One of the most glorious characteristics of the ONE true and and LIVING GOD is HIS unchangeableness or as men of great learning would say, HIS immutability. We find this often referred to in the scriptures. “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, (i.e. unchangeable) and thy years shall have no end.” (Psa 102:25-27) “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Heb 13:8)
It is upon this very basis that all of the promises of GOD stand, both temporal and eternal. The LORD reminded the sons of Jacob of this very truth when HE said, “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Mal 3:6) Paul tells us that GOD is HE which “cannot lie” in Titus 1:2. Yet this is not a statement apprising us of some sort of lack on the part of a Sovereign GOD wherein HE is made subservient to some sort of cosmic necessity or natural law outside of HIMSELF; but rather is an emphasis upon the very fact that HE is unchanging and unchangeable: what HE has said HE will do. HE is in no wise fickle or indecisive.
This is the ground upon which all of the hopes of the sons of GOD do rest. “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” (Heb 6:17-19) The writer tells us that there are two immutable things upon which our hope rests. One is that GOD “cannot lie”, being unchangeable. The other is that HE who cannot lie not only said it but actually swore an oath in confirmation. This is a double dose of that same truth which would reiterate HIS absolute unchangeableness.
If GOD would in anywise change HIS mind or deviate from HIS eternal purpose then we who as mere creatures who have fled to HIM for refuge, would have nothing upon which to base any hope, regardless of how much of the scriptures we might or might not believe. We would be shut up to the adoption of whatever philosophy or religion of men is best suited to our intellect or lack thereof as the case may be. If GOD may or may not change HIS mind we are done for.
There are some who purport that GOD has changed HIS persona over the years. These deceivers tell us that the GOD of the Old Testament is different from the ONE in the New. They would have us believe that GOD at one point in time judged sin harshly under the dispensation of law but now in this dispensation of grace, HE has turned over a new leaf and is now more tolerant and forgiving of men for their transgressions, and hopes all will be saved.
This is a subtle lie which is set forth by the powers of darkness to undermine the absolute nature and necessity of the atonement of CHRIST for HIS elect, and turn it into a mere gesture of mercy which is not itself a satisfaction of sin but rather a good faith attempt by GOD to present to men the possibility of forgiveness by way of an offer if they will simply fulfill a requirement of faith to believe and receive it, thus availing themselves of GOD’s change of mind concerning how HE always has and always will deal with sin.
Every one of GOD’s judgments “endureth forever”. There is no shadow of turning with HIM. HE will neither “clear the guilty” (see Ex.34:7) nor will HE at all “acquit the wicked.” (see Nah 1:3) Each and every sin is punishable by death without mercy. “Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Eze 18:4) Just as surely as the sentence of death is passed on all who sin, the gift of life is given to those who do not. “But if a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, And hath not eaten upon the mountains, neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife, neither hath come near to a menstruous woman, And hath not oppressed any, but hath restored to the debtor his pledge, hath spoiled none by violence, hath given his bread to the hungry, and hath covered the naked with a garment; He that hath not given forth upon usury, neither hath taken any increase, that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity, hath executed true judgment between man and man, Hath walked in my statutes, and hath kept my judgments, to deal truly; he is just, he shall surely live, saith the Lord GOD.” (Eze 18:5-9)
This is the result of the “enduring judgment” and “justice” of GOD. HE is just in all of HIS dealings with men. No man could possibly accuse GOD of being unjust nor could the integrity of HIS judgment be ever questioned. HE will do right, HE may show mercy, but HE will never dispense with either at the expense of the other.
Only because of this fact can it then be true that those for whom CHRIST has stood as a SUBSTITUTE and SACRIFICE should stand before the just judgment of GOD, as those who are completely justified and without sin of any kind. We read that CHRIST is the JUSTIFIER. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom 3:24-26) The manifestation of CHRIST as the LAMB of GOD which taketh away the sin of the world is that which forever bears witness to the immutability of HIS judgment. The gift of faith to those for whom HE has made this transaction (the remission of sins) is the evidence of HIS mercy to all of those whom HE has given to CHRIST.
Gethsemane’s Garden and Calvary’s cross are forever a testament to the “enduring” nature of HIS judgments. HE upon whom the sins of HIS elect were placed, did indeed pay both the debt of their sin and presently stands in their room and stead as the perfect fulfillment of the law’s jot and tittle. Thus LIFE is given to them by the same judgment as that which caused CHRIST to suffer in their behalf and for their sin. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor 5:21) And the declaration which the LORD made in Ezekiel 8: 5-9 is made manifest. Sin causes death, and perfect obedience brings the gift of LIFE.
The enduring judgment of GOD demands that all of those who are hidden in CHRIST, the perfect SINBEARER and the perfect OBEDIENCE, should be given LIFE. Those that would tell us that any man can gain eternal life according to an action of his own free will, deny this enduring judgment. They would depict the unchangeable GOD as one who is waiting to see who will believe in order to give them that life.
HE who knows the end from the beginning is not a mere fortune teller (i.e.; one who foresees the future), but rather ONE who determines the future as HE calls whom HE wills and gives faith to those whom HE has ordained unto eternal life as we read in Acts 13:48. They must inherit that which is procured for them by the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON of GOD, as they have been appointed heirs and joint heirs with HIM. Thanks be unto GOD that HIS “righteous judgments endureth for ever.”
mam