The truth about the immutability
of God and His laws
It is imperative that we hold on
to the fact that God and His word are both immutable and do not change as
clearly state by the Lord who says; "For I am the LORD, I do not change;
therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob”. And with regards to the law,
although no one is justified by the law in the sight of God and the just shall
live by faith, nevertheless, the law is holy, just, good and spiritual (Malachi
3:6; Romans 7:12, 14).
The truth of the matter is, not
being justified by keeping the law does not nullify it and makes it obsolete.
On the contrary according to the apostle Paul; “Do we then make void the law
through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.” He said
again; “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary,
I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known
covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet." (Galatians
3:31; Romans 7:7).
Therefore it is preposterous for
anyone to believe, or assume that the commandments of God are no longer in
force. Anyone who believes or are in the assumption that the commandments of
God are not in force, are under a huge cloud of deception. For Jesus Christ
said categorically: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the
Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” He went on to validate the
certainty of the commandments by saying; “For assuredly, I say to you, till
heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from
the law till all is fulfilled.
Whoever therefore breaks one of
the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in
the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called
great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:17-19).
Therefore, although without a
shadow of doubt, it is by grace we have been saved through faith, and that not
of ourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, we
nevertheless are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works,
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them and the good works
which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them are all inscribed in
His laws, the manual and guide book given to man in order for man to know how
to live in the Spirit. The irony of truth is, there is a life which is in
accordance to the laws of God, or in the Spirit, and there is a life which is
in accordance to the flesh, or in accordance to the customs and traditions of
men.
Now the one which is in
accordance to the laws of God or in accordance to the Spirit, is a straight
gate and a narrow way and only a few people will find it, but the way which is
in accordance to the flesh, and traditions and customs of men, is wide and
broad, and each one does what seems right in his/her own eyes, and walking
after the imagination of their own hearts, and though it leads to destruction,
there are many who goes through it.
Believers therefore, have been
duly admonished saying; “I say then: Walk in the Spirit” (meaning, walking in
accordance to the laws of God as Jesus plainly said, “ It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits
nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”) And you
shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit
and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so
that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit,
you are not under the law” (Galatians 5: 16-18; John 6:63).
To live contrary to what is
inscribed in the laws of God, is to live in accordance to the flesh, where,
everyman does what seems right in his/her own eyes, and walks according to the
imagination of his/her heart, unfortunately, this is the cause for the massive
confusion that exists in the world, especially in the Christian religion, man
has blatantly rejected the laws of God and holding tenaciously to the customs
and traditions of men.
Despite the fact that Jesus Christ denounced
it by saying; “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me. and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of
men:' For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men”
(Matthew 15:9; Mark 7:6-8).
Now, not only are we to know and
believe the truth about the immutability of God and His laws in order to avoid
becoming a victim of deception, we also have to demonstrate our belief by
obeying them. Because according to the apostle James; “What does it profit, my
brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save
him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of
you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do
not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.'
“But someone will say, "You
have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and
I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do
well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble! But do you want to know, O
foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:15-20).
So the way one demonstrates
his/her knowledge and belief in the truth about the immutability of God and His
laws is by obeying them. For it is written; “Now by this we know that we know
Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does
not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever
keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that
we are in Him.” And Jesus said quite emphatically, “If you love Me, keep My
commandments” (1John 2:3-5; John 14:15)
Therefore, being confident of the
immutability of God and His laws and showing due respect to this fact is the
first step towards avoiding being deceived regardless of how charismatic or
appealing to the flesh the deceivers may appear to be.
