SEMESTER 1
112 – The Immutability of God
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY I LESSON # 12
THE IMMUTABILITY OF GOD
Read carefully Mal. 3:6
and Heb. 6:17-18.
INTRODUCTION:
1. This word means, not just unchanging, but unchangeability.
2. Everything in creation is changing: men, animals, sky, heavenly bodies, etc.
3. The earth has undergone one great change (flood – Gen. 7). It will undergo another. (II Pet. 3:5-10)
4. Let our hearts thrill that the very opposite is true of God.
I. GOD IS IMMUTABLE IN HIS NATURE (JAMES 1:17
)
1. God cannot change for either better or worse, if so His holiness is unreal
2. Time effects no changes in God such as aging, tiring, or growing impatient.
II. GOD IS UNCHANGEABLE IN ALL HIS ATTRIBUTES
1. His power is unchangeable. (Rom. 1:20)
2. His knowledge is unchangeable. (Acts 15:18)
3. His love is unchangeable. (Jn. 13:1, Rom. 8:35-39, Jer. 31:3)
4. His mercy is unchangeable. (Ps. 136:1-26)
5. His veracity is unchangeable. (Titus 1:2)
III. GOD’S DECREES ARE IMMUTABLE
1. God makes no new plans, nor does He change any plans. (Ps. 33:11, Pro. 19:21, Isa. 14:24, Job 23:13)
PART TWO: DENIAL OF IMMUTABILITY AND REBUTTAL
There are some who question or deny immutability on the following grounds:
IV. THE IDEA THAT GOD CHANGED AT CREATION
i.e., whereas He was imperceivable, being exclusively Spirit, He became visible in creation. (Rom. 1:18-20)
1. This idea confounds change with manifestation.
III: “I hope the sun shines today.”
2. God’s activities do change.
III: The burning bush, the Red Sea, the cross, healing.
III: How I may do many things in a well organized day.
3. God has created. He administers. He will judge.
V. SOME SAY HE CHANGED IN INCARNATION
1. Again, this is manifestation, the divine nature underwent no change.
2. In incarnation, Christ assumed what He was not, but remained no less, what He was.
i. To understand this, consider John 3:13 and 1 Timothy 3:16.
VI. SOME ASCRIBE REPENTANCE TO GOD AS CHANGE
1. i.e., using such Scriptures as Amos 7:3, Jn. 3:10, Gen. 6:6, I Sam. 15:35 and Ps. 106:45.
2. But other Scriptures plainly deny that God repents. (Num. 23:19, I Sam. 15:29)
3. Repentance deals with our attitudes, attributes and our very nature, but only with God’s action.
4. This is illustrated by cold and warmth without change in the sun, and by opposite effects the sun has on wax and clay.
5. This subject will be dealt with under its own heading.
VII. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT PRAYER CHANGES GOD
1. I Jn. 5:14 should settle this misunderstanding.
2. We do not conquer God in prayer, we yield to Him. (Rom. 8:26)
VIII. THE VALUE OF THIS DOCTRINE
1. We have unshakable consolation. (Heb. 6:18)
2. God’s immutability is an anchor for the soul.
a) If God were mutable, His revelation could never be counted upon.