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Sermon #06 — James Series
Title: Not even a Shadow!
Text: James 1:17 Subject: The Immutability of God Date: Tuesday Evening — March 3, 2015 Readings: Merle Hart and Frank Hall Introduction:
My text this evening is James 1:17. The title of my message is — Not Even a Shadow (James 1:17).
(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.
Three times in the Word of God we are given very clear, specific statements asserting the absolute immutability of our great God (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). God’s immutability is, of course, stated and taught throughout this Book. But in these three places it is asserted with unmistakable clarity.
Proposition: God is immutable, he cannot change or be changed.
Malachi 3:6
The Lord God himself, speaking by his prophet, Malachi, asserts his own immutability, the immutability of our God, the Triune Jehovah (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost); and he does so to assure our hearts of his grace, especially when he brings judgment upon the land.
(Malachi 3:6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
The Lord, Jehovah, our great God, encourages our faith, peace, and assurance as his believing people, with this brief description of himself. — “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Real faith must have an immutable God for its object. Were it possible for God to change, it would not be possible for anyone to absolutely trust him. Immutability is the foundation of our security in Christ. God’s elect are secure, not because we do not change, (We change often!) but because our God does not change.
Here is a claim of sovereignty. — “I am the Lord.” There is but one true and living God. He is Jehovah our God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Here the eternal, triune God claims greatness as the Sovereign of the universe. He is the holy, infinite, all-knowing, all-seeing, almighty, universally present God. Because he is God, Jehovah demands and deserves our reverence; and he shall have it, one way or another. When God says, “I am the Lord,” by that revelation of himself, he demands that all who hear his Word believe him. It is God’s character as God that demands and causes our faith. We trust him because he is God.
Here, our great God reveals an assuring attribute of his being. — “I change not.” Because the eternal God is eternal, because he is completely self-existent and independent, he must be immutable.
Sitting on his high and glorious throne, in the ease and serenity of his absolute sovereignty, God looks down upon the heavens, the earth, hell, all angels, all men, and all devils, and declares, “I am Jehovah, I change not!”
This great, unchanging God has a chosen, elect, favored people who are the objects of all his grace and all his Being! — “Ye sons of Jacob.” The sons of Jacob are God’s elect people, chosen by him in everlasting love (Romans 9:13). The sons of Jacob are those to whom the birthright and inheritance belong. The sons of Jacob gladly give the sons of Esau the goods of this world, because they live by faith and seek the world to come.
To these favored, beloved, chosen, redeemed, blood-bought, called, covenant people of God a promise is made. — “Therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed!” Were it not for the fact that our God changes not, we would have been consumed long ago. Because God is unchanging, his purpose is sure and he is faithful to his covenant. His chosen, redeemed, believing people are not consumed (Psalm 89:29-34).
(Psalm 89:29) His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
Yet, there is more. — Because our God changes not, not one of these chosen, beloved sons of Jacob can ever be consumed. This same God, who says, “I change not,” declares, “I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish!”
Hebrews 13:8
In Hebrews 13 the Spirit of God is teaching us to love one another and to live uprightly in this present evil world, being content with God, his grace, his provision, and his providence, — “For he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Then we read…
(Hebrews 13:6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (7) Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Now, here is the reason and the basis for these admonitions; and here is the End of our conversation, the End of our lives — verse 8.
(Hebrews 13:8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
Everything changes. Nothing remains the same. Sometimes the changes are delightful. Sometimes they are almost unbearable. But change is inevitable. What changes we have experienced! · Changes in our Families. · Changes in our Estates. · Changes in Our Nation. · Changes in our Health. · Changes in our Hearts.
Winter turns to spring, spring to summer, summer to fall, and fall to winter again. Everything changes. Nothing stays the same. In this world there is nothing solid, stable, and substantial.
“Vanity of vanities; all is vanity!” That is not the cry of hopelessness and despair. That is just a statement of fact. — “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity!”
Is there no solid rock upon which to stand? Is there no immovable anchor by which we can find stability? Is there no sure foundation upon which to build? Blessed be God there is one! — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” — The Lord Jesus Christ never changes! — He upon whom we have set our hearts, he who is the object of our faith, he who sits upon the throne of the universe, never changes. Our Lord Jesus Christ is immutable. He cannot change or be changed. He is always the same. — What does this mean?
First, all that he was yesterday, he is today. All that he was in the yesterday of eternity past, he is today. Was he the object of his Father’s delight before ever the world was made (Proverbs 8:30)? Then he is the Father’s delight today. Was he the Bearer and Dispenser of all the blessings of life and grace before the world began (Ephesians 1:3-6; 2 Tim. 1:9)? Then he has all life and grace in himself today, to give it to whomsoever he will.
All that he was yesterday, in his life upon the earth, he is today. He was tender, kind, sympathetic, and approachable then. And he is exactly the same now. He was the One in whom God was well pleased then. And he is the One, the only One, in whom God is well pleased now. He was made of God unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption then. And he is made the same to us now.
All that he was in the yesterday of these 2000 years since he ascended to the throne of glory, he is today. Did he take dominion over the universe as King? He is still reigning today. Did he send down his Spirit upon his church? He is still sending down his Spirit today. Did he do mighty works yesterday? He is still doing mighty things today.
All that Christ ever has been to his people yesterday he is to his people today. All that Christ ever did for his people yesterday he does for his people today. And the only reason you and I ever look back to a yesterday that appears to be better than today is that we fail to trust Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. If we did not fail to trust him, today would be but a new revelation and a larger experience of the grace revealed and experienced yesterday! All that Christ was yesterday he is today.
Second, because he is the same yesterday, and today, and forever, — All that he is and has been he will forever be; and all that he will be forever, he is at this moment. All that he is to your soul and mine, he will be forever. And all that he will forever be he is right now!
Try to grasp this. — All that Christ will be in the fullest revelation of his glory and grace in heaven, all the inconceivable closeness of love and communion, all the indescribable excellence of our union with Christ in heaven, all that Christ can in eternity be to me, he is to me and to all God’s elect right now! Amid all the changes that take place in this world and in our hearts, here is a message from God containing joy and strength which nothing can take away. — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever!”
Third, “Today!” — I love that word. Jesus Christ is immutable “today!” “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” I want you to know, trust, and love Christ today. Look not to yourself, your fickle feelings, or your unstable works. Trust him who changes not. Build upon this sure foundation, and you shall live forever. — “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
Look at the verse preceding this statement (Hebrews 13:7) — “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (v. 7). The apostle admonishes us to remember those men who have preached the gospel to us and to follow their examples of faith and faithfulness, keeping our hearts and minds fixed upon “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” If we would believe God, obey the gospel, and be faithful we must ever look to Christ (Hebrews 12:1-3).
Now, read the verse following this declaration of our Savior’s immutability (Hebrews 13:9). — “Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them which have been occupied therein” (v. 9). The admonition here is to doctrinal steadfastness. If our hearts are established with grace, firmly fixed upon the doctrine of the grace of God, our hearts must be fixed upon the immutable Christ.
Do you see how everything is built upon, flows from, and points to Christ? Christ is the source of all, the foundation of all, the center of all, the object of all, and the end of all. In the life of a believer, in all true doctrine, in all true faith, in all the church of God, Christ is all. And he is immutable. He never changes! This is God our Savior.
(Hebrews 13:8) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
(Malachi 3:6) For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
James 1:17
Now, let’s go to James 1:17. Here is the third assertion of God’s immutability.
(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.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.” — Christ is the unspeakable gift of God; and with the gift of his dear Son the Lord God gives his people every good and perfect gift of grace, salvation, and eternal life.
But there is more. — Every gift of God’s creation and every gift of God’s providence is, for his elect, good and perfect, and every good and perfect gift of creation and providence is ours in and with Christ Jesus.
“And cometh down from the Father of lights.” — He who is our God, the Creator of all things, is “the Father of lights.” He is the Father of all light.
Now, watch this: — “With whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” What a tremendous declaration that is of our great God’s absolute immutability. James, writing by inspiration of God the Holy Ghost, tells us that unlike the sun God made, God who made the sun has “no variableness,” no phase, no transmutation, not orbit, no fickleness! — “Neither shadow of turning!” With our God there is not even a shadow, not even a shade, not even a hint of turning!
(1 John 1:5) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
How great that God must be with whom there is not even a shadow of turning! — Not Even a Shadow! · Satan led a revolt against his throne; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning! · Sin entered into the world; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning! · Nations rise and nations fall; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning! · The heavens and the earth shall vanish away; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning! · A new heaven and a new earth shall be made; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning! · God’s elect shall enter into the bliss of eternal glory, and the damned shall be cast into hell forever; but God changes not and cannot be changed. — With God there is not even a shadow of turning!
God alone is unaffected. God alone is immutable. God alone never changes. God alone has not even a shadow of turning!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day, Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around me I see — O thou who changest not, abide with me.
Divisions: — God is immutable, unchanging and unchangeable. 1. In the essence of his being. 2. In the perfections of his nature. 3. In his purposes and decrees. 4. In his love toward his elect. 5. In the promises of his covenant.
In His Being
1. God is immutable, there is not even a shadow of turning in the essence of his being.
God is the eternal, infinite Spirit. He cannot change or be changed by anything. He who says, “I AM THAT I AM” (Exodus 3:15), can never experience change. He is immutable. I realize that it is far easier for me to say what God is not than it is for me to say what he is. But, of this you may be certain, whatever God is in the essence of his Being, he cannot change (Psalm 102:25-27). — He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever!
(Psalms 102:25-27) “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. (26) They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: (27) But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
Eternality will not permit change. — That which is eternal must of necessity be. And that which necessarily exists from eternity can never be changed. God is eternal. He is the only Being who is without cause. He is, because he is. Therefore, he cannot change or be changed.
Perfection will not permit change. — Perfection cannot be increased or diminished. God, who is perfect, cannot change for the better, because he is perfect already. He cannot change for the worse, for that would make him imperfect. — God never learned anything. Perfect knowledge cannot learn.
God is eternally and perpetually the same. He is immutable in the essence of his Being.
In His Attributes
2. God is unhanging and unchangeable in all his attributes, in all the glorious perfections of his nature.
God’s attributes are those perfections of the Divine character which are essential to his Being as God. In all the attributes of his nature God is immutable.
The power of God is immutable. — It is never exhausted, or even slightly diminished.
The knowledge of God is immutable. — God has never learned anything. And he has never forgotten anything.
The goodness of God is immutable. — God’s goodness extends to all his creatures. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. But God’s goodness is never in short supply. It is immutably abundant.
The faithfulness of God is immutable. — His faithfulness never fails! Though we believe not, “He abideth faithful.” · To His People. · To His Purposes. · To His Promises. · To Himself. · To His Son.
The glorious holiness of God is immutable. — God’s holiness is never tarnished. He is the immutably just and righteous one. His holiness is always illustriously the same. · Satan has not tarnished it. · Man has not tarnished it. · Grace has not tarnished it.
In His Decrees
3. In his purposes and decrees, there is no shadow of turning in our God.
John Gill wrote, “There is a purpose for everything, and a time for that purpose. God has determined all that ever was, is or shall be” — All that comes to pass comes to pass according to the sovereign, eternal, immutable counsel and decree of God. And there is not so much as a shadow of turning in his counsel, purpose, and decree. The Scriptures declare “The Immutability of His Counsel” (Hebrews 6:17; Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36; Proverbs 16:4).
(Proverbs 16:4) “The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.”
(Romans 11:36) “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
(Ephesians 1:11) “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”
(Hebrews 6:17) “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath.”
The purposes of God are always executed. They are never frustrated. It does not lie within the realm of created power to frustrate the purpose of the Creator. — “The counsel of the Lord stands forever” (Psalm 33:11; Proverbs 19:21; Isaiah 14:24, 27; 46:10).
(Psalms 33:11) “The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.”
(Proverbs 19:21) “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.”
(Isaiah 14:24) “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.”
(Isaiah 14:27) “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”
(Isaiah 46:10) “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
God’s purpose is in himself (Ephesians 1:9). That which God has purposed in himself cannot change until he changes. And he cannot change until he ceases to be God. And that cannot be!
God’s purposes and decrees are eternal (Ephesians 3:11; Romans 8:28-30).
(Romans 8:28-30) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
(Ephesians 3:11) “According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:”
No new thoughts arise in his mind. No new resolutions are formed in his heart. No new decrees come forth from his lips. His counsels are of old, from everlasting. God sees and knows all things at once. He declares the end from the beginning!
Changes in providence do not imply any change in God (Job 23:10-14).
(Job 23:10-14) “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. (11) My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. (12) Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (13) But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. (14) For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.”
God’s immutability is not inconsistent with the prayers of his people. Prayer will not change God’s purpose (Jeremiah 15:1).
(Jeremiah 15:1) “Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.”
Prayer is one of the instruments by which God accomplishes his purpose (Ezekiel 36:36-37; 2 Samuel 7:25-27).
Illustration: Hezekiah’s Prayer
(Ezekiel 36:36-37) “Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it. (37) Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will yet for this be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock.”
(2 Samuel 7:25-27) “And now, O LORD God, the word that thou hast spoken concerning thy servant, and concerning his house, establish it forever, and do as thou hast said. (26) And let thy name be magnified forever, saying, The LORD of hosts is the God over Israel: and let the house of thy servant David be established before thee. (27) For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.”
In His Love
4. God is immutable. Blessed be his name forever, there is not even a shadow of turning in his love toward his elect (Jeremiah 31:3; John 13:1).
(Jeremiah 31:1-3) “At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. (2) Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. (3) The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
(John 13:1) “Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
God’s love is like himself. It changes not. It is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. It is without variableness or shadow of turning. — “God is love.” And God’s love for his elect is... · Without beginning! · Without cause! · Without limitation! · Without change! · Without end!
Though we fell in Adam, God’s love never changed. — Though we lived long in rebellion and sin, God’s love never changed (Ezekiel 16:6-8; Ephesians 2:4-5; Titus 3:3-5; 1 John 3:1; 4:9-10).
(Ezekiel 16:6-8) “And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. (7) I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. (8) Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.”
(Ephesians 2:4-5) “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved.)”
(Titus 3:3-5) “For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. (4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, (5) 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.”
(1 John 3:1) “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
(1 John 4:9-10) “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
Though we often sin against him still, God’s love never changes. — He hides his face from us; but he does not cease to love us (Isaiah 54:7-10). He afflicts us; but he does not cease to love us (Hebrews 12:6-11). — “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it” (Song of Solomon 8:7).
(Isaiah 54:7-10) “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (8) In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. (9) For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. (10) For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.”
(Hebrews 12:6-11) “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
God is immutable, there is not even a shadow of turning in (1.) the essence of his being, (2.) in the perfections of his nature, (3.) in his purposes and decrees, (4.) and in his love toward his elect.
In His Promises
5. And, fifthly, there is not even a hint of change, not a shadow of turning in all the covenant promises of our unchanging, unchangeable, immutable God (2 Corinthians 1:20).
(2 Corinthians 1:20) “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.”
The everlasting covenant of grace was made with Christ before the world began. And it stands fast with him. All the blessings of the covenant are called “sure mercies.” They flow to us from the free and sovereign grace of God through Christ. And they cannot be reversed (Romans 11:29).
What has God promised in the covenant? (Hebrews 8:10-12).
(Hebrews 8:10-12) “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (11) And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. (12) For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
He promised… · Regeneration · Adoption · Revelation · Mercy · Forgiveness
To whom are these promises made? (Psalm 89:19-37). · To Christ. · To All Who are In Christ.
(Psalms 89:19-37) “Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: (21) With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. (22) The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. (23) And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. (24) But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. (25) I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. (26) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28) My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29) His seed also will I make to endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. (33) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36) His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.”
The promises are made to all who believe on the Son of God (Isaiah 55:3, 6-7).
(Isaiah 55:3) “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.”
(Isaiah 55:6-7) “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Will God ever break his promise? (Hebrews 13:5). Never! He will never turn away from you to bless you and do you good.
(Hebrews 13:5) “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
· He will never take away his gifts of grace. · He will never charge his own elect with sin. · He will never cease his own to cherish!
(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.
Praise the Lord! He never changes! Come, extol His worthy name! Yesterday, today, forever God, our God remains the same!
Amen.
Don Fortner
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Pastor Fortner’s
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