Some Things Never Change
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Intro:
Intro:
Good morning.
I want to start with a two-part sermon today — (We will take a break from our Sunday evening series tonight and cover part 2 this evening).
And this two-part sermon comes from a popular saying - “Some Things Never Change.”
This saying is oftentimes said derogatorily — Perhaps someone gets into trouble and he’s had a history of it and so someone will say, “Some Things Never Change.”
Well, this morning we want to look at this idea from a Biblical standpoint and talk about things that do not change in God’s Word.
And then Lord willing, tonight, we are going to look at some things that MUST change.
(So I hope you’ll join us for that part two this evening at 6 o clock).
But for now, let’s talk about some things that the Bible says do not change.
And first and foremost is …
GOD:
GOD:
Aren’t we glad that we serve a God … that does not change?!
You know, human beings change all the time!
Sometimes human beings change for the better, but more times than not they change for the worse!
We don’t have to worry about that with God!
He’s not “wishy-washy.” He’s not fickle. He’s not flighty.
Malachi 3:6 says ...
“For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
Heb. 13:8 says ...
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
And Heb. 7:24, also speaking of Jesus Christ, says …
But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.
Why is that so important? Why is Jesus Christ’s unchangeable priesthood so important? Because of what that Scripture says next!
Hebrews 7:25-28
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.
Do you see what the Hebrews writer is saying?
He’s saying that Jesus Christ is the PERFECT High Priest, the ONLY capable mediator between God and man, the ONLY One Who could save us!
And aren’t you glad THAT hasn’t changed?!
Think about it from this perspective for a moment:
We have said that God is not fickle, He’s not flighty, He’s not wishy-washy, or however else you want to say that …
And that’s a good thing!
Would YOU want as your everlasting judge someone who changes depending on which way the wind blows?!
Who says one thing and does another?
Or who says one thing on this day, and then a totally different thing the next day?
To the point that you don’t know WHAT he wants?!
Maybe you have been employed by someone like that before — Maybe you felt he was IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE because you just couldn’t understand the expectations!
We don’t have to worry about that when it comes to God … because He does NOT change, and He’s told us exactly what He wants!
So that brings us to the next thing that does not change, and that is …
THE WORD OF GOD:
THE WORD OF GOD:
We’ve established that God does not change, and the logical conclusion that follows is that the WORD of God does not change either!
I was part of a Bible study recently where a lady told me (paraphrasing what she said) that the Word of God has been corrupted through the centuries and that we can’t really trust it, that we need the Holy Spirit to illuminate for us in such a way that that ole’ untrustworthy Word of God (in her mind) can let us know what to do.
Now, I didn’t tell her this, but what she was doing was essentially blaspheming the Word of God!
(Titus 2:5 talks about how Christian women are “to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands”, [now listen!], … “THAT THE WORD OF GOD MAY NOT BE BLASPHEMED!”
And yet, that is exactly what happens when people ignore what the Word of God says!
Or they pick and choose which parts of the Word of God they accept, and which parts they would rather pretend weren’t in there!
BLASPHEMING the Word of God!
Well, as you can imagine, I couldn’t let that go in the Bible study …
I tried to be humble, I DID get pretty passionate, and I simply asked, “Why then does 2 Timothy 3:16-17 say that ‘ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be COMPLETE, thoroughly equipped for every good work’?!”
And further 2 Pet. 1:3 says “as His divine power has given to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
Well, we’re talking about the UNCHANGING Word of God.
But did you know that Paul was dealing with some folks who essentially DID try to change the Word of God?
Gal. 1:6-10
I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.
Jude dealt with it, too!
Jude 3
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Or better translated “once and for all delivered to the saints!”
This phenomenon of people trying to change the Word of God was nothing new, for Jesus Himself said in Mark 7:9-13 ...
He said to them, “All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban”—’ (that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
“Making the Word of God of no effect!”
Some translations have it - “You Nullify the Word of God!” or “You make null and void the Word of God!”
Did the Word of God change?!
NO WAY!
But they treated it as if it had changed!
They changed THEIR understanding of it to fit their own needs and desires!
Something all too common today, as well!
Listen to the following verses about the unchanging Word of God:
Psalm 119:89
Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.”
The Word of God was written for all time, for all eras!
Matt. 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
And it is those Words of Christ by which we will be judged (John 12:48)!
Finally this morning, let’s notice the third thing that does not change …
TRUTH:
TRUTH:
We’ve already established that the Word of God does not change, and what is important to note is that the Word of God is?
(The truth!)
John 17:17
Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Therefore, using the most simple of logic what can we conclude?
Fact one: The Word of God does not change.
Fact two: The Word of God is the truth.
Therefore, fact three: The truth does not change.
Plain and simple!
We live in a post-modern (and sadly) post-Christian society that doesn’t understand this.
That’s why I can say that it is ALWAYS wrong to murder and unborn child, regardless of circumstances.
Circumstances don’t change truth, and two wrongs don’t make a right.
Sex outside of the only God-ordained institution (marriage) is ALWAYS WRONG.
Somebody says, “Well, we’d like to get married but it’s just not convenient for us for tax reasons.”
Tough!
Sex outside of marriage is wrong!
Morality does not change at the WHIMS of society, (secular OR religious)!
Right is always right, and wrong is always wrong!
Even in the church we get dangerously close to flirting with situation ethics! (the idea that truth fluctuates, that right and wrong fluctuates given different circumstances)
If that’s the case, then why does Isa. 5:20 speak to this absolute …
“Woe to them who call evil good and good evil!”
If good and evil are so difficult to figure out, then why does Isaiah say WOE to them who get it backwards?!
Come on!
God gave us a BRAIN, and He expects us to use it!
Heb. 5:14 (talking about the Word of God) says that Christians can use the Word of God to have their “senses exercised to DISCERN BOTH GOOD AND EVIL.”
It is NOT hard to know the difference!
We’ve got these men dressed up like women these days wanting to speak to our kids at libraries — Someone says, “Well, I don’t know if we should say something about that. Maybe we should just keep quiet.”
Deut. 22:5 says “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”
(Raise hand) Would anybody like to say that God has changed His mind about that?!
This country and the world is in a world of hurt because we’ve been cowered into not preaching the truth on these matters and a whole lot more, yet the truth does not change!
The DOCTRINE OF CHRIST does not change!! (2 John 1:9-11)
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Col. 1:27 talks about how “Christ in you” is “the hope of glory.”
In other words, He is OUR ONLY HOPE!
Jesus Christ — the only way, truth, and the life - John 14:6!
Jesus Christ - Acts 4:12 says
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Do we believe that?!
It hasn’t changed! It cannot change. It will not change!
Jesus’ plan of salvation has not changed:
Heb. 5:9
And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
2 Thes. 1:6-9 has not changed!
since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
If you’re subject to the words of that invitation this morning, you need to respond to it while you can! (While there’s opportunity still!)
(Tonight, we’ll talk about some things that MUST change — But consider this as a preview, if you’re not a Christian — You MUST change THAT before it’s too late)!
