What do we mean when we say that God is immutable?  Why is it important that we believe in the immutability of God?  Find out in this message.

Teaching Notes:

The God Of The Bible Is Immutable

Intro: God does everything for His own glory, has never had a beginning nor will ever have an end. Today examine God’s immutability. Definition: Mutation = change in plant or animal. Immutable = unchangeable. When something changes it either gets better or worse. God can’t get any better and won’t get any worse. He is perfect. If he changed & got better, means wasn’t perfect before. If changed & got worse, means not perfect now.
God is the Only Thing in Universe that is Immutable!

A. Heavens change (2Pet.3:10)

B. Earth changes (smog, floods, earthquakes, fires).

C. Men change: weight, wrinkles, moods, attitudes, resolutions, zeal for Christ. Imagine: “Brian Anderson – the same, yesterday, today and forever!”

D. Angels change: Jude 6

1. Scripture References to God’s Immutability? Ps.102:26-27; James 1:17; Mal.3:6; Heb.13:6.

2. God is Immutable in His Perfections: all His attributes unchanging. Was He mighty before? He is now! Was He wise, just, truthful, good, loving? Always be so. His love (Jer.31:3); Lovingkindness (Ps.100:5). Very same God who created angels, spoke universe into existence, formed Adam from dust, destroyed world by flood, called Abraham out of Ur, sent plagues on Egypt, led Israel into Promised Land, sent His Son into world – is your God and will be your God forever!

Application: may not seem very important to affirm God’s unchangeableness. Idea is abstract – may not realize its significance. What if God could change? Any change would be for better or worse. If could change for better, was not best possible being before. How could we be sure is best possible being now? If changed for worse, what kind of God could He become? A little bit evil, instead of wholly good? If so, could He become largely evil – or wholly evil? We could do nothing about it! Thousands of years from now, we could live in universe dominated by an evil, omnipotent God! How could we ever trust a God who could change? How could we ever commit our lives to Him?

3. God is Immutable in His Purposes: Westminster Shorter Catechism: what are the decrees of God? “The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His own will, whereby for His own glory He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.” What does the Bible say about God’s purposes?

A. What does the Bible say about God’s Purposes?

Job 42:2. No purpose of God can be thwarted.

Isaiah 46:9-11. God is only Being who can predict future with 100% accuracy. Why? Cuz future based on His eternal purposes. His purpose is His good pleasure. He knows future cuz has planned future. Notice certainty of His purpose coming to pass. “My purpose will be established and I will accomplish all My good pleasure; I will bring it to pass; I will do it.”

Lam.2:17. Speaking of Babylonian invasion of Judah, destruction of temple, and deportation of people. God’s purpose is connected with His Word which He commanded from days of old.

Acts 4:27-28. God’s purpose predestined events of Christ’s crucifixion

Rom.8:28-30. Explains God’s purpose in 29-30. Has to do with God’s foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification and glorification. God’s purpose originates in eternity past in a decision to save His elect, and will be culminated in eternity future when all elect are glorified. This purpose will never change!

Rom.9:10-13. God’s purpose is related to His choice of Jacob over Esau. This was not regulated by the actions (works) of either. Resulted in God loving Jacob and hating Esau.

Eph.1:11. our predestination was according to God’s purpose. This purpose works all things after the counsel of God’s will!

Eph.3:11. God’s purpose to bring Jews & Gentiles together in 1 body was Eternal!

2Tim.1:9. Our salvation and calling was not by accident. It was on purpose – God’s purpose. This purpose was formed and granted us from all eternity!

Heb.6:17-18. 2 unchangeable things are God’s promise and oath. God’s purpose is unchangeable!

B. What Causes A Person To Change Their Plans?

1) Lack of Foresight;

2) Lack of Resources. Made plans to come down for church Sunday after nose surgery. Couldn’t foresee would get sick, making it impossible. Had to change plans. OR, borrow money from friend with definite plans to pay him back in a year. During that year, country goes through economic troubles, your business goes belly up, and can’t carry out your plans. God is omniscient and omnipotent! Spurgeon: “God is a master-mind. He arranged everything long before He did it, and once having settled it, He never alters it. Why should God alter His plans? He’s Almighty and can perform His pleasure. He is All-Wise and therefore can’t have planned wrongly.”

C. If All Things Were Foreordained from Eternity, What About Sin? If God foreordains whatsoever comes to pass, does that mean he causes us to sin? No! James 1:13. 1 thing to say God causes all things; another to say He foreordains all things. If He causes all things, would have to cause the Fall. Would be the Author of Sin. Blasphemy! God is holy!
2 Wrong Images of God:

1) Puppeteer – puppets have no mind, emotions or will. Destroys man’s responsibility. Would be unjust for God to damn a man for doing what God forced him to do. What would you think of a father who takes hold of son’s hand and makes him punch his little brother, and then whips the son for doing it? Evil or crazy!

2) Spectator – sits on sidelines of world history & observes game closely. Ultimate armchair quarterback. Roots for favorite team, but powerless to effect outcome of game. Destroys God’s sovereignty.

1) The Flood: Did God cause it or permit it?
2) Judas’ betrayal of Christ – Jn.13:2. devil put it in to his heart, but God permitted it.
3) Your Regeneration: caused or permitted?
4) Sin Committed Yesterday: permitted.

D. Why Is The Future Absolutely Certain to God? He knows what will take place cuz has foreordained what will take place. But doesn’t mean God coerces. Means God wills something to take place. But His willing for things to take place does not destroy the free choices of creatures. Did God have to put a gun to Judas’ head in order to get him to betray His Son? No! Knew Judas was covetous man. Allowed Satan to tempt him for money. Judas freely decided to betray Son of God. Judas called “son of perdition” (Jn.17:12). Went to hell. But if God forced Judas to betray Christ, how could He justly punish him? The Cross: Acts 2:23. God did more than hope for the cross; He willed the cross. Sent Jesus for that purpose. But Judas, Jews, and Romans were doing what they wanted when nailed Him there! Jonathan Edwards: “Whether God has decreed all things that ever come to pass or not, all that own the being of a God, own that He knows all things beforehand. Now, it is self-evident that if He knows all things beforehand, He either is willing they should be, or He is not willing they should be. But to will that they should be is to decree them.” God allows man to choose what He wants. In that sense man has a measure of freedom. When Judas betrayed Christ, God didn’t have to make him. Just let him do what He wanted. God is free. Man is free. God is freer than man. God’s freedom not limited by man’s freedom. Westminster Confession: “God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass; yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures…”

E. But Doesn’t the Bible say God Changed His Mind?
Jonah 3:4,10. The possibility that God would show mercy if people repented not mentioned explicitly. But is implied. Whole reason for warning is to bring about repentance. This was a conditional judgment, but the condition not explicitly stated but implied.

Exodus 32:9-14. Take this to logical conclusion. Moses argues God would look bad to Egyptians. God’s decision was impulsive and flawed. Fortunately Moses smart enough to see folly of God’s decision & persuade shortsighted God to come up w/ better plan. God helped out by superior guidance counselor. W/o Moses’ help, God would have made foolish mistake! No! Reason He threatened judgment was to prompt Moses to intercede for them and bring a partial judgment on nation. Possibility of mercy implied in “Let Me alone” – if Moses didn’t leave Him alone, He would not do it.

Genesis 6:6. Does this mean God didn’t foresee man’s sinfulness? No! Just revealing to us God’s feelings over man’s rebellion – sorrow and grief. Not describing God’s purposes.

Numbers 23:19.

Application:

Saved: 1) Provides Instruction: don’t trust in man, but in Rock of Ages. God can’t fail you. Health, riches, friends may leave, but God will not. He will never change. 2) Provides Security: if ever He loved me, He loves me forever. If ever He forgave, saved… If God has decided to save you, won’t change His mind later cuz of your bad performance! Our security based on God’s immutability. 3) Provides Motivation: if he is same as God of NT believers, how can we justify ourselves in resting content w/ experience of fellowship & conduct far below theirs?

Unsaved: Terrifying! He will not change His mind! Said, “the soul that sins shall surely die. The wages of sin is death. He who has disbelieved shall be condemned.” When 10,000 years of hell’s torments have passed, shall look and see written in burning letters, “He who has disbelieved… “But Lord, I am condemned.” Nevertheless says, “shall be” still. God is unchanging!