For I am the Lord, I do not change… — Malachi 3:6 (NKJV)
Someone once argued that if God truly says He does not change, why does He appear different in the New Testament? They wondered why He no longer operates the way He did in the Old Testament, where people were often punished instantly for their wrongs. This person suggested that evil in the world has increased, yet God is not responding as quickly as He would have in the past. So, the question remains: did God really change in the New Testament? The answer is a resounding no, because God cannot and will not change. Instead, His principles of dealing with humanity shifted, rather than His fundamental nature.
In the Old Testament, there was no permanent sacrifice for sin. When someone did wrong, they frequently faced immediate punishment. General mercy was not widely available, and God only had compassion on whomever He chose (Exodus 33:19). Anyone outside this category faced swift justice because of the established spiritual law: The soul who sins shall die. — Ezekiel 18:20 (NKJV). Furthermore, the Scriptures confirm that the wages of sin is death. — Romans 6:23 (NKJV). This immediate justice occurred because the only available sacrifice was that of animals, which only temporarily covered sin. As the Bible explains, For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. — Hebrews 10:4 (NKJV).
However, when Jesus came, everything changed. Through Jesus, God took away the first covenant to establish the second, which is currently at work (Hebrews 10:9). Jesus came and offered one final sacrifice for sins forever (Hebrews 10:12). Through Him, incorruptible life entered the world, and profound mercy became available to everyone. Because this abundant grace is now accessible through the finished work of Jesus, it may look as though God Himself has changed.
The truth remains that God did not change; His system of justice was simply fulfilled and transformed. Today, when people do wrong things, they do not always receive immediate punishment. It is not God’s will for anyone to perish, especially since Jesus already paid the ultimate price. The reason God seems slower to act is that He is patiently giving humanity time to accept the grace and mercy available in Christ. However, those who reject this gift and continue in evil will eventually face judgment. The Bible makes this clear: For all of us must appear before Christ, to be judged by him. We will each receive what we deserve, according to everything we have done, good or bad, in our bodily life. — 2 Corinthians 5:10 (GNT).
Today’s Rhema
God did not change; it is His system of judgment that has changed!
Prayer
Father, I am grateful for this wonderful teaching. I receive the grace to walk in the path that You have set for me. As I do this, I will continually bask in Your glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
