A. The thirteenth chapter of the book of Hebrews begins
with a series of "sentence sermons.”
1.
Most of Hebrews
is comprised of detailed explanations of the superiority of Christ and the new
covenant over the angels, the Law of Moses, and the priesthood of Aaron.
2.
However, the last
chapter does not have the same characteristic of doctrinal discourse. Instead, the first eight verses consist of
succinct sentences, each of which gives a brief but potent direction or statement
without elaborate detail.
B. In this lesson, let us notice the last of these
sentence sermons from Hebrews 13:8 – "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
today, yes and forever.”
1.
This simple
statement is a fundamental truth about our Lord, who does not change and cannot
be changed by anything or anybody.
2.
This truth has
great importance and should give much comfort to every Christian.
II. THE UNCHANGEABLE CERTAINTY OF GOD
A. Uncertainty is a very uncomfortable feeling.
1.
Typically, we
want to know what to expect today, tomorrow, and in the days to come. When a person is uncertain about whether or
not his job will continue, whether or not his health will endure, or how he
will get his next meal, he is likely to be stressed and discomforted.
2.
Such is our
uncertain life in this world, for "you do not know what your life will be like
tomorrow” (Jas. 4:14). Likewise, Proverbs
27:1 tells us, "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may
bring forth.”
B. However, there is no uncertainty with our Lord Jesus
Christ, for He does not change.
1.
He is the same
God today as He was in the beginning.
a. The Scripture says that in the beginning Jesus "was
the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
b. Jesus indicated His unchanging, eternal nature when He
said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58).
2.
He is the same
power through whom God the Father created the heavens and the earth.
a. In Genesis 1:1, we learn that "[i]n the beginning, God
created the heavens and the earth.” In John
1:1-3 and Hebrews 1:3, we learn that Jesus was the agent through which God the
Father accomplished creation in the beginning.
b. Since the beginning, Jesus has not diminished in
power. He has not changed.
3.
He is the same
righteous person that came to earth and walked as a man, teaching and
practicing that which is good.
a. The Creator came into His creation in the form of a
man and revealed grace, truth, and the image of His Father (John 1:9-18; Phil.
2:5-8; Heb. 1:3).
b. From His time on earth and the teachings of His word,
we can know who Jesus is even now, for He has not changed.
4.
He is still the
same Lord who ascended back to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God
on the throne of David (Acts 2:29-36).
a. In His prayer to the Father on the night of His
betrayal, He said, "Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the
glory which I had with You before the world was” (John 17:5). He assumed that glory again when He was
raised from the dead and ascended to heaven.
b. The glorious Son of God, who descended to earth and ascended
back to heaven, has not changed. Peter,
James, and John saw that glory with their own eyes while He was still on earth
(Matt. 17:1-9; 2Pet. 1:16-18; 1John 1:1-3), and He has that same glory today.
5.
He is the same
force today who continuously "upholds all things by the word of His power”
(Heb. 1:3).
a. Not only did Jesus create all things, but He has never
ceased to hold it all together by His power.
b. The continuation of the universe is evidence of His
unchanging power. He does not grow older,
weaker, or tired, but He remains as the Almighty.
6.
He is the same
judge whom we shall see coming again at the resurrection for the final judgment.
a. Jesus will come with the clouds, rewarding the
faithful, and "dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to
those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (1Thess. 4:13-18; 2Thess.
1:6-10; Rev. 1:7).
b. The same Jesus who created the world, came into it,
died for it, ascended back to heaven, and gave His word is the Jesus who is
coming again to judge the world by His word.
C. This unchangeable quality of Christ is shared with God
the Father.
1.
Our God is not
fickle, and He does not waver in His will or His promises.
2.
In James 1:17, we
notice that "[e]very good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting
shadow.”
a. The "Father of lights” has always provided for our
needs with every good thing and every perfect gift. Every good thing that we have now or have
ever had in the past came from God.
b. This same "Father of lights” will continue to provide
for our needs, for there is no variation with Him. If He provided for us in the past, then He
will provide today and tomorrow.
3.
The Father does
not change His plan for man's salvation, for the work of redeeming man that was
accomplished through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ was "in
accordance with the eternal purpose” of God (Eph. 3:11).
a. God's eternal plan to save man began to unfold
immediately after man's fall (Gen. 3:15), and it was consummated "in the
fullness of time” when Christ came to earth (Gal. 4:4-5).
b. All the years of man's stubborn rebellion and sin did
not deter God from carrying out His plan, and nothing will stop Him from
finishing it now.
III. CONCLUSION – THE CONFIDENCE OF CERTAINTY
A. Knowing that our Lord does not change, we can have
great confidence, security, and comfort.
1.
It is comforting
to know that the merciful and compassionate Lord about whom we read in the
pages of the New Testament is the same Lord who will judge us in the last day
(Matt. 7:21-23; 25:31-46).
2.
It is also
comforting to know that the standard of His judgment is the word which He
spoke, which He has not altered and will not alter until He comes again (John
12:48).
3.
It gives us great
security to be part of the church that Christ built, which He said by His
unalterable word will not be overpowered by the gates of Hades (Matt. 16:18).
4.
By knowing our
unchangeable Lord, we can know what to expect for eternity, which is life in
Him. In this, we find wonderful comfort
indeed.
B. Finally, notice Revelation 1:8, where John recorded
these words of Jesus – "‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,' says the Lord God, ‘who
is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'”
1.
From the
beginning of creation, to the crucifixion, and to the judgment, our Lord is the
Almighty.
2.
By knowing what
He has already done, we may also know for certain that He will do all He has
said, for He has proven that He is the Almighty.
3.
Knowing this, let
us confidently beseech our unchangeable, Almighty Lord in the words of John,
"Come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
