Man is always evolving. Similar to the cyclical nature of the seasons, our attitudes change, our personalities change, our looks change, and the list goes on. All that has been produced and created is in perpetual change. Yet God, the Creator, never changes. He is consistent. He is immutable.
God’s immutability (His unchangeable attribute) is strongly demonstrated throughout the Holy Bible. For instance, in Malachi 3:6, our Heavenly Father says, “I, the Lord, do not change” (Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 46:9–11; 1 Samuel 15:29; and Ezekiel 24:14).
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What Does It Mean That God Is Unchanging Or Immutable?
Whenever we say that God does not change, we mean that He never alters His personality or will. According to the unchanging Word of God declared in Numbers 23:19, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.”
God’s nature, attributes, intentions, plans, promises, and blessings are immutable. He, being pure, cannot descend to wickedness, nor can God, who serves as the source of light, become the source of darkness. Because He is the source of all good and flawless gifts, evil cannot originate from Him, nor can He lure anybody to evil (James 1:13). The Bible makes it quite obvious that the Lord does not alter His thoughts, will, or character.
Moreover, the immutability of God[1] as well as the good and perfect gift is further demonstrated in James 1:17, which indicates that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variableness nor shadow of turning.” This “shadow of turning” alludes to our viewpoint on the sun, which is overshadowed, it shifts, and it creates its shadow.
Each day, the sun regularly rises and sets, shines, and fades; it moves from one tropical zone to another at different times of the year. However, there is absolutely no darkness or anything resembling it with God, who is the definition of light itself in the spiritual sense.
What Is The Unchanging Nature Of God?
Some people wrongly believe that God can do anything. Typically, such arguments are founded on a text such as Mark 14:36 or Matthew 19:26. When we interpret the Scripture as a whole, we must consider verses that state “all things can be accomplished with God” in their context.
Furthermore, we must attempt to comprehend the other texts that say what God cannot do. Those concepts are not conflicting, but rather complementing. The Scripture says firmly that there are certain aspects that the Lord cannot do.
- God is incapable of sin or wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 32:4).
- God cannot be enticed by evil, nor does he succumb to it or tempt anybody to it (James 1:13).
- God cannot alter His decision (Numbers 23:19).
- God is unchangeable (Malachi 3:6).
- God does not lie (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2; Numbers 23:19).
When it is asserted that God is immutable or unchangeable, it does not imply that God can but does not change. It implies that God is unchangeable. He will remain the same. The knowledge that we have is adequate for knowing the Lord in the old days, today, and in the coming days because it is revealed in His Word. Now, always, and forever.
Because our unchanging God affirms Himself, “For I, the Lord, do not change; therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6). Change is all around us. Even we ourselves undergo perpetual change. However, God’s divine nature and spiritual power will never change.
It’s not as though God will stop being loving and patient, nor will He show greater mercy and love. He is unable. He will always be flawless in every aspect. Even the slightest change would end up causing Him to lose the title of God.
Many have twisted God’s characteristics. They claim that “the Lord of today is unlike the Lord of the Old Testament.” This kind of statement is untrue and highly harmful. Don’t get taken in by the lies. For God has not changed; he is still the same today and tomorrow. God is immutable. Those who believe the Lord has changed do not comprehend the ways of an unchangeable God.
What Are God’s Unchanging Ways?
It is insufficient to proclaim that God’s nature remains unchanged. We must admit that God’s divine ways are also unchanging. Because God could not swear by someone greater than Himself, when He gave the word to Abraham, He vowed by Himself, declaring, “I will assuredly enrich you, and I’ll assuredly multiply you.” And thus, after patiently waiting, he received the promise.
Similarly, God seeks to go even further—to demonstrate to the recipients of the said promise the unchangeability of His intention, which is backed up by an oath. That having two immutable things in which God cannot lie would give us who have already sought refuge great encouragement to grasp the promise laid before us.
It is the hope we have as a soul anchor, a sure and unwavering hope that reaches within the barrier, where Jesus Christ has stepped as a pioneer for all of us, becoming a symbol of the Catholic Church forever following the rule of Melchizedek (Hebrews 6:13–20).
Since the fall of humanity, God has vowed to send the Messiah to earth. He has set out to rescue a people from every race, culture, region, and country for Himself (Revelation 5:9). Anything the Lord has done, is doing, or will accomplish is to achieve this goal. It is indeed unchangeable. The Lord cannot change His deeds or decisions. He has chosen to take on these wonderful things:
- To encourage all men to place their hope in Christ, which He has achieved and continues to do.
- To send the Messiah, which He duly did.
- To use Abraham to build a nation, which He accomplished.
- To build the Catholic faith, which He fulfilled.
What Is The Blessing Of God’s Immutability?
The fact that God never changes is a huge source of peace for Christians. It signifies that His unconditional love is eternal. His mercy is eternal. His restoration is eternal. His words are unbreakable and unchangeable.
Paul states in Romans 11:29, “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.” The Lord does not change His word or promise. “Even though we are unfaithful, He stays true because He cannot contradict Himself” (2 Timothy 2:13). When our faith wanes, He does not change His attitude toward us. So the assurance of salvation is founded on God’s immutable character.
For The Believers
Knowing that God is unchanging is both reassuring and exciting for Christians. We are His, and He has vowed to meet all of our needs. We have complete trust in Him. His affection for us will never fade, and He will complete the work He started in all of us (Philippians 1:6).
For The Unbelievers
On the other hand, the idea that the eternal God has an unchanging character can be frightening to unbelievers. The Lord has said that whoever sins will perish. He will not change His mind. His Word indicates that the penalty for sin is death, which will be true in the final judgment just as much as it was when it was revealed.
Although He may demonstrate a heavenly feeling of anguish in carrying out His judgment, the Lord is not wavering and will not compromise His stance on sin. As Scripture proclaims in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”
7 Bible Verses About God Is Unchanging
Psalm 55:19
God will hear and answer them, even the one who sits enthroned from of old, Selah with whom there is no change, and who does not fear God.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Daniel 7:14
And to Him were given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.
Psalm 102:27
But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.
John 12:34
The crowd then answered Him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ is to remain forever; and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”
1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of a seed that is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
Hebrews 1:12
And like a mantle, You will roll them up; like a garment, they will also be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.
Conclusion
God’s immutability sets Him apart from everything else because everything else changes. The entire universe is changing. Stars die and are born. Even the bright sun is slowly dying. Our world is ever-changing. The seasons shift. We age and die, and all we see from beginning to end is change.
A view of our unchangeable God’s character brings stability and safety to our volatile life. In an unpredictable world, we can spend our lives confident in God’s constant love for His people. We, as human beings, should reciprocate and love God, so that at the end of the day, we’ll experience eternal life with Him.
