"I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. (Malachi 3:6)
In the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago . . . (Titus 1:2 NAU)
So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. (Hebrews 6:18NLT)In Malachi, God declares that the only reason why Israel has not been totally wiped out is because He is immutable. It is not because they are something special, have been so good, or in some way deserve it. Just the opposite. They are not destroyed because God made a promise that the descendants of Jacob would always be His covenant people and, because His promises are immutable, they are not destroyed.
Our hope of eternal life is also not based on our goodness, merit, or future faithfulness. Our security is based on the promises of a God “who cannot lie.” In fact, just to make it doubly secure, He added an oath to His promise. When you stand on the promises of God, you are standing on the rock-solid foundation of the immutability of God.
Ah! we love to speak about the sweet promises of God; but if we could ever suppose that one of them could be changed, we would not talk anything more about them. If I thought that the notes of the bank of England could not be cashed next week, I should decline to take them; and if I thought that God's promises would never be fulfilled—if I thought that God would see it right to alter some word in his promises—farewell Scriptures! I want immutable things: and I find that I have immutable promises when I turn to the Bible: for, "by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lie," he hath signed, confirmed, and sealed every promise of his. (Charles Spurgeon)
Next: (65) Finding Stability in an Immutable God
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