Jesus Christ is the Same (Heb. 13:8)

Jesus Christ is the Same (Heb. 13:8)

       
There is a Gospel song that praises the sameness of our Almighty God:
"My beloved Father, I lift Your Name on high. As Your Kingdom come in my praise, I praise the Lord of Power. Praise the Almighty God. You are always the same Lord.
Praise the Almighty God. You reign forever. I lift the Name of my Lord on high.    I lift the Name of my Lord on high. I lift the Name of my Lord on high like the flag lifted on high in the sky.
Praise the Almighty God. You are always the same Lord. Praise the Almighty God. You reign forever."

Among the historical confessions and creeds, the Chalcedonian Creed in 451 states the sameness of Jesus Christ:
"Following, then, the holy fathers, we unite in teaching all men to confess the one and only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This selfsame one is perfect both in deity and in humanness; this selfsame one is also actually God and actually man, with a rational soul <meaning human soul> and a body. He is of the same reality as God as far as his deity is concerned and of the same reality as we ourselves as far as his humanness is concerned; thus like us in all respects, sin only excepted. Before time began he was begotten of the Father, in respect of his deity, and now in these "last days," for us and behalf of our salvation, this selfsame one was born of Mary the virgin, who is God-bearer in respect of his humanness. ......"

There is a Korean old saying: "Ten years makes even rivers and hills changed."
All created things including human beings in this world are subject to change.
All worldly fashions and human truths are also subject to change.
There is no human truth or fashion that lasts forever
There is nothing eternal, nothing unchanging on the earth.
Yet, the author of the Hebrews tells us in 13:8 that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

Jesus Christ is the same forever. Jesus Christ is unchanging.
The unchangeability or the sameness is characteristic of God the Creator.
Thus, when the author of the Hebrews states, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," he confesses that Jesus Christ is God.

What is unchanging or the same in Jesus Christ?
His loving-kindness for His people is unchanging.
He always loves them who were created according to the image of God.
Even when he was betrayed, denied, and hanged on the cross, his loving-kindness for his people was never reduced.

His promise for his people is unchanging.
John in his Gospel 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The promises of God are valid all the time.
Jesus' promise of salvation through him is always reliable and trustworthy.
If Jesus added later any word to his promise of salvation by faith, saying, "Unless you behave yourself perfectly, I will cancel my promise of salvation although you still call me 'Lord and Savior'," then his promise would not be the reliable one.

Jesus' guide and protection are the same.
His promise of guide and protection never failed.
Jesus promised his disciples in Matthew 28:20: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Jesus Christ, our God tells his people his being with them in Hebrews 13:5: "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Thus, we will be safe, protected, and led in His direction by our Lord who is always with us.

God proclaims his blessing and protection to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3: "I will make you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

God encourages Joshua when he became a new leader of Israel replacing Moses in Joshua 1:9: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

God promised his people in Isaiah 43:2-3: "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."

In the Gospel of John Jesus declares who he is: "I am the bread of life (6:35); I am the light of the world(8:12); I am the gate for the sheep(10:7); I am the good shepherd(10:11, 14); I am the resurrection and the life(11:25); I am the way and the truth and the life(14:6); and I am the true vine(15:1)."
Jesus' declaration of "I Am" means 'Jehovah.' --That is, "I was, I am, and I will be."
Thus, Jesus Christ was the bread of life; He is the bread of life; and He will be the bread of life."
Jesus Christ was the good shepherd; He is the good shepherd; and He will be the good shepherd forever. And so on.

Do you believe and confess that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever?
His Word is the same yesterday and today and forever.
His promises never failed, and will never fail.
His guide and protection are unchanging.
He was, is and will be with us all the time.
Isaiah in his book 40:8 tells us: "The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God stands forever."
Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of God, stands forever; He is never changing; Jesus Christ and His truthful word are the same yesterday and today and forever.
Thus, we always should look to Jesus Christ and lean on him and his word of promises.