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Theology for the Church

Divine Immutability with Ronni Kurtz

Oct 16, 2023
Caleb is joined by Ronni Kurtz, Assistant Professor of Theology at Cedarville University, as they discuss divine immutability, challenges to the doctrine, and practical applications for the Christian life. They explore the biblical concept of divine immutability and its implications for Christian salvation, highlighting passages from Scripture. They also discuss the concept of divine simplicity and its relation to salvation, emphasizing the unchanged essence of God.
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Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Divine immutability ensures the consistency of God's covenant faithfulness and the trustworthiness of his promises and actions.
  • Biblical passages explicitly declare God's immutability, providing assurance of his steadfast character amidst changing circumstances.

Deep dives

The Importance of Divine Immutability in Christian Salvation

Divine immutability, the belief that God does not change, is central to understanding Christian salvation. It is rooted in the biblical truth that God's character and nature are constant and reliable. This doctrine has been debated in recent years, but there are several strong arguments for its relevance to salvation. Firstly, divine immutability ensures the consistency of God's covenant faithfulness. The unchanging nature of God guarantees that his promises and actions can be trusted. Secondly, specific biblical passages explicitly declare God's immutability, such as Malachi 3:6 and James 1:17. These passages provide assurance that God's character remains steadfast amidst the changing circumstances of human life. Finally, theological reasoning supports the idea that God's immutability is crucial for salvation. By approaching God through the imputed righteousness of Christ, believers can experience the unchanging essence of God as delight, rather than wrath. While objections have been raised regarding God's incarnation and his disposition towards humanity, they can be addressed through the understanding of the hypostatic union and the nature of divine accommodation. It is essential to explore deeply the biblical and theological foundations of divine immutability to fully grasp its significance in the Christian doctrine of salvation.

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