Knowing God: Chapter 7 - God Unchanging
In chapter 7 of Knowing God the focus is on God being unchanging (immutable). Because God does not change we can relate to Him just as we see those in the Bible relate to Him. So while our culture and time is very different from that of those in the Bible, the God we serve is not for He is unchanging.
There are six aspects in which God does not change:
- God’s LIFE does not change. He has always and will always exist. He has always had perfect life. (Psa 93:2; Jer 10:10; Rom 1:23; 1 Tim 6:16; Psa 90:2; 102:26-27; Isa 48:12)
- God’s CHARACTER does not change. He eternally is always who He always has been. His moral character is changeless. (Exod 3:14; 34:5-7; James 1:17)
- God’s TRUTH does not change. God never has to take back what He says. His Word is forever true. Nothing can annul it (make it ineffective, null and void). (Isa 40:6-8; Psa 119:89, 151-52; John 10:35)
- God’s WAYS do not change. He owes mercy to no one, yet He chooses to bless those who place their faith in Christ with mercy and grace. Salvation is all of grace! (Eph 2:8-9)
- God’s PURPOSES do not change. What God purposes to do He will do for it is perfect, based on complete knowledge and control of all things actual and possible. (1 Sam 15:29; Num 23:19; Psa 33:11) When the Bible speaks of God repenting (Gen 6:6-7; 1 Sam 15:11; 2 Sam 24:16; Jon 3:10; Joel 2:13-14) it is a change of treatment that God offered based on the response of the people, part of the foreordained plan of God.
- God’s SON does not change. Jesus Christ is “the same yesterday and today and forever”, “able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb 13:8; 7:25)
Because God does not change all believers throughout history relate to (have relationship with) God in the same ways. We “fellowship with Him, trust in His word, live by faith, stand on the promises of God” in essentially the same ways as Old and New Testament believers did.