When we think of The Immutability of God what goes through most people mind is that God never changes. This prima-facie thought, though limited is absolutely true. However, there exist within the concept of immutability much more then that.
When we say that God never changes ( is immutable) what we mean is that God never changes in His Essence, God never changes in His Attributes, and God never changes in His counsel. However changing and mutability is not necessarily the same thing. For instant a change can occur in an individual without that individual ever Himself changing.
For instant a man can be a father, then without ever doing anything himself he can become a grandfather. Amazingly when this type of change occurs, even though he became a grandfather, at the same time he remains a father, this is why we say that God does not change in his essence, or his attributes, or his counsel or will. Those things that make up who He is, what He looks like or what is his will. lets take a minute to look at these three.
When we say that God never changes ( is immutable) what we mean is that God never changes in His Essence, God never changes in His Attributes, and God never changes in His counsel. However changing and mutability is not necessarily the same thing. For instant a change can occur in an individual without that individual ever Himself changing.
For instant a man can be a father, then without ever doing anything himself he can become a grandfather. Amazingly when this type of change occurs, even though he became a grandfather, at the same time he remains a father, this is why we say that God does not change in his essence, or his attributes, or his counsel or will. Those things that make up who He is, what He looks like or what is his will. lets take a minute to look at these three.
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The Essence of God's Immutability The essence of God is the same it has always been, God did not at some time improve, mature or grow, God is what He has always been and always will be. Mal 3:6 says "I am the Lord I change not" When Moses asked God his name so that he might tell the Children of Jacob. God simply affirmed his eternal-self-ness (I coined that expression myself) and answered Hayah Asher Hayah (I am that I am) which is all the limited mind of Moses (or any of us for that matter, could comprehend.
- The Attributes of God’s Immutability The very qualities that God had when He fashioned all that there is,( the universe) are precisely the same qualities as they are right now and tomorrow. God's Power is unabated (unrelenting, unyielding, without losing any original force or violence) God's wisdom is undiminished (not reduced or lessened, plenary, thorough ), God's holiness is untainted (not tarnished, contaminated, or polluted, immaculate, impeccable, pure ) and His mercy endureth forever (Psalm 100:5)
- The Counsel of God’s Immutability So you will say “Don’t start with me, what about Genesis 6:6?” I could argue with Numbers 23:19 or even 1 Samuel 15:29 or even Romans 11:29 which seems in complete contrast to Genesis 6:6. So are the scriptures contradicting themselves? God forbid! Genesis 6:6 addresses God's action in relationship to the corruption of man, the other addresses God actions in relationship to the righteous desire of man toward God. No this is not a play with words let me try to explain.
Genesis 6:6 is an anthropomorphism, in this case it is a way man explains an action of God by using the limited understanding of man. For instant 38 times the Bible uses the expression "the hand of the Lord" but everyone of us understand this anthropomorphism to mean not God's physical hand but his spiritual covering. the other passages listed all fall in line with a God whose will ( counsel) is immutable.
- In order for something to change there must be a time when it was one way and a different point in time when it was not, however God lives outside of time there was never a point when God was not, nor any time to come when God will not be ( Read the Eternalness of God) therefore God is Immutable on the strength of His eternalness
- In order for there to be a change a thing (the object of the change) must be added to, or something taken from it, that object of change must get better or it must get worst. But God is Perfect and Complete without Blemish having nothing which can be added to God nor can anything which can be taken from God. Therefore God is Immutable on the strength of His self-sufficiency
- When something or someone changes his or her mind it is because there is some new information which resulted from a situation that was not known before. But God is Omniscient (All Knowing) there is no new situation which God does not already know the outcome. So when the Bible speaks of God changing His mind (Genesis 6:6) we must remember it is not God which changes but the situation that changes or better yet man which deviates from the intent of God's will. However, God lives outside of time, space, and matter, knowing all that is and all that is to come has already accounted for all the possibilities of man's fall and therefore remains constant in his intent. in this we see that God is immutable on the strength of Omniscience.
Your Brother In Christ
Soli Deo Gloria
Soli Deo Gloria
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