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I REALLY don’t like math. I never bothered learning math beyond algebra. I’m not a math guy until…

  • I’m paying bills or making a budget.

  • I’m at lunch with someone, and it’s time to tip.

  • I’m counting treats for my kids, making sure everyone gets what is fair.

When I take a moment and pause though, I see the utility AND beauty of it.

Math makes shapes.

Math makes my car go “vroom.”

Math makes it possible for me to be fair with my littles.

I use math an awful lot for someone that doesn’t like it a whole lot.

Sadly, I can treat theology the same way. Like a vestigial appendage I can take or leave (buh-bye, appendix). Or worse, purely as an intellectual exercise. Theology can enrich the mind, but can it actually enrich the soul?

Stephen Charnock seemed to think so. He finished off his section on the immutability of God by highlighting its value. Note, he’s not being utilitarian. Charnock isn’t concerned about believing, knowing, and doing things because of the net result for us. Notice how God—not people—is the primary place he starts with his “uses.” It might be better said that these are applications of the doctrine. It isn’t about what we get from God.

Here are three areas of application he highlighted:

  1. For Christology. Jesus has an immutable, divine nature. Since creation doesn’t add to Him, taking on flesh doesn’t add to his nature either. Thus the promises of the gospel cannot be nullified in any way by creaturely meddling, weakness or contamination.

  2. For worship. The gap of difference between God and creation is vast. Not just as a result of the Fall, but God is just “built different.” Seeing God as unchanging should move you and I from self-reliance to confession, repentance, dependence and adoration.

  3. For exhortation. Charnock said, “The nearer the world comes to end, the more is God’s immutability seen in his promises and predictions.” Times change. Location changes. Situations change. Trusting God above changeable circumstances or creation is a rational move. Be immovable and steadfast—like the God of ages. As we grow closer to him, we remain steadfast.

Immutability steadies us because we know God to be steady. God’s Spirit changes his people because they are being conformed to God’s timeless, never-changing character. Yes, the doctrine has utility. That is because it’s true, and it is the way to see God and his perfections. Theology is useful and beautiful.

For more blog posts from Pastor Tim, check out The Bitz Blitz