Introduction

Over the first twelve posts we have begun to think harder about  God’s happiness, our happiness, our love for His Word, and our security in Christ. In the very first post of this series I wrote, “I want to encourage you to think hard about God. That’s theology. John Hammett wrote, ‘Theology is simply using our minds to know and love God.’  (Hammett, 15) Let’s think hard about God, because there are great things to know, treasure, and love about God.”

I now want to take the next several posts to practice theology. I want to look at some of the great things that make God so special that we can know, treasure, and love about Him. We’re going to look at some of the characteristics and attributes of God.

The Immutability of God

To say that God is immutable is to say that God does not change. I think this is a great place for us to start as we think hard about God, because we’ll discover that God is completely good. As we discover that God is completely good, we’ll also see that it is good that God does not change.

When we put a spotlight on the truth that God does not change we are putting His perfections on display. James Boyce wrote in 1887, “perfection permits neither increase as though He lacks, nor decrease as though He can lose. Change must be for the worse or for the better, but God cannot become worse or better.” (Boyce, 73)

In other words, perfect can’t be made better. Since God is perfect, He can’t be made better. God does not change – He never needs to change. He’s perfect!

Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Malachi 3:6a (ESV)

“For I the LORD do not change;”

The Perfect ______

We’ve probably all said things like…

“The weather is perfect today.”

“That was the perfect vacation.”

“That was the perfect date.”

“That was a perfect game.”

But think about it. Do we really mean those things were perfect? What we probably mean is that all of those things were really, really good. In all honesty, they weren’t perfect. For instance, even if it was the “perfect vacation” it could have been just a little bit better. Even if the weather was perfect one day, it’s probably not perfect the next day. In that case, it changed.

But when we start to talk about God, it’s a whole different ballgame. We can really and truly say that God is perfect. He does not change. He won’t be better tomorrow, because He’s perfect. He won’t be worse tomorrow, because He’s perfect.

We can completely trust in and depend upon Him, because He is perfect and does not change.

Think Harder

• Make a list of some of the characteristics or attributes about God.
• Look over your list and think about why the things you wrote are such a big deal.

REFERENCE LIST

Boyce, James P. 1887. Abstract of systematic theology. Hanford, CA: den Dulk Christian Foundation.

Hammett, John. 2005. Biblical foundations for Baptist churches: a contemporary ecclesiology. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications.