Knowing the God Who Cannot Change- Part 2

I. God’s Immutability Gives Us Hope

Hebrews 6:13–16 ESV

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.

Hebrews 6:17–20 ESV

17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

His unaltered purposes include all of His works

Acts 15:16–18 ESV

16 “ ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the tent of David that has fallen; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will restore it, 17 that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things 18 known from of old.’

Ecclesiastes 3:14 ESV

14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.

Numbers 23:19 ESV

19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Isaiah 46:10 ESV

10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

His unaltered purposes include the nations

Isaiah 14:24 ESV

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

Isaiah 14:26–27 ESV

26 This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. 27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?

Psalm 33:10–11 ESV

10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

His unaltered purposes include individuals

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Job 23:13–14 ESV

13 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does. 14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.

Daniel 4:35 ESV

35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

His unaltered purposes include the work of salvation

Ephesians 1:9 ESV

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ

Ephesians 1:11–12 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

How should we respond to this immutable God who has set in motion purposes of mercy that can never be modified?

Isaiah 25:1 ESV

1 O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

II. God’s Immutability Helps Us Resist Temptation

One of the first things we are tempted to do when sin manifests itself in our lives is to blame someone else. We come from a long line of blame-shifters. Sometimes we blame other people, but often we blame God for our sin, much like Adam!

Genesis 3:12 ESV

12 The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

How are we sometimes guilty of blaming God for our sin?

“God knows that I have trouble with that particular sin, and He put me in that situation.”

“God made me like this.”

“My upbringing and my past are causing me to sin. It’s my parent’s fault, and God gave them to me.”

How are we sometimes guilty of indirectly blaming God for our sin?

My Spouse: “Other people in the church have good marriages. My spouse is impossible.”

My work: “No one could work with my boss and co-workers without sinning.”

My church: “If only I were in a good church, then I could be obedient. I need Christian friends and someone to disciple me.”

The present time: “This day and age is so wicked. We have temptation at our fingertips constantly.”

James 1:12–15 ESV

12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

James 1:16–18 ESV

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

One of the keys to resisting temptation is to believe that God loves us and wants what is best for us. He doesn’t without anything from His children that is good for them. “Every good and perfect gift” is from Him, and like Himself, His gifts do not change. They do not start good and turn bitter. His gifts are sweetness through and through. They are like Him, who does not change like “shifting shadows.”

Think of how much sin we would avoid if we would believe this one simple truth: God is immutably good, and He alone can provide what satisfies. Every good and every perfect gift is from Him.

Are there areas in your life in which you are failing to trust Him to give you what is good? Will you determine today to trust the God who changes not?