The Attributes of God

The Immutability of God and the Holiness of God

In chapter 7 of the Attributes of God, A.W Pink focuses on the the immutability of God. In this chapter, Pink spoke on how God is perpetually unchanging in His being, attributes, and decisions (James 1:17). To relate this attribute, immutability, Scripture actually compares Him to a “Rock”. Deuteronomy 32:4, says,  “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” This passage expresses the absolute unchangeableness of God, a God who is faithful and immovable in all His ways. God in His essence was before time, having no beginning and no end. He does not reflect earthly created things which do change and are finite in nature, instead He is infinite and unchanging (Mal. 3:6). God is also unaffected by any outside influence being perfect in His attributes. His love is everlasting (Jer.31:3), His holiness unstained (Ps.96:9), His wisdom unreduced, His power unfading (Ps.147:5). Due to God’s Immutability, we as His beloved people should not fear to have Him as our God; He is forever unchanging in all His attributes and He promises to never remove His kindness or His covenant of peace from us (Is. 54:10).

In chapter 8 of the Attributes of God, the Holiness of God is centered upon. In this chapter, Pink explains that holiness is the very “excellency” of God’s nature (p.40). God is absolutely pure in all that He does. Scripture speaks of God as being “Light”, and says that in Him there is no darkness as all (1 John 1:5). There is not a single blemish or spot in the nature of God, for this reason, we read in Scripture of the seraphim in Heaven singing, “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of host” (Is. 6:3), and for this reason we ourselves are exhorted to “Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness” (Ps. 30:4). The holiness of God is manifested in several ways, one being in His works. For example, from the beginning of creation, we see that it was God’s aim to create all things good, pronouncing them good after they had been created (Gen 1:31). The Scripture says, “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works”. Another place where the holiness of God is manifested is at the cross. The death of Christ shows the holiness of God and His hatred of sin. Christ was put to death because of the heinousness of sin; it is against His nature and does not conform to His pure laws and judgments. As fallen redeemed humans we must conform our ways to God’s ways and seek to please Him in all that we do; this is His desire for us, to be holy as He is Holy (1 Peter 1:16). We must continue to gaze our eyes at His beautiful holiness so that our hearts can be in lines with His and so that our ways can be acceptable before Him.

Pink, A.W. The Attributes of God. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1975.