Of GOD’s UNCHANGEABLENESS

1. What do you understand by God’s being [unchangeable]?

His most perfect constancy, whereby he is infinitely free of any actual or possible change, but is always the same.

2. How is God’s unchangeableness proved from scripture?

From Mal. iii. 6. “I am the Lord, I change not:” Malachi 3:6 and, James i. 17.—“The Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

3. How may it be proved from reason?

Reason teaches, that if God did change, it behoved either to be to the better, or to the worse; neither of which is consistent with his absolute perfection.

4. Can any creature be unchangeable in its nature?

No: because every creature depends upon God for being and operation.

5. Are not holy angels, and glorified saints, unchangeable?

They are in a state of unchangeable happiness, Ephesians 1:10 but this is owing to sovereign grace, and not to their own natures. Romans 6:23

6. Did creation make any change in God?

It made a change in the creature, from nothing to being; but none in God, because his will and power to create were the same from eternity.

7. How is God unchangeable, when he is sometimes said in scripture to repent, as in Gen. vi. 6. Jonah iii. 10.?

When in these, or the like places, he is said to repent, it imports only an alteration of his way, or outward conduct, according to his infallible foresight, but no change of his mind or will.

8. What may we learn from God’s unchangeableness?

That he will accomplish his promise, Micah 7:20 rest in his love, Zephaniah 3:17 and finish the good work which he hath begun in the soul. Philippians 1:6

9. Wherein is God infinite, eternal, and unchangeable?

[In his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.]