Assured by an Unchangeable God

TROWEL & SWORD

Resources - Leadership

July 2005

God of Grace & Mercy
Using the Canons of Dordt to Help Answer the Tough Questions

Rev. Geoff van Schie

Assured by an Unchangeable God

Uncomfortable as it may make us feel, reality is such that there will always be change!

While our world passes through changes, we ask the question: “what about God? This is an important question for it is directly related to the assurance of our salvation. If God is changeable, how secure is our election - the decision He made in eternity to save us?

The Canons in article 1.11 assures us of the unchangeable nature of God: “Just as God Himself is most wise, unchangeable, all-knowing, and almighty, so the election made by Him can neither be suspended nor altered, revoked, or annulled; neither can His chosen ones be cast off, nor their number reduced.

What do we make of God’s unchangeability in the light of Hezekiah’s experience: ‘On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the LORD. I will add fifteen years to your life. (2 Kings 20:4-6a). This appears to have been a change of heart on God’s part and a change of mind as to the length of Hezekiah’s life. If God can change His mind on that score then how firm is His electing choice of us to salvation?

To get the right perspective in the light of the passages that suggest God is changeable we apply an age old rule of Reformational exegesis: ‘The clearer passages throw light on those less clear’.

Consider Balaam’s second oracle given by God when Balak sought the destruction of Israel: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19). Likewise God’s word through Samuel as to the demise of King Saul: ‘He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind.” (1 Samuel 15:28-29). Whatever some passages seem to suggest, these clearer passages reveal that God never changes His mind.

In Malachi 3,6,7 we find God’s unchangeable nature and the doctrine of election combined. In Malachi’s day Jacob’s descendants (Israel) were rebellious against God and worthy of judgement. The only thing that saved them from destruction there and then was God’s unchangeable nature

‘‘I the LORD do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. (Malachi 3:6).

There are lovely people of faith who lack conviction as to their getting to heaven. The Canons teach us that the assurance of salvation is something that God grows in us: “Assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election to salva-tion is given to the chosen in due time, though by various stages and in differing measure”. (Canons 1.12)

One of the fruits of election – true faith –is what God uses to assure us that we are of the elect and that according to His unchangeable nature, His choice of us is irrevocable. Geoff Bullock in his sometimes-misunderstood song, “Have Faith in God”, points to this when he writes: “Have faith in God, let your hope rest on the faith He has placed in your heart.” Here Bullock points to the existence of faith in one’s life as a reason for hope (assurance). So too the Canons of Dordt: Such assurance comes… by noticing within themselves, with spiritual joy and holy delight, the unmistakable fruits of election pointed out in God’s word – such as a true faith..” (Canons 1.12).

Indeed we as Christians struggle with doubts, also as to the certainty of our salvation. The Canons of Dordt beautifully remind us to look to what God works within us that we may see how by grace in Christ He has claimed us as His own. Beyond faith as one of the fruits of election that we can use in this way, we are also pointed to the following: “a childlike fear of God, a godly sorrow for their sins, a hunger and thirst for righteousness and so on.” (Canons 1.12). That these are evident in our life speaks volumes as to the truth that God is at work within us, and we are assured the good work He has begun He will also bring to completion!.

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