Jesus Christ The Same Yesterday Today and Forever
Hebrews 13: 1-17
Text Hebrews 13:8
In our lives today, everything changes. Technology advances and we must stay informed in order to succeed in our everyday lives.
Who can remember when there were no computers?
Who can remember when there were no cell phones?
Who can remember when there was no internet, e-mail, etc?
Today, if you do not have any of these, it may cause you to have difficulty in some way in your life.
This is a small example of how things tend to change.
Our scripture states Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Jesus is the same!!! He never changes!!!! We can rejoice tonight that Jesus never will or never shall change!!!!
This is not for us to be discouraged but rather encouraged in that fact!!!!
God is unchangeable!!!!! It is not in Him to change!!!! His Word is His Bond!!!!
What Jesus says He will Do!!!
His promises are true and He will keep them and Honor His Word!!!!
Jesus is our hope for today and our hope for tomorrow.
The fact tonight is this: GOD IS!!!!!
God has said over and over in His Word that sin is sin, righteousness is righteous, and right is right and wrong is wrong!!!!
In the eyes of God white is always white and black will always be black!!!!
HE NEVER CHANGES IN HIS VIEWS OF SIN, SERVICE, AND SANCTIFACATION.
Jesus is unchangeable!!
Leaders of today may change, they may go back on their word, but the Bible says, 1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Jesus Christ Never Changes.
There is no mistake in the Word of God.
NO WORD IN THE SCRIPTURE IS EVER USED CARELESSLY.
Watch this:
Jesus is the name, which links Him with mankind. It identifies Him as the most wonderful person in this world.
Jesus is His earthly name.
How wonderful Jesus was as a person when He was down here.
People crowded around Him because He was so human.
The mobs followed Him and they loved Him.
It was the teaching of Jesus they hated—it was not Jesus the man.
He was wonderful
BY THE WAY PREACHERS – IT’S NEVER PERSONAL – IT’S ABOUT THE TRUTH NOT ABOUT YOU
Notice this:
Christ is a title, which speaks of His messianic mission to this earth—He is God manifest in the flesh. “Jesus Christ”—how marvelously these two are meshed perfectly together here. He is Jesus Christ, and He is the same.
I want to give you three things about THE UNCHANGEABLE CHRIST
I. Jesus Is Unchangeable In His Law
a. Sin is still sin
Proverbs 6:16-19 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
1. Sins that seem to be overlooked today by many are not overlooked by God.
a. Pride
b. Lying
c. Wicked thoughts
d. Strife
e. Sowing discord- lying on the church brethren
God calls sins of this likeness an abomination, which means extreme hatred.
The Word Abomination means “an Abhorrence” “disgusts him” “Sickens” “Turns the Stomach”
In Revelation “Jesus said “I’ll spue you out of my mouth” – VOMIT!!!
JESUS CHRIST HAS NOT CHANGED HIS THOUGHTS ABOUT SIN
b. Sins will be punished
1. Sins committed will be punished by the promises of the Word of God.
Jesus clearly stated in His earthly ministry that He was the light of the World. In His message He deals with sin.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me SHALL NOT WALK IN DARKNESS, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Verse 58- …before Abraham was I am- He showed them their error
The Pharisees placed their confidence in their father Abraham… but Jesus said, “BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS I AM”
The Old Testament states in Numbers 32:23…and be sure your sin will find
you out.
God punished the sin of His people in the time of Moses.
He is the same today, and He will punish sin
JESUS DID NOT COME TO DO AWAY WITH THE LAW – HE CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW
MANY TIMES BAPTIST TALK ABOUT THE LAW AS IF WERE UNGODLY
WE SHOULD LOVE THE LAW OF GOD – IT’S WHAT POINTED US TO JESUS
AND HE HAS NOT CHANGED HIS LAW!!!
I Jesus Is Unchangeable In His Law
II Jesus Is Unchangeable In His Love
The Bible says that God is Love. The word is- denotes a continual present state, AN UNCHANGEABLE STATE. GOD IS LOVE.
God was is and will be love!!!
Whatever love upholds, whatever love supports, whatever love is: THAT IS GOD!!!
Our words cannot describe this attribute of God. I am unworthy to even attempt describe it to you
BUT a. His love is inseparable to His children
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ.
b. His love is unlimited to His saints
John 15:12-14 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
c. His love is not partial to the sinner
The Bible says over and over, “ Whosoever will let him come and take of the water of life freely”. Another verse comes to mind, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”
d. His love should be promoted in the church
Look back in the text Hebrews 13:1-6
1. Let brotherly love continue- verse one
2. We are brothers in Christ- love as brothers- not brotherly
There is a big difference in loving someone like a brother, or just being “brotherly” about it. I believe this is what Paul meant by this in v. 1
3. Love those that are in need v. 3
4. Love those that are afflicted or going through a trial. v.3
This is the love of God. His love is pure and Holy and will never change. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
If we let our love wander and leave its rightful place, God will bring Himself back into our lives somehow.
I JESUS IS UNCHANGEABLE IN HIS LAW
II JESUS IS UNCHANGEABLE IN HIS LOVE
III JESUS IS UNCHANGEABLE IN HIS LORDSHIP
Look at verse 7-9
Lordship means authority.
For someone to be lord over somethimg is to have authority over something!!!!
Verse 7 says to remember them that have the rule over you….
Jesus placed authority in all of our lives.
SOME OF YOU YOUNG PEOPLE THAT STRUGGLE WITH AUTHORITY NEED TO TALK WITH THESE ADULTS. ASK THEM ABOUT THE REAL WORLD.
It is still right to be obedient.
Children are to be obedient to their parents. Eph. 6:1
Since Jesus is Lord of all that means He is ruler over all.
YOU DO NOT MAKE JESUS LORD, HE IS ALREADY LORD!!!
We must submit to the Authority that is laid before us.
Like many in that day who were following Judaism, they were swayed with every wind of doctrine.
Look at verses 20-21
Jesus is the same in His Lordship over you and me.
He is like a shepherd and how a shepherd leads His sheep.
1. He is the Good Shepherd- He died for us Jn. 10:11
2. He is the Great shepherd- working on our behalf
3. He is the Chief Shepherd- He will return for us one day 1Peter
4. 5:4
The phrase “make you perfect” (Heb. 13:21) is the translation of one Greek word, katartidzo.
This is an unfamilar word to us, but it was familiar to the people who received this letter.
The doctors knew it because it meant “to set a broken bone.”
To fishermen it meant “to mend a broken net” (see Matt. 4:21).
To sailors it meant “to outfit a ship for a voyage.”
To soldiers it meant “to equip an army for battle.”
He will lead us to perfection. We will not accomplish it here but one day He will accomplish it in us.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a
good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
ISN’T IT WONDERFUL TO KNOW THAT IN A CHANGING WORLD WE HAVE AN UNCHANGING SAVIOUR
HE IS JESUS CHRIST – THE SAME IN LAW, IN LOVE, IN LORDSHIP!!!
