“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

God does change His Mind ! Pray to ask God to intervene Act providentially Various circumstances Restore the health of someone Their salvation does not depend upon whether the prayer is answered. God created everything – set in motion Then retreated with no interaction

God’s Plan of Salvation is not Subject to Change Cannot ask God to save Luke 13:3 “except ye repent” John 8:24 “except ye believe that I am he” Rev. 3:20 “if any man hear my voice” A sinner in his sins An infidel in his unbelief A reprobate

God Cannot Lie Heb. 6:17-18 “…That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, …” Immutable = cannot change Titus 1:2 “cannot lie” All matters pertaining to redemption are sealed !

God is not a Change Agent If he were a change agent we would not know  what to believe  what to do  what to teach

One man said: “We don’t know why God chose to save us through the sacrifice of Christ; He could have done it some other way.”

The Scheme of Redemption Will never Change 1 Pet. 1:18-20 “foreordained before the foundation of the world.” Micah 5:2 “…from of old, from everlasting.” Rom. 16:25 “was kept secret since the world began” Eph. 3:11 “According to the eternal purpose” 2 Tim. 1:9 “…before the world began” Matt. 16:18 “upon this rock I will build my church”

Some suggest that God has changed his mind about what man must do in order to be saved. Roman Catholicism and Protestantism Some Digressive brethren suggest God has changed his mind about baptism Royce Money, Abilene Christian University- President About John 3:5 “I assume it’s still true. That’s the rule, but what about the exceptions? …. Let the Lord make the exceptions.”

Problems with that statement  God is obligated to make exceptions  Our job is to teach God’s Rule!  How does he Know that the Lord makes exceptions? “Except some be born of water and Spirit, they cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Others can enter without doing so.” “Some who believe and are baptized shall be saved, but others will be excused from being baptized.”

Problems with that statement  Why stop with baptism ?  What about believing in Him ?  What about repentance ?  What about Confession ?  Maybe He changed his mind about murder, adultery, and other sins.

Problems with that statement Some have said: “If God chooses to save some without baptism, I will not object.” Will God at the Judgment say he did not really mean what He said in His Word about baptism? If baptism is only access to the blood If there is no remission apart from his blood If there are exceptions to baptism then There are exceptions to the need of Christ’s blood. Then God is a respecter of Persons !!!!

Why would anyone suggest that God may exempt some from baptism ? They no longer believe God’s Word !!! Jesus said: “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

God has not changed His Mind ! Those who assume He has would do well to change their mind while they still live on this side of the judgment!

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Evening October 7, 2012