Text: Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

1.      Introduction:

1. Time changes us

2. Moods change us

3. Circumstances change us

4. Sin changes us

None of these affect Jesus Christ

2.      The declaration of Hebrews 13:8

a.      Jesus 

Matthew 1:21 (to Joseph)

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Luke 1:31 (to Mary)

And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Philippians 2:5-10

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

b.      Christ (the messiah)

Acts 3:13-19

13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.

14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.

16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

17 And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.

18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

c.       Jesus Christ is

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.

John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

d.      the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

a.      IMMUTABILITY

A characteristic of God's nature which means that He does not change in His basic nature. 

b.      THE IMMUTABILITY OF HIS TEACHING. He told us that it would be so. Standing one day in view of the Temple, He said, 

Matthew 24:35

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

John 8:58

Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.    

c.       THE IMMUTABILITY OF HIS PERSON. The immutability of Jesus Christ is exemplified in His PERSON. Jesus Christ is not only a Master, a Revealer, but He is also a Revelation. He did not merely say, "Listen to Me"; He also said, "Look at Me"(Heb 12:2). Not only did He say, "Believe My words," He said, "Believe in Me" (Matt 18:6). In the person of Jesus Christ there are in unity, the Son of God and the Son of Man, the visible image of the invisible God, and the ideal type of humanity. I am not going to attempt to explain the Mystery. I simply place myself in the presence of Jesus Christ. There I see the Ideal Type of moral perfection. I say that this Type is immutable, and that the words of the text are true of that Type, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." Just think of it for a moment -- an immutable Ideal! Is there not something bold and even presumptuous in the very phrase? Nothing in the history of the human imagination is so difficult as to create an ideal of perfection which will last. 

1 Peter 2:21

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

4.      The Who of Yesterday, and Today, and Forever

a.      When these words were written they meant: Jesus Christ of to-day (the Gospel day) is the same as Jehovah of yesterday (the Old Testament day). Does not this enlarge our views, ennobling not the Master Himself, but our conception of Him? Now we know who walked with Enoch, who wrestled with Jacob, who walked with Abraham, who revealed Himself to Moses, who led His people like a shepherd -- Jesus, the same yesterday and to-day. Always the same. 

b.      The same who walked with Peter, who revealed himself to Paul, who communed with John.

c.       The same walks with us, Communes with us and reveals Himself to us through His Spirit.

5.      Closing

a.      The world changes, we change, But Jesus Christ is trustworthy and reliable, for He never changes! 

b.      Where is your Trust?