Finding Stability in an Unchanging God
Summary
### Summary
In the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, we are reminded of the unshakable kingdom we receive through God's grace. Despite the rapid changes in our world, from technological advancements to political upheavals and natural disasters, certain truths remain constant. The nature of God, His Word, and human nature have not changed. God is unchanging in His holiness, judgment, and love. His Word stands forever, providing guidance and wisdom. Human nature, with its inherent sinfulness, remains the same, necessitating the need for salvation through Jesus Christ.
The sermon emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life through a relationship with Christ. In a world filled with suffering, struggle, and uncertainty, many people are searching for meaning. Philosophers and thinkers have long pondered the purpose of life, but the Bible provides clear answers. It tells us where we came from, where we are going, and how to live each day.
The way of salvation has not changed. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved. His sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness and a new life. To receive this gift, we must repent, believe, and commit our lives to Him. This commitment is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of faith and obedience.
In conclusion, despite the ever-changing world, God's nature, His Word, and the way of salvation remain constant. We are called to change, to repent, and to commit our lives to Christ. In doing so, we find true meaning, purpose, and assurance of eternal life.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Unchanging Nature of God: God's nature is unchanging. He is holy, just, and loving. His constancy provides a foundation of stability in an ever-changing world. We can trust in His unchanging character and find peace in His eternal presence. [11:55]
2. The Enduring Word of God: The Bible, as the Word of God, remains relevant and authoritative. It offers timeless wisdom and guidance, revealing God's will and purpose for humanity. In a world of shifting values and beliefs, the Bible stands as a steadfast source of truth. [13:48]
3. Human Nature and Sin: Human nature has not changed; we are all sinners in need of salvation. Our hearts are deceitful and wicked, and we fall short of God's glory. Recognizing our sinfulness is the first step towards repentance and receiving God's grace. [14:32]
4. The Way of Salvation: Salvation is found only through Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness and eternal life. This unchanging truth calls us to repent, believe, and commit our lives to Him. It is through Christ that we find true meaning and purpose. [15:34]
5. The Call to Change: While God and His Word remain constant, we are called to change. Repentance involves a complete turnaround in our lives, turning away from sin and towards God. This change is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life of faith and obedience. [16:51]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:21] - Changes Over the Decades
[02:35] - Political and Social Shifts
[03:42] - Natural Disasters and Calamities
[05:29] - Environmental Changes
[06:37] - The Search for Meaning
[07:36] - Philosophical Questions
[08:22] - Struggles and Suffering
[09:11] - Atheists Restudying the Bible
[10:07] - The Loss of Wisdom
[11:55] - The Unchanging Nature of God
[12:41] - God's Unchanging Holiness and Judgment
[13:48] - The Enduring Word of God
[14:32] - Human Nature and Sin
[15:34] - The Way of Salvation
[16:51] - The Call to Change
[18:35] - Christ's Sacrifice and Love
[19:50] - Living the Christian Life
[21:13] - Faith and Commitment
[22:30] - Assurance and Forgiveness
[23:15] - Public Declaration of Faith
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:26-29 (ESV) - "At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, 'Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.' This phrase, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 12:26-29 say about the things that can be shaken and the things that cannot be shaken?
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of the rapid changes in our world? [02:35]
3. How does the sermon describe the unchanging nature of God? [11:55]
4. What does the sermon say about the way of salvation and how it has remained constant? [15:34]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean that we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, according to Hebrews 12:26-29?
2. How does the unchanging nature of God provide stability in an ever-changing world? [11:55]
3. Why is it important to recognize our sinfulness as the first step towards repentance and receiving God's grace? [14:32]
4. How does the sermon explain the lifelong journey of faith and obedience in committing our lives to Christ? [16:51]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced rapid changes in your life. How did your faith in God's unchanging nature help you through that period? [02:35]
2. In what ways can you make the Bible a more central part of your daily life to benefit from its timeless wisdom and guidance? [13:48]
3. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of your own sinfulness and need for salvation in your daily walk with Christ? [14:32]
4. What steps can you take to ensure that your commitment to Christ is not just a one-time event but a lifelong journey of faith and obedience? [16:51]
5. Think of a specific area in your life where you need to repent and turn towards God. What practical steps can you take this week to make that change? [16:51]
6. How can you share the message of the unchanging way of salvation through Jesus Christ with someone in your life who is searching for meaning and purpose? [15:34]
7. Identify one aspect of God's unchanging character (holiness, judgment, love) that you want to focus on this week. How can you reflect this aspect in your interactions with others? [12:41]
Devotional
Day 1: The Unchanging Nature of God
God's nature is unchanging. He is holy, just, and loving. His constancy provides a foundation of stability in an ever-changing world. We can trust in His unchanging character and find peace in His eternal presence. Despite the rapid changes in our world, from technological advancements to political upheavals and natural disasters, certain truths remain constant. The nature of God, His Word, and human nature have not changed. God is unchanging in His holiness, judgment, and love. His Word stands forever, providing guidance and wisdom. Human nature, with its inherent sinfulness, remains the same, necessitating the need for salvation through Jesus Christ. [11:55]
Hebrews 13:8 (ESV): "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
Reflection: In what ways can you find peace and stability in God's unchanging nature amidst the chaos and changes in your life today?
Day 2: The Enduring Word of God
The Bible, as the Word of God, remains relevant and authoritative. It offers timeless wisdom and guidance, revealing God's will and purpose for humanity. In a world of shifting values and beliefs, the Bible stands as a steadfast source of truth. The sermon emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life through a relationship with Christ. In a world filled with suffering, struggle, and uncertainty, many people are searching for meaning. Philosophers and thinkers have long pondered the purpose of life, but the Bible provides clear answers. It tells us where we came from, where we are going, and how to live each day. [13:48]
Isaiah 40:8 (ESV): "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."
Reflection: How can you incorporate the wisdom and guidance of the Bible into your daily routine to navigate the uncertainties of life?
Day 3: Human Nature and Sin
Human nature has not changed; we are all sinners in need of salvation. Our hearts are deceitful and wicked, and we fall short of God's glory. Recognizing our sinfulness is the first step towards repentance and receiving God's grace. The way of salvation has not changed. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can be saved. His sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness and a new life. To receive this gift, we must repent, believe, and commit our lives to Him. This commitment is not a one-time event but a lifelong journey of faith and obedience. [14:32]
Jeremiah 17:9 (ESV): "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"
Reflection: What specific sins or shortcomings do you need to acknowledge and bring before God in repentance today?
Day 4: The Way of Salvation
Salvation is found only through Jesus Christ. His sacrifice on the cross offers forgiveness and eternal life. This unchanging truth calls us to repent, believe, and commit our lives to Him. It is through Christ that we find true meaning and purpose. In conclusion, despite the ever-changing world, God's nature, His Word, and the way of salvation remain constant. We are called to change, to repent, and to commit our lives to Christ. In doing so, we find true meaning, purpose, and assurance of eternal life. [15:34]
Acts 4:12 (ESV): "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Reflection: How can you deepen your commitment to Jesus Christ today, and what steps can you take to live out your faith more fully?
Day 5: The Call to Change
While God and His Word remain constant, we are called to change. Repentance involves a complete turnaround in our lives, turning away from sin and towards God. This change is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live a life of faith and obedience. The sermon emphasizes the importance of finding meaning and purpose in life through a relationship with Christ. In a world filled with suffering, struggle, and uncertainty, many people are searching for meaning. Philosophers and thinkers have long pondered the purpose of life, but the Bible provides clear answers. It tells us where we came from, where we are going, and how to live each day. [16:51]
Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection: What specific area of your life is God calling you to change, and how can you rely on the Holy Spirit to make that change?
Quotes
1. "Do you have a purpose in your life and does life have meaning to you? Or is your life cracking up and going all to pieces? The big question today is what is meaning? Fifty years ago when I started preaching, the philosophical question was what is truth? Today's question is what is the point? What The Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Your heart, my heart, is deceitful and desperately wicked." [06:37] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "In the midst of all these changes, there are certain things that have not changed and will never change. The first thing we need to know is that there are certain things that have not changed and will never change. The first thing that has never changed in all these centuries, the nature of God has not changed. He said, I am the Lord. I change not, Malachi 3.6. The scripture says there is no bearableness, neither shadow of turning with God. That means the batting of an eyelash. Not even that much change in God." [11:55] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God is unchanging in love. For God committed His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God loves you. That's hard to believe. That's hard to take in. But God loves you. And if you were the only person in the whole world, God would love you. And He would have sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for you. God is love. That's one thing I want you to remember when we leave, that we've said." [13:15] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The third thing that hasn't changed, human nature has not changed. Jeremiah the prophet said, as I said a moment ago, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. You're a sinner. I'm a sinner. Sin means that I've broken the law. I've broken God's laws. I've broken the Ten Commandments. If you have broken one commandment one time, you're guilty of all. Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever had lust in your heart? Then you're guilty. We're guilty before God." [14:32] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The way of salvation has not changed. In all these centuries, the way of salvation is still the same. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there's none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. In Acts 4, 12. John 14, 6 says, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me. In the last generation, the only way to God was through Christ. In this generation, the only way to God will be through Christ." [15:34] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Think of it. The wrath of God abides on you now. And the only way that wrath can be turned away is by the cross. When Jesus Christ took your sins on the cross, God could no longer see your sins because your sins were not seen. Your sins were buried in the depths of the sea. And God cannot even remember your sins. Think of it. God cannot even remember. He has the ability to turn the tape recorder off and erase it. And God cannot remember your sins when you come to Christ at the cross by faith and repentance." [16:13] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Yes, God will never change. The Word of God will never change. But you have to change. If you are to go to heaven, if you are to have a new life here and have purpose and meaning in your life, you have to change. The first thing you have to do is repent. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out, the Scripture says. The second thing is to believe. And that word believe means to commit. That's the marriage vow that we take. It's not just getting married. It's a lifetime commitment." [16:51] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Now I want to ask you, do you know Christ? You see, Christ died for you. And on that cross God laid on Him the sins of us all. We deserved hell. We deserved judgment. We deserved to pay the price for our sins. But Jesus took them voluntarily on the cross. And on that cross He had the capacity because He was the God-man to see you sitting here tonight. He looked ahead these thousands of years and He could see you and He knew you and He knew all about you. And He loved you. And He's willing to forgive you and give you purpose and meaning in your life and change your life." [18:35] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "I can't live the Christian life alone. I'm a failure. Billy Graham cannot live the Christian life. I've tried. I can't do it. But with the help of the Word of God, the help of the Holy Spirit, I can live the Christian life. But He lives it through me. He produces the fruit of the Spirit, which is love and joy and peace. All of these things are supernaturally produced in you by the Holy Spirit when you receive Christ." [19:50] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Young people today are looking for a cause. They're looking for a flag to follow. They're looking for something to really believe in. People are mixed up. They're confused. They don't know what to think. They're just angry. And many people think, can we hold together as a society? Come to Christ. He will meet all those longings and all those needs and give you a new life. He can come into your family. He can come into that office where you've been having trouble. He can come into your school room. He can come into every phase of your life and make you a new person." [21:53] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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