Forever the Same

From Gospel Translations

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Heb 13:8)

- Hebrews 13:8–9

Over the past year, we have studied several themes as we have made our way through the book of Hebrews. In many of our studies, we have discussed the superiority of Jesus to all who came before Him. Other weeks we have studied the warning passages in this book and examined how they relate to the security of our salvation. We have also examined the doctrine of perseverance as an act of God’s preserving grace that enables us to continue in faith.

Incredibly, God has decided to make our decisions real and meaningful by having them contribute to our perseverance. However, it would be a mistake to think that our decisions are the primary factors through which we persevere. Only the decree of God concerning our salvation, and His work effecting it, guarantees that the elect will never finally fall away. Nevertheless, our election is evidenced only as we remain faithful to Christ for the heart that God has sovereignly and monergistically transformed will always hold onto Jesus.

In Scripture, God reminds us of His faithfulness so that our hearts will be moved to cling to His promises. Today’s passage is one of the best examples of this. For we are told in Hebrews 13:8 that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

The original audience of this epistle needed to hear this. They were wavering and needed something reliable upon which to cling. Under persecution, they began to doubt the faithfulness of the Lord, whom they had confessed. They needed to know that the mighty acts by which Jesus accomplished salvation would one day finally rescue them from the presence of sin (9:28). They needed to know that He was the same one for whom the heroes of old waited (chap. 11). They needed to know that His superiority would last forever (7:28).

We too need to know these things. The trials and tribulations of life make it so easy to doubt the character and power of our Savior. We are easily tossed about and distracted, even tempted at times to gaze upon strange teachings and “new” things (13:9). But we must not be this way. We must remember that the Jesus who saved us yesterday is the same Jesus who saves us today and saves us forever. We can trust Him absolutely because He is always faithful. His character, love, and power shall never be other than supreme.

Coram Deo

Do you really believe that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever? Do you believe that He will provide for you as He has in the past? Do you believe His love for you will continue forever? In prayer, ask the Lord to forgive you when you doubt His consistency, and ask Him to increase your faith in the ever-faithful Savior.

Passages for Further Study

Ex. 3:6
Num. 23:19
Ps. 111
John 8:48–59
Rev. 1:8