Title: Two Verses Bring Three Questions
17 In the same way God, desiring even more to demonstrate to the heirs of the promise the fact that His purpose is unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.
What are the two “unchangeable things”
Answer: V. 17 the “promise” was sealed with an “oath”
Greek: ametathetos (am-et-ath’-et-os)
Unchangeable, more commonly translated as “Immutable”
Question One: Why is God’s immutability such a central characteristic to the Christian faith? Why is it so important that God does not change? (Hint: Compare this to the Greek and Roman “gods” that the original audience was used to.)
A: He unchanging nature makes him trustworthy.
He says what he does, and does what he says. We, made in HIS image are commanded by Jesus (Matt 5:37) and James (James 5:12) to “let your ‘yes’ be your ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be your ‘no’”.
Question Two: What do we mean when we say that God is anthropomorphic?
A: He communicates with us in “human” way, so that we can better understand His nature and character, that would otherwise be beyond our comprehension. In His sovereignty he communicates to us in a way we can understand and know Him.
Examples: “Nothing escapes the eye of God”
“God regretted that he made an on earth” (Gen. 6)
“I saw the hand of God in that”
God’s native language is not English, nor Greek, nor Hebrew) He “speaks” to us in these ways so that we can clearly understand Him.
In our context of today’s verse, we know that God is not signing a literal contract as an oath, He uses these phrases so that we can understand Him.
Conclusion: God’s anthropomorphism is an expression of his love.
Question Three: What’s the application?
Answer: We who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to hold firmly to the hope set before us.
The concept of refuge in God is all over the Scriptures
Psalm 46:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
Nahum 1:7.
“The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him.”
We shelter under the mighty wing of God and are encouraged to “fight the good fight, keep the faith, finish the race” (2 Tim 4).
In times of unexpected death, and joyous birth.
In times of massive expenses and unexpected surplus of income.
In times of spiritual deserts and overflowing oasis’s.
Immanuel.
God is with us.