The God Who Has Not Changed

Who is God?

Who Is God?

“The God Who Has Not Changed”

Primary Texts:

Malachi 3:6 ““For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.”

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

Introduction

Good morning.

If someone were to ask you one simple question—"Who is God?"—how would you answer?

**SLIDE**

Would you say He's love?

Would you say He's Creator?

Would you say He's holy?

Would you say He's our Father?

Every one of those answers would be right, but none of them, by themselves, completely answer the question.

One of the greatest problems in our world today is that people have created a god in their own imagination.

I saw an article where a woman “Pastor” was speaking and said when jesus was talking about “belessed are the….” He today may have said “Blessed are those who end pregnancies”

Another guy said “Jesus was woke”

Some only want a God of love who never judges, only loves. no matter what they do, their god will only love them. Others only picture a God of anger who is impossible to please. their god is simply waiting for the chance to smite someone the moment they step out of line. Some see Him as a distant force. Powerful, created everything but kind of hands off at this point. Others see Him as little more than a spiritual helper whenever life gets difficult. a genie in a bottle if you will.

**SLIDE**

But our opinions do not define God.

God reveals Himself through His Word.

This morning, I want us to ask one simple question:

Who is God?

And by the time we leave, I hope we see this important truth:

the God of Genesis is the same God of Revelation.

**SLIDE**

He has not softened.

He has not mellowed.

He has not changed His standards.

He is still holy.

He is still righteous.

He is still loving.

He is still merciful.

He is still just.

And yes—He is still a God of wrath against sin.

**SLIDE**

As Malachi 3:6 ““For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.” says:

"For I am the LORD, I change not..."

God hasn't changed.

**SLIDE**

We live in a world of change.

The world changes.

People change.

Culture changes.

But God does not.

**SLIDE**

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Jesus hasn’t changed…

**SLIDE**

James 1:17 “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

God is not changing his mind constantly. There is no variation

So we know that God doesn’t change but what does that mean?

**SLIDE**

I. God Is Holy

Before we ever talk about His love or His wrath, we have to understand His holiness.

The angels around His throne don't continually cry,

"Love...love...love."

They don't cry,

"Mercy...mercy...mercy."

They cry,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts."

Holiness means He is completely separated from sin.

· Everything about Him is pure.

· Everything He does is right.

· Everything He says is truth.

God has never made a mistake.

· He has never had to apologize.

· He has never been unfair.

· He has never acted unjustly.

When we understand His holiness, we begin to understand why sin is such a serious matter.

Sometimes people ask,

"Why would God punish sin?"

The better question is,

"How could a holy God ignore it?"

· If a judge ignored murder...

· If a judge ignored abuse...

· If a judge ignored theft...

We would call him corrupt.

Yet somehow people expect God to ignore rebellion against Him.

God cannot deny His own holiness.

**SLIDE**

II. The Wrath of God Is Real

This is probably one of the least preached subjects today.

People are comfortable talking about God's blessings.

They're comfortable talking about heaven.

But few want to discuss God's wrath.

Yet the Bible certainly does.

The Old Testament gives us vivid reminders that God takes sin seriously.

Think about Noah's day.

Genesis says the thoughts of mankind were continually evil.

God was patient.

For over a hundred years Noah preached.

· People laughed.

· People mocked.

· People ignored.

Then the rain came.

God shut the door.

Not Noah, God.

His wrath fell because people refused His mercy.

**SLIDE**

Think about Sodom and Gomorrah.

The cities were consumed because wickedness had become unbearable.

Think about Nadab and Abihu.

They offered strange fire before the Lord.

God had already revealed how He wanted to be worshiped.

They chose their own way.

Fire came from heaven.

Think about Korah.

He rebelled against God's authority.

The earth literally opened beneath him.

Think about Uzzah.

He meant well… He didn’t want the Ark to fall…

He reached out to steady the ark.

It seemed like a harmless act.

Yet God had already given instructions about handling the ark.

the people ignored it…

and Uzzah lost his life.

Good intentions did not replace obedience.

All these stories remind us of one truth.

God means what He says.

**SLIDE**

God is patient.

But patience is not permission.

His wrath is never uncontrolled anger.

It is holy justice.

God never loses His temper.

His wrath is His righteous response to sin.

**SLIDE**

Psalm 7:11 “God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day.”

Psalm 7 says God is angry with the wicked every day.

That verse makes people uncomfortable.

But it's in the Bible.

God loves righteousness.

Therefore He hates wickedness.

You cannot separate the two.

**SLIDE**

III. Has God Changed in the New Testament?

Many people think so.

They imagine the Old Testament reveals an angry God.

The New Testament reveals a loving Jesus.

But that's not true.

Jesus Himself spoke more about hell than anyone else in Scripture.

He warned repeatedly about judgment.

He described outer darkness.

Weeping.

Gnashing of teeth.

Eternal punishment.

**SLIDE**

The apostles spoke of God's coming wrath.

Romans says,

Romans 1:18

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”

**SLIDE**

Hebrews 10:31

“It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

**SLIDE**

Revelation describes the judgment of all mankind.

The same Jesus who welcomed children also overturned tables.

The same Jesus who forgave sinners also condemned hypocrisy.

The same Jesus who died for the world will one day judge the world.

The New Testament does not eliminate God's wrath.

It explains how we can escape it.

**SLIDE**

IV. The Greatest Demonstration of God's Love

John 3:16 is probably the most quoted verse in the Bible.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever should believe in him should not perish, but have eternal Life."

What incredible words.

God loved sinners.

Not because we deserved it.

Not because we earned it.

Not because we were good enough.

**SLIDE**

Romans 5:8

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

That is love.

Think about that.

God knew every sin you would ever commit.

· Every lie.

· Every selfish thought.

· Every failure.

· Every moment of rebellion.

· Everything you would look at or do when you “Thought” you were “Alone”

**SLIDE**

And He still chose Calvary.

The cross was not God overlooking sin.

The cross was God satisfying justice while extending mercy.

Someone had to pay.

Jesus volunteered.

God's love does not erase His justice.

His justice makes His love even greater.

The cross is where mercy and justice kissed.

The wrath we deserved was poured upon Christ.

Isaiah said,

"The chastisement of our peace was upon Him."

Jesus took our place.

That is love.

**SLIDE**

Love has an empty Tomb.

Connect the cross and resurrection. Love is not sentimental: Christ truly died for sins and truly rose. The empty tomb announces that sin and death do not have the final word.

**SLIDE**

V. Love Does Not Cancel Obedience

This is where many people become confused.

They say,

"If God loves me, why does obedience matter?"

Because love always seeks relationship.

Jesus said,

"If you love me, keep my commandments."

**SLIDE**

Love without obedience is merely emotion.

Real love changes behavior.

God has always desired obedient hearts.

From Eden...

To Sinai...

To Pentecost...

God has always called people to trust Him enough to obey Him.

Grace is not permission to live however we choose.

Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.

The New Testament calls Christians to holiness just as strongly as the Old Testament did.

**SLIDE**

VI. God Is Patient

One of the most beautiful truths in Scripture is God's patience.

Think about Israel.

Again and again they rebelled.

Again and again God called them back.

· Through prophets.

· Through warnings.

· Through blessings.

· Through discipline.

God was unbelievably patient.

**SLIDE**

The same is true today.

Peter tells us the Lord is not slow concerning His promise.

He is longsuffering.

Not willing that any should perish.

Every sunrise is another opportunity.

Every breath is another invitation.

Every sermon is another act of grace.

Every heartbeat says, “Come home."

God's patience should never be mistaken for approval.

Judgment delayed is not judgment cancelled.

**SLIDE**

VII. Judgment Is Coming

The Bible leaves absolutely no doubt.

Every one of us will stand before God.

· Rich.

· Poor.

· Young.

· Old.

· Religious.

· Unbelievers.

· Preachers.

· Elders.

· Deacons.

· Every Christian.

· Every atheist.

· Every person.

**SLIDE**

Paul said,

"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ."

Notice—

Not some.

All.

There will be no lawyers.

No Loopholes,

No Mistrials,

No appeals,

No excuses,

No hidden sins,

Everything will be exposed.

That should humble (And terrify) every one of us.

Some people laugh at judgment.

AC/DC has a song, “Highway to Hell”

are you sure thats where you want to go?

I’ve heard others say, “Hell will have the best parties”

I dont think thats true…

Some people laugh at judgment.

Peter said they would.

But laughter will stop.

One day faith will become sight.

Every knee will bow.

Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Some will confess Him joyfully.

Others too late.

The Judge is also the Savior.

The One with nail-scarred hands is the One seated upon the throne.

**SLIDE**

VIII. God Hasn't Changed—We Need to

This is really the heart of the sermon.

People say,

"Times have changed."

God says,

"I have not."

**SLIDE**

Culture changes.

Morality changes.

Governments change.

Opinions change.

Church trends change.

But God does not.

What He called sin thousands of years ago is still sin.

What He called righteousness is still righteousness.

What He expected of His people is still holiness.

The gospel has never changed.

**SLIDE**

People often want a God who agrees with them.

Instead, God calls us to agree with Him.

We are not invited to remake God in our image.

We are called to be remade into His image.

**SLIDE**

IX. A Time of Honest Examination

Let me ask some questions.

Not for your neighbor.

Not for your spouse.

Not for your children.

For you.

When was the last time you truly examined your heart?

**SLIDE**

Do you fear God?

Not panic.

Not terror.

But reverence.

**SLIDE**

Do you obey Him only when it's convenient?

Or because He is Lord?

**SLIDE**

Have you become comfortable with sins that once bothered your conscience?

**SLIDE** Have you replaced holiness with excuses?

**SLIDE**

Have you confused God's patience with His approval?

**SLIDE**

Have you forgotten that every idle word will be brought into judgment?

**SLIDE**

Perhaps the greatest danger facing the church today is not persecution.

It's complacency.

**SLIDE**

We've become comfortable.

Comfortable with worldliness.

Comfortable with compromise.

Comfortable with partial obedience.

**SLIDE**

The church doesn't need more entertainment.

The church needs more reverence.

We need to remember who God is.

I saw a video the other day and it said something that blew my mind.

do you know what’s wrong with the average Christian?

The average Christian got saved… then got over it…

Do you know why purple use to come to church and don’t anymore?

Because they got over it.

Do you know why people use to read their bible everyday but now it just collects dust?

Because they got over it.

Do your know why there are people that use to share the gospel, use to invite people to worship and use to tell others about Jesus but don’t anymore?

Because they got over it.

Do you know why people come to worship and look for things just to criticize, they don’t like the song choice, the pitch of the song, they couldn’t care less about the lesson, the Lords supper is just something we need to speed through, do you know why?

Because they got over it.

I don’t ever want to get over it.

I don’t ever want to get over God’s Love.

I don’t ever want to get over God’s Grace or His mercy.

Conclusion

So that brings us bag to the original Question?… Who is God?

He is holy.

He is righteous.

He is Creator.

He is Judge.

He is Savior.

He is love.

He is mercy.

He is justice.

He is wrath against sin.

He shows grace toward the repentant.

He has never contradicted Himself.

He has never changed His nature.

The same God who flooded the earth sent His Son to save it.

The same God who judged Egypt opened the Red Sea for His people.

The same God who consumed Nadab and Abihu also forgave David when he repented.

The same Jesus who carried a cross will one day hold the scepter of judgment.

**SLIDE**

X. The Invitation of Grace

Thankfully, this Lesson doesn't end with wrath.

It ends with hope.

The God who judges is also the God who saves.

Jesus opened the way.

His blood still cleanses.

His grace is still sufficient.

His invitation is still extended.

You feel that breath in your lungs? That another chance.

**SLIDE**

Come.

you’ve heard the gospel this morning, come and be right with God.

Believe.

Repent.

Confess Christ before men.

Be baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sins, just as the apostles preached on Pentecost (Acts 2:38),

trusting not in the water itself but in God's promise to unite us with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4).

And then live faithfully.

Revelation 2:10 “‘Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, so that you will be tested, and you will have tribulation for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”

**SLIDE**

And if you've wandered away as a Christian, I want you to remember the Father who welcomed the prodigal son still longs for His children to return in repentance.

No one is beyond His mercy while there is still time.

**SLIDE**

The question is not whether God has changed.

He has not.

The question is:

Have we?

Have we surrendered to Him?

Have we trusted Him?

Have we obeyed Him?

Have we allowed Him to transform us into the people He calls us to be?

Because one day every one of us will stand before the unchanging God.

And on that day, nothing will matter more than whether we knew Him—not merely by name, but by obedient faith.

May we leave today with a greater reverence for His holiness, deeper gratitude for His love, a healthy fear of His righteous judgment, and a renewed commitment to walk faithfully with the God who is "the same yesterday and today and forever."

Amen.