What does Job 35:6 reveal about God's nature in relation to human sin? Setting the Scene • Elihu responds to Job by redirecting the focus from human suffering to God’s unchanging character. • He reminds Job that nothing we do—good or evil—can shake or diminish God’s sovereign perfection. The Verse Job 35:6 — “If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him? If your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?” What the Verse Reveals About God’s Nature • Self-sufficient: God’s being is complete in Himself; human sin cannot subtract from His essence. (See Acts 17:25) • Unassailable holiness: Our rebellion does not contaminate or weaken His holiness. Sin is an offense, but it never tarnishes Him. (Psalm 99:9) • Immutable: God does not change in response to human wrongdoing. (Malachi 3:6) • Sovereign Judge: Though sin cannot harm Him, He remains the rightful Judge who must address it. (Ecclesiastes 12:14) Clarifying What “Cannot Harm God” Does Not Mean • It does not mean sin is inconsequential—sin still incurs divine wrath and separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2) • It does not negate God’s compassion; He still reaches out to redeem sinners. (Romans 5:8) Why This Matters for Us • We cannot bargain with God by thinking our disobedience weakens Him; repentance is our only option. • God’s immutability assures us His grace is just as certain as His justice. • Because He is untouched by sin’s corruption, His solution to sin—Christ’s atonement—is perfectly sufficient. (2 Corinthians 5:21) Summary Job 35:6 underscores that our sin leaves God’s nature utterly unchanged while at the same time obligating us to face His righteous judgment. Our rebellion does nothing against Him, but it does everything against us—driving us to seek the unchanging God whose holiness and grace stand firm forever. |
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