What Difference Does It Make That God Is Immutable Essays

What Difference Does It Make That God Is Immutable? Doug Friesen TH211: Systematic Theology Shane Keating What difference does it make to us that God is immutable? Immutability is a key attribute of God and without that He wouldn't even be God. It would be hard to have a personal relation ship with Him. As well as our relationship suffering our knowledge of God would be severed also, and who is to say if our salvation would be as secure today? But first to understand completely what is in question we must define immutability and come to a conclusion as per its reference to God. Immutability defined in Webster's Dictionary is quoted as, "unchangeable; unalterable" . The same word defined in Unger's Bible Dictionary states, " The divine attribute of unchangeableness" . Again defined in Nave's Topical Bible, " the perfection of God by which He is devoid of all change in essence, attributes, consciousness, will, and promises" . In all three instances, secular and religious, the word is clarified as unchangeable, but only one gave it as an attribute of God. Now as a back up point to clarify, immutability declares that God is unchanging, but it is not to be confused with immobility. God acts, and His actions vary with reference to different ends. His affection changes according to how that person's attitude changes toward Him. So gathered from that we can state God is constantly the same in His essence, in the mode of His existence, in His perfections, and in the principles of His administration. Now that we have come to a conclusion on what the immutability of G od is we can ask ourselves what it would be like if He weren't immutable? If God were not immutable He wouldn't even be God. Just like all the other attributes of God place Him high above all else so does immutability. To state the fact that God is unchanging helps to create a foundation on which we can base other claims to our belief, such as the truth of God and imperfection. God with out this unchanging attribute is now given in to human likeness and that includes sin. He could change His ways to appeal to Him what ever He desired without any cares about man because when you remove immutability you remove the possibility of Him possessing benevolence or righteousness. If you remove the truth and benevolence of God you are left with imperfection. It is a big cycle with attributes, once one is removed they all may collapse without definite proof or backing. So lets look and see what a God without immutability would seem like. Well the attribute of immutability is essential the deity of God. "To think of God otherwise than as unchangeable is to think of Him otherwise than perfect" . With that said we must then ask how does that effect my relationship with God? Well if God were not immutable our relationship would definitely suffer. We wouldn't know first of all how to talk to Him because His attitude would be like ours and half the time I don't even know how to talk to others because of their attitudes. Imagine a God with stress. I mean how could we as puny humans be able to deal with a God who has drastic mood swings. We would all be busy hiding from God unknowing if this is the day He enjoys our company or not. Basically our relationship would be brought down from the level it is now with a loving Creator who saved His creation, to a High Commander and His miniscule microscopic beings, who better not make Him mad. But now to answer the question from the quote above, what if God isn't perfect, how do we k now our God isn't changing? If you look in Psalms 102:26-27 He tells us, "They will perish but You will endure; Yes, all of them will grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. But You are the same, And Your years have no end." This passage shows us that our God is unchanging, but also that He has control over all things changing and that He changes them.