Understanding the Trinity using Object Oriented Design-2

Modeling Immutability using Object Oriented Design:

The Bible teaches that God does not change. Malachi 3:6 says:

"For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

This means that God is immutable- his attributes do not change. In Object oriented design, immutability is modeled using the final keyword. An attribute that is qualified as being final cannot be changed by objects or other attributes in the class. Previously, we modeled the Trinity as being three objects of one class. The attributes would, naturally, be defined in the class as:

Class God {

final <attrubute>;

}

There seem to be four import attributes of God that are described, in the Bible, as being unchanging. They are:

1) Love: "...I have loved you with an everlasting love..." Jeremiah 31:3

God loves His people with a love that does not change. It remains forever and precedes (and causes)
love towards God in His people (I John 4:19).

2) Faithfulness:  "if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself." II Timothy 2:13

God is eternally faithful to His being and His covenants- His faithfulness does not change. God's faithfulness is connected to His being (personality/identity) and also His love (Deuteronomy 7:9)

3) Mercy: "For the LORD is good; his steadfast love[translated mercy in other translations and other places in the OT] endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations." Psalm 100:5

God's mercy remains forever and His children who are dependent on it are eternally secure (John 10:28)

4) Word: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (Isaiah 40:8 and I Peter 1:25)

God's word does not change. It will prevail over time, over people and circumstances. (It is an interesting to study the immutability of God's Word within frameworks of Textual Criticism)

Conclusions:

The immutability of God is frightening for the rebel cannot win over it (Acts 26:14) and assuring for the humble who depend on His mercy (John 10:28).

Other Interesting passage(s) regarding God's immutability:
1) Hebrews 6:17 "...the unchangeable character of His purpose..."