1. Do you agree with the assertion that immutability is an essential attribute that
is a corollary of eternality? Explain.

Yes, I agree that immutability is an essential attribute that is a corollary of eternality.
An essential attribute is a characteristic without which God would not be God. Eternal is to be without beginning or end, timeless. God is beyond time, thus eternal. Immutable is to be without change. Change is only the result of time. God is eternal, thus does not experience change over time, so is immutable. So Immutablility is a logical corollary of eternality, one condition or attribute does not exist without the other.

2. In what way does God’s immutability trouble you?

God’s immutability does not trouble me. However, some feel that the Bible indicates that he is immutable in that He repents and changes His mind. Erikson states that God is active and dynamic, but in a way that is stable and consistent with his nature. God is dependable and has and keeps His purpose always in mind.

3. In what way does it comfort you?

I am assured that the structure I live within will remain the same. The rules will not change. I am comforted that God is not wishy-washy or a yes-man, so to speak. God has set out the rules and those rules have set me free.

4. What is the difference in saying that God can be present in a spatial location and saying that He exists in a spatial location?

He has been defined as a simple being, indivisible thus without composition. A being without composition cannot be spatial. God is not spatial so cannot exist in a spatial location. God can be present in a spatial location as being without composition can exist in all places at once, another words omnipresent.

5. Is there a difference in saying that God is ontologically present everywhere
and saying that God is relationally present everywhere? Explain.

God’s essence (being or ontos) is omnipresent or present everywhere. His being was present before the creation and thus, as we have come to understand, above the arch. Above the arch, His being is immutable. However, God as omnipresent below the arch interacts with His creation in a relational manner. God below the arch can act in a mutable manner, seemingly changing His mind or repenting. So, Yes there is a difference between saying God is ontologically present everywhere and God is relationally present everywhere.

6. How does the doctrine of God’s immutability help you to trust God more for
things that He has promised? Give examples.

God, who cannot lie and knows the end from the beginning. He knows me and is providing for my life. He promised during Old Testament days to send the final sacrifice, the one who would bear the sins of many (Isaiah 53:12). That promise was carried out and now I have life. I can trust in that kind of God, one of truth.

7. Considering the intimate way that God related to people in the OT (e.g., Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah), how does understanding God’s immutability
help you to gain confidence in your intimacy with God? Explain.

God essence is immutable or changeless. God chose Abraham, Moses, David and Elijah to be His instruments on earth, to serve His purposes. And had a personal relationship with these chosen men. I can trust and rely upon God to do the same for me as he also chose me before the foundation of the world. Having chosen me, He will continue to have a relationship with me.

8. The doctrine of God’s aseity teaches that God is in need of nothing, not even your love and worship. How can this positively affect your view of Him?

A God without need of anything is one who is steady not bribable, thus one who can be trusted to fulfill His purposes. A god in need would be a wishy-washy god, or no god at all. I am comforted that I know God has the long-term in mind and what He had in mind from the beginning is what He still has in mind at the end.

9. How was your thinking challenged most by this lesson?

I have struggled with an immutable and at the same time a relational God. I know in my heart, as have had many experiences of personal relationships with God, but at the same time my mind has trouble grasping the concept of a God above the arch and below at the same time.

1. Do you agree with the assertion that immutability is an essential attribute that is a corollary of eternality? Explain.

I would say so because for change to occur with God there would necessarily be “before” and “after” states concerning the change. This then implies a passage of time. The eternality of God requires that God exist in a state beyond time, of the ever-present now. Therefore, eternality demands immutability.

2. In what way does God’s immutability trouble you?

I would say in the area of eternal punishment. Once a lost person dies and enters eternal judgment in hell, that is forever and their state will never change. (Revelation 22:11).

3. In what way does it comfort you?

The opposite is also true. God’s promises to those who are His are also endless. As Romans 8:30 says, “and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” The promises to glorify His children are so certain God had Paul write them down as if they had already occurred.

4. What is the difference in saying that God can be present in a spatial location and saying that He exists in a spatial location?

To say that God exists in a spatial location is to confine God to that spot, even if this spot is so large as to extend to the universe. In contrast, to say that He is present in a particular location does not mean that His being is so confined.

5. Is there a difference in saying that God is ontologically present everywhere and saying that God is relationally present everywhere? Explain.

Relational omnipresence speaks of God’s immanence, His ongoing interaction with His creation. Ontological omnipresence means more that everything is in His presence.

6. How does the doctrine of God’s immutability help you to trust God for things that He has promised? Give examples.

A good example would be the three tenses of salvation, I’m trusting in God’s saving me from the penalty of sin; He has said my sins are forever put away. If God were not immutable, then I could be in “double jeopardy” and they could be dredged up again. I am presently being saved from the power of sin by His indwelling Holy Spirit, growing in grace. If God could change, then increasing sanctification is no longer assured. I look forward to being forever saved from the presence of sin; I trust God that somewhere in eternity future, I am not going to have to deal with sin anymore.

7. Considering the intimate way that God related to people in the OT (e.g. Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah), how does understanding God’s immutability help you to gain confidence in your intimacy with God? Explain.

If one had to live with a person who had extreme mood swings, intimacy would not be something that would be desired. God’s unchangeableness gives confidence that He is someone who can be trusted. In the OT examples given, God always did what was best in their lives, even if chastisement was required. He was not capricious in dealing with them.

8. The doctrine of God’s aseity teaches that God is in need of nothing, not even your love and worship. How can this positively affect your view of Him?

It gives me confidence that God is powerful enough to be and to do everything He has promised; that there is nothing in all of creation that he needs in order to be God.

9. How was your thinking challenged most by this lesson?

The contrast between transcendental immutability and relational mutability leaves unanswered questions; how God can interact with creatures of time, space and matter yet is ontologically beyond these dimensions remains something of a mystery.

2. Things that make you go Hmmm…….the only thing that comes to mind regarding what troubles me about immutability is the concept of Hell. On some level I would like to think maybe God will change His mind and everyone will be saved. But, if God is immutable, then that may not be the case.

3. If God were changeable, how do we know He wouldn’t turn into something less and render our faith useless? Or, God could change into an evil being. Knowing the immutability of God’s power and perfect character is very comforting because we know we can count on Him.

4. Saying God exists in a spatial location would be saying that He is spatial…. perhaps a very large being. Saying God can be present in a spatial location indicates that His whole being is present everywhere. But not like pantheism or panentheism where the belief is that God is in everything.

5. ?

6. The immutability of God’s perfect character guarantees that he will fulfill the promises He has made to us. “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?”

7. I’m not sure if I understand the question correctly, but this is what comes to mind. When we read the OT we have the benefit of a progress of revelation, so we can see how everything panned out. We see how God’s wrath was justified, we see that no matter how many times He was wronged, He was always willing to forgive if there was repentance, and we see how God worked everything out for good. In addition to Abraham, Moses, David and Elijah, I also think about how God worked through some females such as Bathsheba, Sarah, Hagar, Tamara and Leah. Seeing how God related to people in the OT gives me confidence that He will work out all my shortcomings as well.

8. It’s amazing to think about God’s aseity. As humans we can’t fathom being in need of nothing since we need (or desire) so many things. And, we often have a self-centered perspective. The fact that God does not need us and still created us with the goal of having joy with Him forever makes me very grateful to Him.

9. The concept of omnipresence is very challenging, but I have a better perspective after this lesson.

2. I really do not think that God’s immutability troubles me that much. If anything, it causes me to hope and wish He could find a way to save everybody, or do something other than what He did that could redeem all of my unbelieving friends and family. However, He is God and I am not, and I trust and know that His ways are perfect, even when I do not understand them all.

3. God’s immutability is extremely comforting. I know that God will never change, His promises are true and will never waver. He is good and loving and always will be. He will always be there and always uphold perfect truth and righteousness. Justice will be done.

4. The fact that God is present is different than God is actually ‘in’ something. God can not be in part of His creation, in my opinion. He can not be grass or clothes or tables or rocks. He has certainly used Creation to reveal Himself, He appeared as a burning bush, a tower of fire and even as a man. However, that does not mean that God is the universe. He by definition can not be.

5. This concept is also hard but true. How God is present everywhere, yet relationally more present than in other places is really a mind-bender. God can seem ‘distant’ when prayers are not answered, or entire nations seem to fall away. Yet, out of His sovereignty, He can also seem to work miraculously in other places. I just can not explain why God appears to different degrees of relatability than others.

6. God will always love me. Christ will always be alive and always intercede for me. The Word of God is forever. His Holy Spirit will always be with me. I will be saved, I have been saved and I am being saved. I will never be tempted beyond what I can handle. God works all things for good for those who love Him. And on and on…

7. God knows our hearts and knows our fears. He understands our condition and sympathizes with us through Christ. God loves us and died for us. We know that God will ultimately be our deliverer.

8. God does not need anything from me. Therefore, I know He enjoys what I can give Him, because it comes from the heart and not out of obligation or need on His part. He desires the relationship and has called me out of love and not obligation or need. This is for His glory, its icing on the cake!

9. Once again, I have enjoyed stretching my mind in this class and gaining a deeper understanding in who God is. My faith is always strengthened and my astonishment in the depth and wonder of God continues. He is so magnificent and Has made Himself known in so many ways, I am simply amazed!

Q1. Do you agree with the assertion that immutability is an essential attribute that is a corollary of eternity? Explain.

A1. God’s immutability is directly linked to His eternality in that he is the same (that is, He is immutable is His very being, His ontos, His perfection, His promises and His purpose) yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Immutability and Eternality are traits that are clearly above the arch and are thus essential attributes to His deity.

Q2. In what ways does God’s immutability trouble you?

A2. If I am aware of God’s unchanging self, I can be frightfully assured that He will not allow a double-standard for my sinful behavior. So God will hold me to the same standard that He held the ancient people of the OT and NT before me.

Q3. In what way does this comfort you?

A3. The comfort is that I can rest assured that the God I seek to know, worship and obey is not a moving target. Today’s righteousness will not be out of favor in ten years to be replaced by a new standard. Also, if God could change, let’s say, improve; then He wasn’t perfect in the first place. And if He is perfect, and He changes for the worse, He is not perfect any longer. So any changes negate Him being God for He would then be as fickle as man.

Q4. What is the difference in saying that God can be present in a spatial location in saying that he exists in spatial location?

A4. God’s attribute of Omnipresence claims that He is not bound by space, similar to how His Eternality claims that He is not bound by time. When we confuse God’s presence in spatial location with Him existing is spatial locations we will find ourselves stepping into Pantheism, where we expect God to be “in” everyday objects around us.

Q5. Is there a difference in saying that God is ontologically present everywhere and saying that God is relationally present everywhere? Explain.

A5. The challenge in thinking through any of these questions is to remember that God existed before there was a “where” or a “when”. Before He created the world, he wasn’t anywhere, He simply was. How does a mortal man grasp that? God’s omnipresence is transcendent in timeless eternity and it is immanent in time.

Q6. How does the doctrine of God’s immutability help you to trust God more for things that he has promised? Give examples.

A6. If I am to seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, it would be nice to know that these rules are still the way the celestial game is played as it was 2,000 years ago. If I am to eagerly await Christ’s second coming, it would be comforting to know that He hasn’t changed His mind and didn’t tell anyone about it. Though these examples may sound flippant, they clearly illustrate the folly of a Christian life with God having the attribute of immutability. “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Number 23:19

Q7. Considering the way that God related to people in the old testament (Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah), how does understanding God’s immutability help you to gain confidence in your intimacy with God? Explain.

A7. Being a sinner like David, it is comforting to know that a believer who loves God and who has a contrite heart (psalm 51), can be forgiven and find favor and eternal salvation because God’s mercy can still be showered upon those who He chooses. “For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Romans 9:15

Q8. The doctrine of God’s aseity teaches that God is in need of nothing, not even your love and worship. How can this positively affect your view of him?

A8. Well He certainly doesn’t love me for my money! Or my love, or my attention, etc. Since He has no needs and since there is absolutely nothing I can offer Him that he needs, it is clear that He loves me because of who He is. Knowing that is cause for rejoicing.

Q9. How was your thinking challenged most by this lesson?

A9. These past two weeks have been a reminder of the awesome greatness of God. I am often reminded of God’s power by the creation around me, but the exposition of the attributes that we have defined as “above the arch” has been truly overwhelming as a conceptual reminder of His magnitude, majesty and a host of superlatives that my limited vocabulary can only begin to express.

1. Yes I do agree. God’s “Ontos”, being can not change. It always has been and always will be the same. He does not experience time, He’s eternal, immutable, He has no beginning, no end. They are correlated.

2. I guess His immutability troubles me when I want answers, need answers and I don’t get them in MY time. Either I think He’s changing or not listening. Also, that God does not need me… Me? Come on….that’s not fair.
Boy is that a hole you can sink into, eh?

3. I’m actually comforted that God does not need me. That’s the strength we all need as a leader. He has all the answers, and we are here to serve Him.

4. His existence is Omnipresence. Everywhere-present. He is all around us. We are never without Him. But not as Panentheism proclaims, he is not IN everything, chairs, books etc.

5. ??? for now…

6. The best example of trust in God’s immutability, or exchangeability, is in His promises to us. He promised us that Jesus would return to rule over us. Our faith in an unchanging God tells us to have faith and believe He will return. I’d hate for Him to change His mind on that one.

7. It gives me confidence that I’m not placing a blind faith in Him or His word. I gain confidence knowing that He is steadfast and loving in His promises and will answer my prayers, even if it’s in His timing.

8. Positively, it’s reinforcing that He is secure in His ability to take care and handle all that I bring him, and that I can handle all that He gives me. Even if I don’t like or agree with a situation. “Be still and know I AM God.”

9. Understanding the differences between Imminent and Transcendent omnipresence is challenging. The difference between present and presence. Yet, how they work together.