God Unchanging Knowing God Chapter 7 The Immutability of God Hebrews 6: 17,18 kjv.

God UnchangingGod UnchangingKnowing God Chapter 7Knowing God Chapter 7

The Immutability of GodThe Immutability of God

Hebrews 6: 17,18 kjvHebrews 6: 17,18 kjv

30 years ago 198230 years ago 1982

““You’ve come a long way baby!”You’ve come a long way baby!”

World lives for new things.World lives for new things.

Cars, clothes, entertainment,Cars, clothes, entertainment,

food, vacations, weekends,food, vacations, weekends,

friends, husbands, wivesfriends, husbands, wives

children, grand-children.children, grand-children.

And Christians live for heaven.And Christians live for heaven.

Without change life is boring.Without change life is boring.

But:But:

What if something is What if something is perfect.perfect.

Mt. 5:48 Your Heavenly Mt. 5:48 Your Heavenly Father is Father is Perfect.Perfect.

What effect has change on What effect has change on perfection?perfection?

In What ways does God Not In What ways does God Not change?change?

1. In His Life1. In His Life

2. His Character2. His Character

3. His Truth3. His Truth

4. His Ways4. His Ways

5. His Purposes5. His Purposes

6. His Son6. His Son

1. God’s Life does not change.1. God’s Life does not change.

Psalm 102: 26, 27Psalm 102: 26, 27

““Even they (heaven and earth) Even they (heaven and earth) will perish, but You will perish, but You endure….But You are the endure….But You are the same”same”

Eternity…Immutability.Eternity…Immutability.

A child asks, “Who made God?” A child asks, “Who made God?”

Your answer is:Your answer is:

2. God’s Character does not 2. God’s Character does not change.change. All His attributes remain constant.All His attributes remain constant.

Exo. 3: 14 “I am who I am.”Exo. 3: 14 “I am who I am.”

A Declaration of : His self-A Declaration of : His self-existence.existence.

His eternal changelessness.His eternal changelessness.

Has life in Himself.Has life in Himself.

What He is now, He is What He is now, He is eternally.eternally.

Exodus 34: 6, 7 Exodus 34: 6, 7

““The Lord, the compassionate and The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; He punishes guilty unpunished; He punishes the children and their children.”the children and their children.”

3. God’s Truth does not change.3. God’s Truth does not change.““All flesh is as grass…The grass All flesh is as grass…The grass withers….but the word of our God will withers….but the word of our God will stand forever.” Isaiah 40: 6 – stand forever.” Isaiah 40: 6 –

88

““Your word, O Lord is eternal; it stands Your word, O Lord is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens…all your commands firm in the heavens…all your commands are true….You established them to last are true….You established them to last forever.” Ps.119:89, 151-forever.” Ps.119:89, 151-

152.152.

“ “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Heaven and earth will pass away, but my Words shall not pass away.” Mt. 24: 35 Words shall not pass away.” Mt. 24: 35

4. God’s ways toward sinners do not change. 4. God’s ways toward sinners do not change.

PBC Statement of FaithPBC Statement of FaithThere are two biblical views of salvation. Both are There are two biblical views of salvation. Both are correct. But both must be viewed as one. Yet the two correct. But both must be viewed as one. Yet the two views cause us tension, because our minds can not views cause us tension, because our minds can not reconcile the two. As such, the true doctrine of reconcile the two. As such, the true doctrine of salvation is a mystery our minds can not fully grasp. salvation is a mystery our minds can not fully grasp.

Isaiah 55:8Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9 Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. 9 "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.thoughts than your thoughts.

The Two ViewsThe Two Views1. The view of God’s Election1. The view of God’s Election

God shows his freedom and lordship by God shows his freedom and lordship by discriminating between sinners, causing discriminating between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it. hear it.

Ephesians 1:4 Ephesians 1:4 just as He just as He chose uschose us in Him in Him before the foundation of the world, that we before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. would be holy and blameless before Him.

Ephesians 2:8Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.yourselves, it is the gift of God.

It is God who has chosen us before creation and It is God who has chosen us before creation and our salvation is all of grace through faith in our salvation is all of grace through faith in Christ. Emphasis is on God’s power of Christ. Emphasis is on God’s power of selecting us long before we were born.selecting us long before we were born.

2. The2. The view of Man’s view of Man’s ResponsibilityResponsibility

Isaiah 55:1-3 Isaiah 55:1-3 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; 2 "Why do you spend money for to the waters; 2 "Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, 3 "Incline your ear and eat what is good, 3 "Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to According to the faithful mercies shown to David.”David.”

Revelation 22:17 Revelation 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.without cost.

2 Peter 3:9 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.perish but for all to come to repentance.

John 3:16 -18 John 3:16 -18 17 "For God did not send the Son 17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes might be saved through Him. 18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God loves all and invites all to come to repentance. God loves all and invites all to come to repentance. Grace is available to all, but they must be willing to Grace is available to all, but they must be willing to come by faith to Christ. Emphasis is on man’s come by faith to Christ. Emphasis is on man’s acceptance of invitation.acceptance of invitation.

What is at stake? Why the What is at stake? Why the tension?tension?Denying either view is to deny the truth Denying either view is to deny the truth of God’s Word (God’s truth is of God’s Word (God’s truth is immutable) because both are strongly immutable) because both are strongly and repetitively taught.and repetitively taught.

To deny God’s election is to deny His To deny God’s election is to deny His Sovereignty. (God forbid!)Sovereignty. (God forbid!)

But to deny Man’s responsibility makes But to deny Man’s responsibility makes God responsible for man’s eternal God responsible for man’s eternal punishment. punishment.

(God forbid!)(God forbid!)

The effect of His graceThe effect of His grace

1. 1. Causes some to hearCauses some to hear

Matthew 13:11 Matthew 13:11 Jesus answered them, Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. but to them it has not been granted. 1616 "But blessed are your eyes, because "But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they they see; and your ears, because they hear.”hear.”

2. Others who resist His grace hear not.2. Others who resist His grace hear not. Matthew 13:15 Matthew 13:15 FOR THE HEART OF FOR THE HEART OF

THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES, OTHERWISEOTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND THEIR EYES, HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'

Romans 1:18 Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who and unrighteousness of men who suppress suppress the truththe truth in unrighteousness, in unrighteousness,

His grace moves some who hear His grace moves some who hear to salvation.to salvation.

Ephesians 2:8Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace…” “For by grace…”

Matthew 13:23 Matthew 13:23 "And the one on whom "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."some sixty, and some thirty."

Others who hear are unwilling to Others who hear are unwilling to believe.believe. Mt. 13:19-22Mt. 13:19-22

Matthew 23:37 Matthew 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.unwilling.

Acts 7:51 Acts 7:51 "You men who are stiff-necked and "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resistingresisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.as your fathers did.

Teaching his saints: Teaching his saints:

1. God has no obligation and no desire to 1. God has no obligation and no desire to force against the will, salvation on anyone. force against the will, salvation on anyone.

A. If obligated, all would be saved.A. If obligated, all would be saved.

Matthew 7:14Matthew 7:14 "For the gate is small and the "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”few who find it.”

B. No desire to force against will.B. No desire to force against will.

Christ and church=picture of Christ and church=picture of marriagemarriage

Ephesians 5:32 “Ephesians 5:32 “This mystery is great; but This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”and the church.”

2. But those who 2. But those who resistresist His grace and are His grace and are unwilling unwilling to believe are to believe are responsibleresponsible for their for their eternal damnation. eternal damnation.

Genesis 4:6 Genesis 4:6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not your fallen? 7 "If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you is for you, but you must master it."must master it."

Romans 2:5Romans 2:5 “But because of your “But because of your stubbornness stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are and unrepentant heart you are storing up storing up wrathwrath for yourself in the day of for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God”of God”

Mt: 23: 37 “ Jerusalem,. .…and you were Mt: 23: 37 “ Jerusalem,. .…and you were unwillingunwilling.”.”

The two wills:The two wills:The believers say to Christ, The believers say to Christ, “Your will “Your will

be done.”be done.” And are brought to heaven And are brought to heaven as His bride.as His bride.

Christ says to the unbelievers, Christ says to the unbelievers, “Your will be done.” And are carried to hell. And are carried to hell.

No one is in eternal hell without just No one is in eternal hell without just cause. God is perfect in His cause. God is perfect in His compassion and justice.compassion and justice.

5. God’s 5. God’s PurposesPurposes do not change. do not change.

Purposes=plans and promisesPurposes=plans and promises

God’s purposes are made on basis of God’s purposes are made on basis of complete knowledge extending to all complete knowledge extending to all things, past, present and future.things, past, present and future.

How do we explain: How do we explain:

God repenting. God “changes His God repenting. God “changes His mind.” 5 O.T. texts where it speaks of mind.” 5 O.T. texts where it speaks of God repenting in which he reverses a God repenting in which he reverses a way he was treating a particular way he was treating a particular people. Each incident was foreseen people. Each incident was foreseen and was used to fulfill his eternal and was used to fulfill his eternal plan. plan.

6. God’s Son does not change.6. God’s Son does not change.

Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.yesterday and today and forever.

Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also Heb 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession always lives to make intercession for them.for them.

Why is it a new ChristianWhy is it a new Christian::

serious about knowing God, serious about knowing God, is often discouraged by a is often discouraged by a sense of remoteness when he sense of remoteness when he begins reading the Bible?begins reading the Bible?

What must he understand to What must he understand to overcome this?overcome this?