immut
Mike Abendroth
Stephen Charnock on the Immutability of God
from Existence and Attributes of God (1682)
Introductory
Psalm 102.26-7 - “God is unchangeable in his essence, nature and perfections.”
1. The immutability of God is a perfection
2. Immutability is a glory belonging to all his attributes
3. Unchangeableness necessarily pertains to the nature of God
I. In what respects God is immutable
1. God is unchangeable in his essence
1. If his essence were mutable God would not truly be God
2. Nor could he be perfectly blessed and rejoice in himself
3. Then he would either be increasing or decreasing
4. God is from himself, no other
2. God is immutable in regard of knowledge
1. To change in knowledge is impossible for a wise God
2. If changeable in knowledge then not fit to be trusted
God always knows
1. He knows by his own essence
2. He knows all things by one intuitive act
3. His knowledge and will is the cause of all things
4. So distinction of past and future makes no change in God’s knowledge
5. The manner of God’s knowledge is incomprehensible
3. God is unchangeable in regard of his will and purpose
1. The will of God is the same with his essence
2. There is concurrence of God’s will and understanding in everything
3. There can be no reason for any change in the will of God
1. It cannot be from want of foresight
2. Nor from instability of will
3. Nor from want of strength
4. Though God’s will is immutable, the things willed are not
5. The immutability of God’s will
II. Reasons to prove God immutable
1. His name
2. If God were changeable he could not be the most perfect being
3. Nor most simple
4. Nor eternal
5. Nor infinite and almighty
6. The world could not be governed other than by an immutable being
III. Immutability is proper to God and incommunicable
1. The changeableness of bodily creatures – obvious
2. The changeableness of spiritual creatures
No creature can be immutable in its nature
- because every creature rose from nothing
- because every creatures depends on the will of God
- no creature is absolutely perfect
IV. Some propositions to refute objections
1. There was no change in God when he began to create the world
1. because there was no new will in him
2. nor new power
3. nor is there any new relation acquired by God through creation
2. There was no change in the divine nature of the Son when he took human nature
3. Repentance and other affections are not changes in God
1. Repentance is not properly in God
2. But in Scripture God accommodated himself to our weakness
3. Repentance in God is change of his outward conduct according to an unchanged
will
4. The non-fulfillment of some promises does not imply change
5. God does not change when love towards a creature turns to anger or anger to love
6. A change of laws by God is no change in God
V. Use
1. Information
1. Christ is divine
2. Here is ground and encouragement for worship
3. This shows how different man is to God – so inconstant
1. Inconstancy in truth
2. Inconstancy in will and affections
3. Inconstancy in practice
- in those outside the church
- and in those inside the church
4. God’s immutability is bad news for those resolved to wickedness
2. Comfort
1. The covenant stands unchangeable
2. Perseverance is made certain
3. Eternal happinesss is assured
3. Exhortation
1. A sense of the changeableness and uncertainty of all beside God
1. Let not our thoughts be much on them
2. Much less should we trust or rejoice in them
3. Prefer an immutable God before mutable creatures
2. Patience under such providences as declare his immutable will
3. Imitate God – strive to be immoveable in goodness
1. It is reasonable
2. It is our glory and interest
3. By it we begin the disposition of heaven on earth
4. Let it teach us to have recouse to God and aim at nearness to him.
Thomas Watson, "[Jesus] alone is the Prince of Preachers. He alone is the best of expositors."