Jesus Christ is the same
yesterday, today, and
forever
Sermon - 2
In the physical world all material things change over
time. Nothing visible and tangible is permanent.
“While we do not
look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For
the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18)
The scientific Law of Thermodynamics describes the basic
principles and universal law of decay.
This is the cause of why everything ultimately gets old; falls apart and
disintegrates over time. Nothing stays new from the day one buys it. Food becomes stale and rotten. Clothes become torn and tattered. Everything ages and wears out. Even death is a manifestation of this law.
God never changes
However, there is one
constant in the universe . . . IT IS GOD.
He never changes (Psalm
102:25-27).
25
Of old You laid the
foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26
They will perish, but You will
endure; Yes, they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will
change them, And they will be changed.
27
But You are the same, And Your years
will have no end.
Notice how there is a
contrast made here. The heavens and the earth will change, but God remains the
same. The Bible states that in God there “is no variation or shadow of turning." (James 1:17). God has declared, “For I am the LORD, I do not change.” (Mal. 3:6) Here is why believers can
place their confidence and trust in God, knowing that their faith is in the
unchangeable Father of eternity.
Jesus Christ never changes
The unchangeable God
manifested Himself in the flesh as the Son so that He can transform man’s
mortal life into eternal life.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and
forever.” (Heb. 13:8)
The Lord Jesus Christ
does not change because He is God and has the divine nature of immutability. “Yesterday, today, and forever” refers to the past, present and future.
It also means everlasting.
Jesus Christ in
the Past
In the past before His
birth in
Jesus Christ is
the One True
God manifested in
the Flesh
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God. He was
in the beginning with God.” (Jn. 1:1-2)
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full
of grace and truth.” (Jn. 1:14)
Jesus Christ in
the Present
At present He is now
in heaven where He is the “High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne
of the Majesty in the heavens.” (Heb. 8:1) “But He, because He continues forever, has an
unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is
also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He
ever lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:24-25)
Jesus Christ in
the Future
In the future when
Jesus comes again He “will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to
His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue
all things to Himself.” (Phil. 3:21)
Jesus Christ saved
us in the
Past
“For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of
God.” (Eph. 2:8)
Jesus Christ saves
us at present
“For the message of the
cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being
saved it is the power of God.” (1 Cor.
1:18)
Jesus Christ will
also save us
in the Future
“So Christ was offered
once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will
appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
(Heb.
9:28)
Since Jesus
Christ has saved
us in the
past , the present
and also in
the future , therefore
we have the
assurance of eternal
salvation.
The Everlasting Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ
“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of
heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth
– to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear
God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come, and worship
Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Rev. 14:6-7)
The Everlasting Gospel
does not change
at all
The apostle Paul wrote: “But even if we, or
an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached
to you, let him be accursed.” (Gal. 1:8)
“For I delivered to you
first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the
third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4)
The “everlasting gospel”
emphasizes God’s Judgment and Creation, both of which are committed to the Lord
Jesus Christ.
“For the Father judges no one, but has committed
all judgment to the Son.” (Jn. 5:22
ref. Acts 17:31)
God created the universe through the Lord Jesus
Christ.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation. For by Him
all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for
Him. And He is before all things, and in
Him all things consist.” (Col. 1: 15-17)
The “everlasting gospel” is also called the “gospel of the kingdom” which is about the kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ. The wise men from the East came to seek Him
saying, Where is He
who has been born King of the Jews? For
we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Mt. 2:2) “Pilate therefore said to
Him, ‘Are You a king then? Jesus answered, ‘’You
say rightly that I am a king. For this
cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, and that I
should bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” (Jn. 18:37)
“And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name
written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” (Rev. 19:16)
“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached
in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and
then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:14)
Lord Jesus Christ is the Savior of
the Spirit, Soul and
Body
“Now
may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole
spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess.
5:23)
Jesus Christ saves our
spirits,
souls and bodies by His Crucifixion
“But He was wounded for
our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was
upon Him, And by His stripes we are
healed.” (Isa.
53:5)
“Who Himself bore our
sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for
righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Pet. 2:24)
Jesus Christ preached
the Gospel
and also healed
all kinds of
sicknesses
“And Jesus went about all
the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of
the kingdom, and healing every sickness and disease among the people.” (Mt. 9:35)
Since Jesus
is the same
yesterday, today and
forever, He can
also heal every
sickness today!
Personal Testimony of God’s Protection and
Healing Power
On Sunday December 16, 2007 while
working on the greenhouse in our back garden I fell down from the step-ladder
about four feet six inches above the ground.
Praise and thank God there were no broken bones, but I had severe wound
on the whole of my right thigh and I also sprained my right ankle. On Monday morning I could not walk like a normal and healthy
person.
Prayers, Diet
and Natural Treatment
n
On the same evening of the accident I called my family members in
n
I ate meals of raw vegetables consisting of watercress, cilantro, cucumber,
tomatoes and fish.
n
Sister Joan helped in the application of Chinese herbal patch and Aloe
Vera on the wound.
n
I rested my body a lot. This
helps in the healing process.
Our Lord Jesus
Christ Healed Me
n
Since I had difficulty in walking on Monday morning I went back to bed
and rested. I slept soundly for about
three hours. When I woke up just before
noon the pain of my right ankle was gone.
I was able to walk like a normal person.
n
The pain on my right thigh persisted and our families in
n
On Thursday December 20, 2007, after three days of prayer by our
families in
Our Lord Jesus
Christ gives us
the Abundant Life
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me,
he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and
to kill, and to destroy. I have come
that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:9-10)
God’s Protection from
Identity Theft
n
On Sunday December 23, 2007 I received a phone call from the Discover
Card Company that someone had used my credit card identity to charge a huge sum
(more than $600) for purchases at the Wal-Mart Store on Saturday December 22,
2007.
n
They suspected it was a credit card fraud because the purchases deviated
from my normal pattern of spending.
n
I have never spent so much money for gifts at that time of the year.
n
I have never bought anything from Wal-mart
during the daytime on Saturdays.
n
Discover Card Company will not pay Wal-mart
because there was no identity check on the person making the purchases.
n
Discover Card Company has already issued me a new credit card.
n
I did not lose any money.
n
Praise and thank our Lord Jesus Christ for protecting me from the credit
card identity theft.
The Lord Jesus
Christ assures us
of
a bright future
in 2008 and
beyond
n
The Lord Jesus Christ “is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb. 13:8)
n
“. . . For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor
forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: The LORD is my helper’ I will not fear. What man can do to
n
The Lord Jesus Christ will not leave us.
If we do not leave Him and we follow His
commandments He will be with us forever.