An Unchangeable Friend

                      "You may greatly comfort yourself that you have an
                        unchangeable (a) friend (b) in Christ Jesus.

                        From the unchangeableness of your Savior, you may
                        be assured of your continuance in a state of grace.

                        As to yourself, you are so changeable, that, if left to
                        yourself, you would soon fall utterly away.

                        But Christ is the same, and therefore, when He has
                        begun a good work in you He will finish it (c).

                        As He has been the author (d), he will be the finisher
                        of your faith.

                        When you have entered on the happiness of heaven,
                         it shall never be taken from you (e), because Christ,
                         your Savior and friend, who bestows it on you,
                         and in whom you have it, is unchangeable.

                         He will be the same forever and ever, and therefore
                         so will be your happiness in heaven."

                                                                    Jonathan Edwards


                                                      ****************

                         Jesus never changes.

                                 (a)   "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and
                                     today and forever."
                                                                     Hebrews 13:8


                        Jesus laid down His life for His friends.

                                 (b)   "Greater love has no one than this,
                                     that he lay down his life for his friends.

                                     You are my friends if you do what I command."
                                                                      John 15:13-14


                        God, who is the beginning and end of your salvation,
                        will finish the work of your of redemption by giving
                        you eternal life with Him in heaven.

                                (c)   " ... He who began a good work in you
                                         will carry it on to completion until the
                                         day of Christ Jesus."
                                                                      Philippians 1:6


                        Jesus, who brings salvation to His people (Matthew 1:21),
                        will save them completely.

                                (d)   "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
                                         the author and perfecter of
                                         our faith ..."
                                                                      Hebrews 12:2a


                        Those who are given to Christ, are safely held in the hand of God,
                        and will never be lost.
                       
                      

                                  (e)   [Jesus said]. "I give them (His sheep)
                                          eternal life, and they shall never perish;
                                          no one can snatch them out of my hand.

                                          My Father, who has given them to me,
                                          is greater than all; no one can snatch them
                                          out of my Father's hand."
                                                                           John 10:28-29



                                            (Source:  Of First Importance blog)