The Same Yesterday, Today, and Forever

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)

There is a belief circulating in some circles suggesting that miraculous gifts and apostolic ministry ceased after the original apostles died, as though the supernatural aspect of the faith belonged only to a specific window of church history. But this reasoning runs into a problem. Scripture describes apostles as a gift set in the church by God Himself, and the church has not ceased to exist. If the church remains and apostles were given to the church as an ongoing gift, the reasoning behind the cessation of miracles does not hold up logically or biblically.

This idea usually surfaces when people cannot explain something they are not currently seeing. Rather than concluding that the supernatural has passed away, it makes more sense to examine whether faith, understanding, or expectation might be the missing ingredient, rather than assuming God's character or His gifts have changed.

Hebrews settles the matter plainly. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has not become a different version of Himself over the centuries. The same power that healed the sick and raised the dead in Scripture has not diminished or expired. If Jesus has not changed, there is no theological reason to assume His willingness or ability to work in power has changed either. Whatever you see Him doing in Scripture, you can expect Him to still be doing it, because He remains exactly who He has always been.

Practical Application

Miracles are not confined to the past. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is no respecter of persons. If He did it before, He can do it again. Expect God to move in power today, as Scripture describes Him moving, because His nature has not changed.

Ephesians 4:11; Malachi 3:6