Thursday 15 January 2009

Knowing the Unchangeable God

Chapter 7 -Knowing God
Have you ever read the bible and felt a sense of distance and of bewilderment? All those laws and idols and folk with long names and long lives. Even the Man of Galilee doing miracles, arguing in the temple and dying on a cross. And certainly letters written to obscure churches about strange errors and people long dead.
Perhaps it is interesting, but the interest is as we might be interested in a film or soap opera - we are enjoying 'that' world, not 'ours'. We look at the Bible world as spectators. Unspoken we say to ourselves 'Yes, God did that then ... but how does he touch us now?'
Can this sense of remoteness be overcome? How? How can we connect with the God of Abraham, Isaac and Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz (as I read yesterday in my daily reading!)?

Packer's ANSWER is that exactly the same God who dealt with them back then is the God who deals with us now.

1. God's life does not change
He is 'from all eternity' (Psalm 93:2)
'Before the mountains were born, or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God' (Psalm 90:2)
Created things have a beginning and an ending, but not so the Creator. He is. Fully who he is in every place and every time, without maturity, development, shifts or decay.

He cannot change for the better for He is already perfect; and being perfect He cannot change for the worse.' (AW Pink)

2. God's character does not change
I used to hate olives and kebabs and I couldn't listen to Classical music for long - how times have changed! I have changed. These are silly examples, but people change their character, outlook, opinions and tastes. God does not.
Exodus 3:14 'I AM WHO I AM'
Exodus 34:5-7 'The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished: he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'
James 1:17 God is the one 'with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change'

3. God's truth does not change
'All flesh is grass.. the grass withers...but the word of our God will stand for ever' (Isaiah 40:6ff)
'Your word, O LORD is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens ... All your commands are true ... you established them to last forever' (Psalm 119:89, 151-152)
'The Scripture cannot be broken' (John 10:35)

4. God's ways do not change
He continues to act towards sinful men and women in the way that he does in the Bible - as free Lord he works out his purposes in creation covenantally.

5. God's purposes do not change
God does not repent, change his mind or plan of action. His plans are made on the basis of a complete knowledge and control which extends to all things past, present and future, so there can be no sudden emergencies or surprises.
'The plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations' (Psalm 33:11)

6. God's Son does not change
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever (Hebrews 13:8) so 'he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them' (Hebrews 7:25)

'Fellowship with God, trust in his word, living by faith, standing on the promises of God, are essentially the same realities for us today as they were for Old and New Testament believers.' p89

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