The Unchanging God—part 2
Text: James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
Last week we looked at some of the unchanging attributes of God. We talked about the unchanging unity of God—the fact that there always was and always will be only one God. We talked about the unchanging eternal existence of God—the fact that God had no beginning and will have no end. Thirdly, we talked about God’s unchanging attribute of Omnipresence—the fact that God is not limited by time or space and that He is everywhere present eternally.
As we continue our study of our Unchanging God let us look at some more of His wonderful attributes that belong only to Him.
I. God is Unchanging in His Omnipotence.
Omnipotence means “all-powerful.” Our God possesses infinite power. This power is not limited in any way. This attribute is gloriously illustrated in the Bible. Beginning in the first chapter of Genesis we see God’s creative ability displayed when He spoke the world and all that it contains, as well as the universe into existence. No one but God possesses the power to create something from nothing.
Let us look at some passages of Scripture that further illustrate this Divine attribute.
1 Chronicles 29:11 “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
Job 26:14 “but the thunder of his power who can understand?”
Psalms 62:11 “God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.”
Jeremiah 10:12-13 “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion. When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.”
Habakkuk 3:3-6 “God came from Teman, and the Holy One from mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. And his brightness was as the light; he had horns coming out of his hand: and there was the hiding of his power. Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. He stood, and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.”
As we can see from Scripture, God is almighty. His power is not only almighty, but it is also perfect. He possesses all power to do all things. Nothing is too difficult for him. This is illustrated by the miracles both in the Old Testament and in the New. He parted the Red Sea, brought manna from Heaven, water from a rock, brought healing to the sick, and raised the dead. In the New Testament Jesus Christ who is God in human flesh displayed this attribute. He fed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. He healed the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the dumb. He brought deliverance to the demon possessed and money from the mouth of a fish. He walked on water, and stopped a storm with his Word. He raised the dead and escaped from the hand of his enemies, “for His time was not yet come.” He was crucified and three days later was resurrected from the dead. Nothing is impossible or even difficult for our God! He is almighty! He is omnipotent! You can trust Him with your life!
II. God is unchanging in His omniscience.
This attribute describes the infinite knowledge of God. He alone possesses perfect knowledge of all things eternally past, present, and eternally future. His knowledge is not limited.
Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Acts 15:18 “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”
Psalms 139:1-4 “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
Psalms 139:12 “Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”
1 Chronicles 28:9 “For the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts”
Psalms 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”
God possesses the highest possible perfection of infinite knowledge. With God there is nothing difficult or mysterious, but all things are plainly understood by Him. This knowledge is not limited to any one particular area of creation such as heaven, earth, or hell. God’s infinite knowledge spans all the endless expanses of space and eternity.
He knows our thoughts before we think them. He knows our attitudes before we display them to others. God knows our words before they slip off the end of our tongue. His knowledge is far above what human mind can comprehend.
III. God is unchanging in His Holiness.
This attribute of God refers to His absolute righteousness. It is impossible for there to be any lack of moral perfection in God. Scripture abounds with clear illustrations of this attribute.
Habakkuk 1:13 “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity.”
1 Peter 1:16 “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Isaiah 6:3 “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Revelation 4:8 “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.”
Psalms 71:22 “I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.”
God’s infinite holiness implies “the possession of an unchangeable will and nature, inclining him, in every conceivable case and at all times, to approve, love, and do, that which is right; and to condemn, hate, and abstain from, that which is wrong.” God can no more look with upon evil without abhorring it than he can cease to be God.
God is indeed an all-powerful, all-knowing, and Holy God.
Because He is all-powerful, we can be confident in His ability to save even the worst of sinners. Because He is all-knowing, we realize that no sin in our lives will go un-noticed by Him. Because He is Holy, we know that He not only demands that we be holy, but we also know that He provided a way for us to be holy through faith in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” Titus 3:5
We do not earn our salvation through our righteousness, for sinners have no righteousness. “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 Through His mercy, God grants forgiveness and opens the door for us to live “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:12
Bibliography:
Leslie D. Wilcox, Profiles in Wesleyan Theology, vol. 1, Schmul Publishing Co., Inc., 1983.
