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God never changes, either in His essential being,
or in His Divine purposes.
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This is important for us to understand.
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All that God is is immutable
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Not just His Character but also His plans and His
purposes.
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This is another way in which He is
''Solitary"
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It is also a function of
His omniscience and His omnipotence.
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It is another demonstration of His Invisibility
and His Transcendence.
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While we, as His creatures may perceive that which
seems to change with regard to His purposes, those changes lie with us
rather than with Him.
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It is our alteration or alteration within a
circumstance that changes, not the character oi plan of God.
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To change is to make things either better or
worse, or simply different.
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No such change is possible within the Character or
purpose of God.
1. There are verses which, if misunderstood, seem
to suggest that God changes His mind and purposes.
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Gen. 6:6-7 - 6And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on
the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7So the LORD said, "I
will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both
man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry
that I have made them."
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1 Sam. 15:11 - "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as
king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed
My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the
LORD all night
2. God Himself is eternally changeless in His
being, wisdom, power and truth.
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Exod. 3:14 - And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM."
And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM
has sent me to you.'"
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Ps. 102:25-27 - 25 Of old You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands. 26 They will perish, but
You will endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a
cloak You will change them, And they will be changed. 27 But You are
the same, And Your years will have no end.
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Mal. 3:6 - "For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
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Jam. 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from
above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow of turning.
3. God does not repent or change His mind.
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Numb. 23:19 - "God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a
son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or
has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
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1 Sam. 15:29 - And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor
relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent."
4. God's eternal purposes and plans do not change.
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Ps. 33:11 - The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans
of His heart to all generations.
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Eccl. 3:14 - I know that whatever God does, It shall be
forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God
does it, that men should fear before Him.
5. God's Word never changes.
6. God's eternal purposes for His elect people do
not change.
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Isa. 54:10 - For the mountains shall depart And the hills be
removed, But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My
covenant of peace be removed," Says the LORD, who has mercy on
you.
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Mal. 3:6 - "For I am the LORD, I do not change;
Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
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Rom. 11:28-29 - Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your
sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the
fathers. 29For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
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Heb. 6:17-18 - 17Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to
the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by
an oath, 18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for
God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge
to lay hold of the hope set before us.
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