the earth will worship Him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.” Revelation 13:8
LESSON 2
February 2017
God’s Unchangeableness This attribute of God means that He does not change. Often referred to as God’s immutability, this characteristic states that God is unchanging in four important areas: His being, His perfections, His purposes and His promises. The opposite of this characteristic is changeableness; being able to experience or undergo change. Whereas, unchangeableness is an attribute of God, it assuredly is not one of man, for change is a daily experience for us.
Importance At first, this characteristic of God may not seem very important. What is the big deal if God changes or not? To answer this question, ponder for a moment what it would mean if God could change. If God were to change in any way (in any of His being, perfections, purposes or promises), whether large or small, then the change would be either for the better or for the worse. If He changed for the better, that would mean God was not the best possible being when we first came to know and trust Him. He has improved! How could you know if He now was His “best?” He still may have room for improvement (be less than perfect), which is a scary thing to contemplate in one’s God. The scenario is even more dire if God could change for the worse. If this were possible, then what kind of God might He become? Might He, at some point, become partially bad, mixed with good? If this could happen, how do we know just how evil He might eventually be? The idea that God could change leads to terrible consequences. Fortunately, the Bible is clear in stating that God is unchanging: “…the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
“Because I, Yahweh, have not changed....” Malachi 3:6a
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“...with Him there is no variation or shadow cast by turning.” James 1:17c
Trusting God God’s unchangeableness means that He is totally trustworthy. Since He never changes in His being, what you see today, He always has been and always will be. You can count on each of His characteristics forever. Similarly, because He is unchanging in His perfections, you can trust Him to be true to His own character forever. Since He does not change in His purposes, you can trust that His plans will not change or fail. And finally, because He does not change, His promises will stand forever - not one will ever be broken or withdrawn. You can trust God forever, because He does not change!
Does God Change His Mind? “...by Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17b)
Evidence Old Testament God has existed since long before creation, and He will continue to exist long after creation has passed away. The psalm writer captured this truth: Long ago You established the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; all of them will wear out like clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will pass away. But You are the same, and Your years will never end. (Psalm 102:25-27) The universe does change. But in contrast to creation, God never changes. He is “the same” forever. With respect to God’s purposes, another psalmist wrote: “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart from generation to generation.” (Psalm 33:11) God confirms His own unchangeableness through the prophet Malachi: “Because I, Yahweh, have not changed…” (Malachi 3:6a)
New Testament James, the half-brother of Jesus, also speaks of God’s unchanging nature: “...with Him there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (James 1:17c) This verse is in relation to God’s good gifts which He sends into our lives. James’ point is that we can count on God’s goodness and good gifts continuing to bless us because God does not change. He always has been the God who blesses His children in great ways, and He will continue to be this way. The unknown writer of Hebrews shared the same truth about God. Remembering that Jesus is God in the flesh, he wrote: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8) Several other verses support that God’s plans or purposes have existed from before creation, and always will (i.e., Matthew 13:35, 25:34; Ephesians 1:4,11, 3:9; et al). God - as Father, Son or Holy Spirit - does not change in His being, perfections, purposes or promises.
Joy Once God has determined that He will cause something to happen (or bring something about), and once He makes a promise, His plan will occur, and His promise will be fulfilled. As you read Scripture, and all of God’s plans for you and promises to you, knowing they will happen should fill you with Joy!
There are passages in the Bible which seem to show that God may at times change His mind. Is this understanding accurate? Such verses should be understood as expressions of God’s attitude in the situation described. As the details change, God’s attitude also changes; but He does not change. Jonah’s mission to Nineveh is a good example of this. God sees the evil of Nineveh and sends Jonah to pronounce His judgment and their destruction. But the people of Nineveh hear Jonah’s message and repent - they turn to God in great sorrow and weeping. In this instance, the situation has changed. The people have, at least for the moment, turned from their evil ways and have sought God. Since the details of the situation have changed, God changes His attitude. Instead of raining down judgment, the people of Nineveh are spared. Of course, since God knows all things from before creation, He must have known the people of Nineveh would repent before He ever sent Jonah. So, in effect, God’s plan never changed at all. He knew what would happen. His judgment was turned away by the change in the people. But this was God’s plan all along, probably as a lesson to Jonah (and to you and me). God does not change His mind. It may appear that He does at times, but a careful reading of Scripture reveals that this is not the case.
©2017 North East Park Baptist Church, All Rights Reserved. With questions, or for more information, contact: Pastor Sam Letson, III, Lead Pastor, at: [email protected]. To learn more about NEP, visit: nep.church
GOD...His Attributes & Characteristics Rev. Sam Letson, III
LESSON 2 - Message Notes
2017 THEOLOGICAL STUDY February 2017
Message Notes ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“God is not a man who lies, or a son of man who changes His mind.” Numbers 23:19a
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind.” 1 Samuel 15:29
“…[I am] God, and no one is like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: ‘My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.’” Isaiah 46:9c-10
GOD...His Attributes & Characteristics Rev. Sam Letson, III
LESSON 2 - Message Notes
2017 THEOLOGICAL STUDY February 2017
(Message Notes Continued)
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:34
“...for [God] chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.” Ephesians 1:4a
“[Jesus] was destined before the foundation of the world, but was revealed at the end of the times for you...” 1 Peter 1:20
“All those who live on the earth will worship Him, everyone whose name was not written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slaughtered.” Revelation 13:8
