Can you explain Hebrews 6:18? What are immutable things?
To answer your good question, let’s read Hebrews 6:17-18, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”
Of course, the word immutable means ‘unchangeable’. In this portion, the Lord wants to give absolute assurance to His people that what He says, He will do.
Indeed, the Lord’s promise is so absolute, yet here He goes even further and adds an oath to His promise. We read of God’s promise and oath to Abraham in Hebrews 6:13-14, “For when God made PROMISE to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, HE SWARE by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.”
The Apostle Paul spoke of that blessed assurance in 2 Timothy 1:12 where he wrote, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”
“The believer now has two unchangeable things on which to rely…His Word and His oath. It is impossible to imagine anything more secure or certain. God promises to save all who believe on Christ; then He confirms it with an oath. The conclusion is inevitable: the believer is eternally secure.” (Wm. MacDonald).
It is also profitable to us to consider these two things about our Lord:
- HE CANNOT CHANGE – Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not…”
- HE CANNOT LIE – Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.”
I’m reminded of that precious hymn by Fanny Crosby:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
My dear reader, do you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior? Have you committed your life, your eternity to Him? He is the only way of salvation (John 14:6), and He will save everyone who comes to Him in faith (John 6:37). He refuses no one! He wants to save you from a lost eternity. His promise is immutable, for He has said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29). (CC) (646.4)