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. Some of us may ask, “Does God change too?”
God’s immutability (His unchangeable attribute) is strongly emphasized throughout the Holy Bible. In Malachi 3:6, our Heavenly Father himself declares, “I, the Lord, do not change.”
At the core of the belief in an unchanging God lies the idea that God’s essence, character, and attributes remain constant throughout time. This perspective asserts that God’s nature is not subject to change, growth, or evolution, as humans and the physical world are.
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What Does It Mean That God Is Unchanging Or Immutable?
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, and the plans of his heart are known to all generations.
— Psalm 33:11
Whenever we say that God does not change, we mean that he never alters his character 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 gifts are 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.
What Is The Unchanging Nature Of God?
The unchanging nature of God, often referred to as divine immutability, is a fundamental belief in Christianity. It signifies that God’s essential attributes and character do not undergo any alteration or development. This concept arises from the idea that God is already perfect and complete, lacking nothing, and therefore does not require change.
The Bible offers several passages that emphasize God’s immutability. One of the most quoted verses is Malachi 3:6, where God declares, “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
Another important reference is found in the New Testament, in Hebrews 13:8, which proclaims, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” These verses underscore the consistent and enduring character of God across time and circumstances.
Furthermore, aside from what God can do, we must attempt to comprehend the other texts that say what God cannot do according to the Scripture.
- God is incapable of sin or wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 32:4).
- God cannot be enticed by evil, nor does he succumb to it or tempt anyone 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).
Change is all around us. Humans undergo perpetual change. However, God’s divine nature and spiritual power will never change. God will always be flawless in every aspect. 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, and we can rest assured in his unchanging nature.
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. 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?
God’s immutable ways are reflected in his moral attributes, such as justice, love, mercy, and righteousness. Throughout the Bible, we see God consistently displaying these qualities in his interactions with humanity. God’s character rests on this premise.
For instance, in Exodus 34:6–7, God reveals himself to Moses as “the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining a love for thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion, and sin.”
Because God could not swear by someone greater than himself, when he gave the word to Abraham, he vowed by himself, declaring, “I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies” (Genesis 22:17).
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 an anchor for our soul, a sure and unwavering hope that transcends boundaries, 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).
However, this does not mean that God is unwilling to forgive those who are evil and have repented. In the book of Jonah, God was going to destroy the people of Nineveh. They repented of their sin, and God had mercy on them: “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it” (Jonah 3:10).
Hence, when the Bible speaks of God changing his mind, it must be understood that the circumstance or situation has changed, not God.
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. We can be confident that God’s promises will be fulfilled in time, as he has done before:
- 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 Christian faith, which he fulfilled through the Holy Spirit.
What Is The Blessing Of God’s Immutability?
God created a beautiful world and made man commune with himself. The fact that the eternal 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, and 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. The assurance of salvation is founded on God’s immutable character.
For The Believers
Knowing that we have an unchanging God is both reassuring and exciting. 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.”
10 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.
Isaiah 40:28
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
1 Timothy 1:17
To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, and the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers and the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.
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.
Relying on an unchanging God brings stability and safety to our volatile lives. 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.