The Doctrine Of Immutability

This gives us the nuance of understanding that God is dependable and He is unchanging. And I just want to take five minutes with you and describe to you the doctrine of immutability, or the unchangingness of God. This is actually where the author of Hebrews is going in the idea of service and hope in the text.

Okay, read with me in verse 17. Verse 6:17, "In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose." Okay, this unchangeable God also has unchangeable purposes. And so the doctrine of immutability goes like this. God is unchanging. In Malachi 3:6 the Bible says, "For I the Lord do not change." That's great. That's good news.

And so the goodness of God cannot get, what one Appalachian preacher said, any gooder. So God can't get any better. He is as thrice holy as He's going to get. Isaiah 6:3 says that God is holy, holy, holy. He is holy, holy, holy. That is to say that to the highest degree of holiness, that's where God is. He cannot become any holier. God's character cannot decrease. So just as our character is diminished when we tell a lie, God can't lie. The Bible says in Titus 1:2, "God cannot lie."

In Numbers 23:19, "God is not a man that He should lie." God's consistency is infinitely perfect. He is infinitely consistent. We're the ones that change. We're the ones that go up and down, and our feelings are so flighty. Our minds veer from one thing to the next, over and over. But God does not change. He doesn't vary at all. James 1:17 says this, "From the Father there is no variation." Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore."

And so since God is in control and He's always good, He's always consistent, we submit to Him. We understand our feelings are flighty. We understand our emotions and our minds are finite when His thoughts are infinite. He doesn't change. He cannot lie. He is consistent. Psalm 102:27 says, "You are the same and your years will not come to an end."

Therefore, like the Hebrew audience, whether you are suffering severely or whether you're doing great, yield to the unchangeableness of God. Stay submitted to the Scriptures. Do it God's way. Seek godly advice. Remain in Him. You see, Jesus is likened as a fortress, not just a foundation of faith. But when you are in Christ, it's almost like you are in a fortress and those walls keep you safe. You're underneath the shelter of God's wings, so to speak. He is protecting you.

And so if you're dealing with any type of irrational, if you're dealing with anything that takes you up and takes you down, the doctrine of immutability, or the understanding of God's unchangeableness, is something for you to continue to learn about and dwell upon, because it will stabilize you. Hebrews 6:18 says it's impossible for God to lie.