Title: Hebrews 13:8 The Immutable Christ
The unchanging Christ (Hebrews 13:8)
Everything in this world changes, but there are some things in this world that do not change. Today's text teaches that. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Even if everything in the world changes, our Lord Jesus Christ does not change. Because he is eternal and unchanging. Because he is one who stands unchangingly in the midst of a changing world, we believe in him and always depend on him and follow him.
So, in what ways is Jesus unchanged?
1. He is unchanging in his body and being.
There is only one Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Jesus alone is the measure of our standards of worth, and therefore the subject of our gratitude. We worship, praise, and glorify Him as our Savior for all eternity because Jesus Christ is eternal and unchanging.
If the text is translated directly from the original Greek text, it means, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Commentator Bengel referred to this passage as "a solemn title and a summary of the gospel." As the American theologian William Filcher once said, "Sacred sages and heroes are gradually fading from our memory, but Jesus Christ never disappears or is forgotten, no matter how many years pass." A being that remains in the human mind for a short time and then disappears would not be an object of faith.
In 1635 the Academy was founded in France. It was briefly interrupted during the French Revolution, but its activity continues to this day. Members of the French Academy call it "Inmotello". It means "one who does not die". But no one never dies. Only one, Jesus Christ, is eternal. Therefore, the text says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
2. There is no change in the covenant of the Word.
Even if heaven and earth change, it is the word of the Lord that does not change. But human promises are unreliable. Because humans are easily changeable beings. Therefore, there are many things that break the promises we have made to each other. Because humans are mutable beings.
Hebrews 13:20 says, “The God of peace who brought our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, from the dead by the blood of the everlasting covenant.” It is said to be the blood of the eternal covenant. The blood of the eternal covenant means God's promise that the shed blood of Jesus Christ will redeem all people. God's covenant with his people is eternal and unchanging. Therefore, we can believe and follow God's promises.
Not just the past. Even today, God's promises are being fulfilled. Jesus Christ, who promised, “I will always be with you, even to the end of the world,” is with us now and will be with us forever and ever. Even if the world passes and changes, God's promises to us do not change forever.
Therefore, even on this earth full of tribulation and trials, we must believe in God's promises and live a victorious life with strong and bold faith. God will surely fulfill the promise that He is with us wherever we go and whatever we do.
In this rapidly changing generation, the word of God's covenant is the unchanging and unchanging word, so we risk our lives to obey and completely depend on God's word. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers and the flowers wither, but the word of our God stands forever.” Even if everything in the world changes, only the word of the Lord will be your lamp and guide forever.
3. The power of Jesus does not change forever.
God is the Almighty God who created the universe. He is a God of power. That ability has not changed since then or now.
The boat that Jesus and his disciples were on met with a storm. So what did the disciples do when they begged Jesus to spare them? “Be still, wind, be still, sea,” he said. Then the wind and the sea became calm. In this way, He will calm us when the storm of tribulation comes upon us.
God's power never fades and never weakens. It's always the same. It doesn't change. The power of God is the power of omnipotence and infinite power. It is the perfect power to do nothing. This mighty power governs and provides for all things in the universe. He asserts the rise and fall of the Korean people or nation and presides over the life and death of an individual.
The power of God sustains us, guides us, and protects us like the pupil of the eye. The power of Jesus Christ is the same at creation, now, and forever. When we, who are weak, believe and depend on God, this amazing power becomes our power and works.
Now we close the word.
The reason we do not lose heart under any circumstances and believe in the power of the Lord and move forward is because of the unchanging grace and love of Jesus Christ. It is the same yesterday and today, and there is no change in its body. The word of the covenant is unchanging, and its power is the same. In this ever-changing world, I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will overcome with strong and courageous faith, relying on Jesus Christ, who has not changed at all.