God Does Not Change

Malachi 3:6, 2 Timothy 2:13

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In our series “What is God like?” Today we take up another attribute of God that he is unchanging. God’s Word for us today is from Malachi Chapter 3 verse 6.

Certainly I the Lord do not change.

Certainly I, the Lord, do not change. (Malachi 3:6)

When I present to my catechism class really the attributes of God, or the characteristics of God, I usually ask them the question: how does this thing about God scare you or how does this thing about God comfort you?

So I want you to think about that today concerning what I just read from Malachi Chapter 3. It says there that God does not change. It’s pretty scary if you think about it. Because it means that God’s Word, His truth, then also doesn’t change. What God had recorded 2000 or 3000 years ago even remains the same, remains true for us even today.

And this is very scary when we think about our own society and culture. That has really rewritten the rules concerning morality, concerning what is right, and what is wrong. Our society tells us well things that people considered wrong one hundred years ago or a thousand years ago, all that has changed. Get with the times man! It’s different.

God reminds us that His Word, His law doesn’t change. So what God called sin 2000 years ago or 3000 years ago and beyond are still sins today. And it certainly condemns us as we consider our own actions. But this truth about God, that he is unchanging, is also one that is very comforting to us.

It also means that God doesn’t change or take back His word concerning His promises. When God assures us that He forgives our sins, that He has forgiven them all for the sake of His Son, Jesus Christ. That too doesn’t change. It’s not like God all of a sudden says “ope, I guess I didn’t think of that sin.” Or “I didn’t think of how you would abuse this so terribly, I guess I’m going to take back my promise.”

But rather He brings comfort to us, assuring us that He is unchanging. In 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 13 it says this.

If we are faithless, he remains faithful, because he cannot deny himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)

Reminds us that it doesn’t depend on us. That God’s faithfulness to His promises depend on Him and who He is. That’s so comforting to us because so many times we feel that we have failed God, maybe out of unbelief, maybe out of sin, that we don’t deserve to be called His child, we don’t deserve the forgiveness that He offers. Yet He reminds us that He is faithful to His promise and that will never change.

God is unchanging. It is scary when you think about His law. It certainly convicts us concerning our sin but also God being unchanging is a tremendous comfort to us knowing that His words of promise do not change. That He always forgives our sins for Jesus sake and through Him we have everlasting life. Amen.