God’s Changelessness

I am the LORD, I do not change.

Malachi 3:6

In his book Knowing God, Dr. J. I. Packer tells us that Bible study helps us because the God who interacted with the characters of Scripture is the same God who cares for us today. “The God with whom they had to do is the same God with whom we have to do,” wrote Packer, “for God does not change in the least particular.” His character does not change; His truth does not change; His ways do not change; His purposes do not change.

“God does not change,” said Packer. “Fellowship with Him, trust in His Word, living by faith, standing on the promises of God, are essentially the same realities for us today as they were for the Old and New Testament believers. This thought brings comfort as we enter into the perplexities of each day.”^a

You can count on this—it’s as predictable as God Himself: He is unchanging. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

All change must be to the better or the worse. But God cannot change to the better, since He is absolutely perfect; neither can He change to the worse, for the same reason.

HENRY THIESSEN^b