Bible Truth FAQs
THE MIND OF GOD ?
Part 1 - Some look at the phrase found in Heb. 13:8, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever," and conclude that God never changes. Insofar as the personalities of the godhead are concerned, this is correct. However, the conclusion that God's laws have never changed is erroneous. They claim that logic dictates that any change in God's laws would prove him to be inconsistent. Paul asked (I Cor. 2:16}, "Who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?"
From Eph. 3 we can know that God had an eternal purpose before the world began. We can learn that his purpose is accomplished through a series of planned events which could not happen, or be in effect, at the same time. The world existed some 2,500 years before a written law was given to the Hebrew nation. Another 1,500 years passed before Christ came upon the earth. God had said that he would make a new covenant with his people (Jer. 31:31-34}. The Hebrew writer said, "He taketh away the first that he may establish the second (Heb. 10:9-10}. In some respects the two covenants were contradictory so that they could not be in effect at the same time.
Does God's will that he make changes prove him to be inconsistent? Man's logic says so. By faith we must accept God's word and his way of leading toward his eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.
Part 2 - The 6th chapter of Joshua tells of Israel's conquest of the city of Jericho. God instructed the Israelites as to what they must do to be successful. It was an extraordinary plan. The Israelites were to march in silence in a specially-arranged procession around the city one time each day for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times. Then seven priests with rams' horn trumpets, marching before the ark of the covenant, were to sound a long blast on their trumpets immediately joined by a great shout from the people. This was to bring the wall down. What a totally illogical and senseless plan! That was certainly no way to bring a city wall down! However, God's power was there all the time. He needed only obedient followers to make the plan work!
God's plan for man's salvation seems to many to be just as senseless as his method for conquering Jericho. How can immersion in water remove sin? No logic, no relevance, not necessary, they say. Those who try to match wits with the Heavenly Father will come out distant losers every time (See Isa. 55:8-11, also I Cor. 1:18-31}. His word tells us that repentance and baptism in the name of Christ are for the remission of sins. He needs only obedient followers to make the plan work!
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