## The Unchanging Christ

## Hebrews 13:8

Ps 90:2, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

Mal 3:6, "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."

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."

Rev 1:8, "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

We are living in an ever?changing society. So many changes have taken place in the past century. We have seen remarkable advances in technology; advances in the medical field, as well as in a multitude of other areas. Many of these have been changes that were good and beneficial to mankind; while others have led to tragic consequences. However, I am thankful that in this changing world, we have a God and Savior who doesn't change! He is and always will be the same as He was in all eternity past. [2]

I. He never changes in His character.

A. Men have tried to destroy His character for centuries.

1. The French infidel Voltaire said of Jesus, "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion that has ever infected the world."

2. He also boasted, "In twenty years Christianity will be no more. My single hand shall destroy the edifice it took twelve apostles to rear."

3. After his death, Voltaire's house was used by the Geneva Bible Society to print Bibles.

4. Thomas Paine wrote "The Age of Reason" in which he scoffed against Christ and the Word of God, but he died a drunkard's death and Christ lives on.

B. Every attempt to destroy the character of Christ has failed!

1. His critics die while He lives on.

2. He is as far above all His critics as the heavens are above the earth.

3. Jesus Christ is the one great stainless character of all ages.

II. He never changes in His love.

A. His love is a great love.

1. Look at the scene on Mt. Calvary as He sheds His precious blood for you and for me.

2. No one forced Him to give His life away ... He did it because He loved us so much.

Jn. 15: 13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his f riends."

B. His love is a universal love.

1. On the cross, He loved those who loved Him, but He was also loved those who hated Him.

2. He loved those who laid the stripes upon His back.

3. Those who had spit in His face and mocked Him.

4. Those who drove the nails into His hands and feet.

5. Those who had plucked out His beard.

6. He loved you and me, and every one who has ever lived or ever will live!

7. His love is universal!

C. His love is a pardoning love.

1. Listen as He struggles for enough air to pray for those who were there that day.

"Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." cf Luke 23:34

2. He pardons and saves all who come to Him by faith.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." cf. Isaiah 1:18

3. His willingness to love and pardon us continues even after we become Christians.

"if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un righteousness." cf 1 Jn. 1:9

III. He never changes in His power.

(Matthew 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

A. He has the power to save.

1. One day a man was riding to the city of Damascus.

2. His sole purpose for going there was to find some Christians that he might persecute and destroy.

3. His desire was to stamp out Christianity and blot the name of Jesus from off the face of the earth.

4. But the power of Christ prevailed, and he was saved that day and became a mighty voice proclaiming Christ around the world.

5. That man was the apostle Paul and his testimony to the power of Christ to save is found in 1 Timothy 1:15.

(1 Timothy 1:15) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

6. This morning, if you are saved, it is because of His power and no other! 7. He has the power to save!

B. He has the power to keep.

1. When He saves us, He never lets go!

2. When Jesus puts His hand around us and God puts His hand over us, there is no force on earth and no power in hell strong enough to snatch us away from Him!

3. Two great passages:

(John 10:28-29) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

(John 5:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

4. When we are born into the family of God, we have eternal life ... everlasting life ... and it will never end!

5. He has the power to keep!

C. He has the power to help us every day.

1. He can help us in sickness.

2. He can help us when trouble comes.

3. He can help us when sorrow is breaking our hearts.

4. There are times when no one can help us but Jesus.

"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Heb. 13:5

IV. He never changes in His purpose.

A. His purpose is to save men and women; boys and girls.

1. He came to earth to bridge the chasm between God and man.

(2 Corinthians 5:19) To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

2. Christ's purpose is to see us saved!

"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" Re. 22:17

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Jn. 6:37

3. Certainly Jesus came into the world to reveal to us what God is like and to set an example for us, but the main purpose in coming was to see us saved!

B. His purpose is also to use us in the salvation of others.

"As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." Jn. 20:21

1. It is His purpose for us to tell others everywhere about Him, and about what He did for them and can do for them.

2. His purpose is to use us in the work of redemption here and around the world.

3. How are we doing with that?

- He never changes in His character.
- He never changes in His love.
- He never changes in His power.
- He never changes in His purpose.

Thank God for an unchanging Savior! While we walk on the shifting sands of this world, we can be assured that we are on the Rock that will never fail.

Do you know Jesus Christ as your savior today? He is unchanging in His character, in His love, in His power, and in His purpose.

Christians, are we fulfilling the purpose the Christ saved us for? Are we telling others about Him? Are we serving Him with our lives?

Whatever the need, come today!