There is a song that goes, “My God is so great so strong and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do!” The Bible is certainly filled with many powerful and mighty examples of the things that God can do! He can heal the body, mind and spirit. He can cleanse us from all unrighteousness and sin and replace the most vile and corruptible heart with a pure, clean heart. God has the power to save sinners, which is no small feat in itself. The Bible tells us that “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. These wonderful words are written to bring us to the realization that when we are at our lowest point, having wandered far away from God and His love, this is when Jesus died for us. It was when we least deserved it that His mercy was extended unto us. The Apostle Paul, the author of Romans, in the above mentioned verse, focuses on the fact that while we were sinners, deep in our trespasses, Christ died for us. This shows unequivocally that our salvation is not based on our own merit whatsoever, but rather on the sacrifice of Christ. The power of the Godhead is contrasted with our weakness and helplessness.
Yes, God certainly is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, meaning that He is all powerful, present everywhere at the same time, and all-knowing. But are there certain things that the all-powerful God we serve cannot do, or chooses not to do? Is it not a contradiction to say that our God is all-powerful and a God without limitations but there are certain things He cannot do?
The Apostle Paul writes about this. “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” Hebrews 6:17–18. When a human being says “I swear” while giving their word or making a promise, it lets us know that they will actually follow through and do as they have said. Human beings have the capability of lying and so it is reassuring when they add an oath. It tells us they are serious about keeping their word. It also holds them to a greater degree of accountability when they give their word. However, it is interesting to note that in verse 17 it says that God confirmed it by an oath, and in verse 18 it goes on to say that it is impossible for God to lie. God Cannot Lie! But if it is impossible for God to lie, then why would it be necessary for Him to confirm His word with an oath?
If we truly believe that it is impossible for God to lie, then every beautiful promise that God makes to His people in the Bible will come to pass. Conversely it also means that when God promises to love the sinner, yet hold each individual accountable for their life choices in the day of judgment, this is also a truism. If we truly believe that God cannot lie, then we should never have to deal with doubt and unbelief again, and we should be able to take God exactly at His word.
Returning to the question, “If God cannot lie why would He confirm His promise with an oath?” He does so entirely for our sake. As humans, we have the capability and, yes, the tendency to doubt and to lack faith, so God caters to us and speaks to us in terms we understand. To make Himself more believable to us He makes an oath as we would. However, in reality, this should not be necessary because given that God cannot lie and we claim to be believers in Him, taking Him at His word should be the simplest thing in the world.
So the two things we have seen so far that God cannot do are, He cannot lie or break a promise.
A manager was asked by his laziest employee for a recommendation for another job. The manager thought hard all night for something that would be honest without hurting the young man’s chances. He finally wrote: “You will be lucky if you can get him to work for you.” Was this a lie? Is an intentionally ambiguous response a lie? “An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. . . . Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 309
Booker T. Washington describes meeting an ex-slave from Virginia in his book, Up From Slavery: “This man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.
“Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there. When freedom came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars. Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with interest, in his hands.
“In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his promise.”
If only each one of us was so committed to fulfilling our promises. Even in the unfair and unjust situation this Christian was in, he was till committed to fulfilling his promise.
What else can God not do? “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3: 6. Here we are told that the Lord cannot change. The Apostle Paul writes, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. Through the process of implication we can assume that if it is impossible for Him to change then there are other things closely correlated with God and His character that cannot change.
“The word of the Lord endureth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:25. There is a specific part of His word, or the Holy Bible, that is more representative of His character than any other part. This part was important enough that He wrote it with His own finger; it is the Ten Commandments found in Exodus 20. Jesus Himself tells us this about His law and its degree of changeability. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Matthew 5:17–18
When Jesus says that He came not to destroy but to fulfill, how did His time on this earth fulfill the law? Because He lived a perfect life in exact accordance with the Ten Commandments clearly indicates that, despite Satan’s claims of the unfairness and injustice of God’s law, it was in fact, possible to keep it. Why would He go through all the effort to pray and fast all night as He did for 40 days in the wilderness if He was just planning to do away with the law at the cross? Also, routinely asking God’s help to overcome during His all night prayer sessions would have been a pointless endeavour if there was no law to live up to and no sin to overcome.
Furthermore, let us pose this question, “If God’s law, which represents His character, is changeable and is not actually immutable (as the nominal Christian world argues) then could we not argue that God Himself could change?” If God’s law could change then it would imply that His character could also change, and if His character represented by the moral law (Ten Commandments) could change or be downgraded then would the sacrifice of Jesus have been necessary?
The sacrifice of Jesus was necessary to free mankind from their sins, but without a law to show them their guilt and to have something to measure their lives against, there can be no sin. If there was no law telling us that the speed limit was 100 Km/h we could drive at 170 Km/h on the freeway and the police officer could say absolutely nothing! All this leads us to the conclusion that if God’s law could be changed then God’s character could also be changed; sin could be excused and Satan could have free reign over this world. The degradation and ugliness of sin could have full power and sway over the inhabitants of this world, and it would not even be considered sin.
Because God’s character and His law are one and the same and cannot be changed, Jesus had to come to die for us to give us hope of freedom from sin and this dark world.
Going back to Malachi, “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” Malachi 2:17. Malachi was written sometime after 444 B.C. shortly after the Babylonian Captivity was over. Nehemiah, King Artaxerxes’ Cupbearer, heard that conditions were not great in Jerusalem so he returned and carried on a mighty work of reformation among the returned exiles for a period of 12 years. After these years he returned to Babylon to resume his previous duties. After some time he returned to Jerusalem again only to see a state of spiritual decline and much of his work of reformation undone.
It must be frustrating to see your work of reformation undone. If Martin Luther, who posted the 95 Theses to the
church door in Wittenburg, in 1517, was alive today, how would he feel seeing his mighty work of reformation mostly undone?
Malachi wrote his book at a time of spiritual decline. “And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the LORD of hosts. For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” Malachi 3:5–6. These verses effectively refute the claim that God winks at evil, and is actually not a God of judgment.
Because God’s law and character cannot be changed we have hope of salvation and freedom from sin, but conversely we also face consequences for our actions if we refuse to give up our sin, and we will face a judgment one day.
The good news is we do not have to despair regarding God’s judgments. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of Thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. God’s judgments are always righteous, unlike man’s judgments in an earthly court. He is a fair judge and He does not base guilt on outward appearances alone, but also upon the inner workings of the heart. Furthermore, because He sees all, and knows all, there is no chance that an innocent individual will be falsely accused or that a guilty party will be acquitted. He is a righteous judge because in His word that cannot change He tells us clearly the necessary steps that must be taken to attain salvation. We must keep God’s law and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Furthermore, He clearly outlines the results if we choose not to abide by His law; there are no secrets with God, and no lies.
Due to the immutability or unchanging nature of God’s law and character, there is something He does not like. “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1–2. God cannot effectively communicate or connect with someone who is knowingly sinning. Not because He is not trying, but because the sinner cannot distinguish His voice from the other voices, or they are actively trying to quiet His voice. If there is no connection, the refining work of the Holy Spirit cannot be done effectively. Is it possible then for an individual in this scenario to ever achieve a character that would be appropriate for heaven? I would say unequivocally no!
If God’s love is so profound could not His love for sinners be greater than His hatred for sin and ultimately cancel out His hatred for sin? No, despite His profound love, God cannot excuse or look past sin in order to save someone who is deliberately cutting themselves off from God’s grace. God will not help someone that does not want help, because that would be force. He refuses to force anyone to yearn for salvation or eternal life who does not want to be free from sin. Any form of force would be cutting directly against God’s character of love.
We also know and understand that God cannot be pleased without faith. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. If you had a friend but you did not believe they were honest or trustworthy, would you respect them? Probably not. You would not be inclined to stay a loyal friend to them or express appreciation for them through kind acts. So it is the same with God, He knows very well that if someone doubts His very existence or His ability to save them from their sin, they will never truly love Him or serve Him on any level.
Going back to our friend example, even if an individual believes in God but doesnot believe that He is a kind, just, and trustworthy God, they will never be inclined to establish a relationship with Him. Without a relationship there can be no mutual respect or appreciation, no loyalty, no worship or Christian works that manifest our love for God.
Yes, God cannot be pleased without faith, because our faith in Him leads us to seek Him and desire to establish a relationship. Our relationship with Him leads us to know God and all His goodness which fosters a deep love for Him, a love which shows itself through our kind deeds and actions to our fellow man. This is how faith and works come together in perfect harmony.
Faith honours God and God honours faith! A story from the life of missionaries Robert and Mary Moffat illustrates this truth. For ten years this couple labored faithfully in Bechuanaland (now called Botswana) without one ray of encouragement to brighten their way. They could not report a single convert. Finally, the directors of their mission board began to question the wisdom of continuing the work. The thought of leaving their post, however, brought great grief to this devoted couple, for they felt sure that God was in their labours, and that they would see people turn to Christ in due season. They stayed; and for a year or two longer, darkness reigned. Then one day a friend in England sent word to the Moffats that she wanted to mail them a gift and asked what they would like. Trusting that in time the Lord would bless their work, Mrs. Moffat replied, “Send us a communion set; I am sure it will soon be needed.” God honoured that dear woman’s faith. The Holy Spirit moved upon the hearts of the villagers, and soon a little group of six converts was united to form the first Christian church in that land. The communion set from England was delayed in the mail; but on the very day before the first commemoration of the Lord’s Supper with the six converts, the set arrived. A real living faith is full of works, and takes a course of action that indicates full belief in God even when all appearances are cause for doubt and negativity.
There are two more things that God cannot do. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” Psalm 51:7. God cannot despise or ignore a broken and a contrite spirit, filled with repentance, and feeling their need of Jesus. The reason for this is because, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3. He loved us before we were born. In fact, before the foundation of this world He loved us because He already made the commitment to come and die for us through the plan of salvation. And He will love us till our dying day on this earth and in eternity. He cannot, and will not, stop loving us. Praise the Lord, His love and care for us despite ourselves is truly what gives us hope and courage to go on in life.
A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on “The Love of God.” As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lit a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns; next, the two wounded hands; then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else left to say. The sacrifice of Jesus is the perfect summation of God’s love for us. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38–39. Because of the unchanging nature of God’s love, which is what His character is all about, nothing can separate us from that love, except for one thing—our own sinful hearts that we are unwilling to have Him change. It is our own choice!
It is beautiful to know that all the darkness, and wickedness and evil of this world cannot separate us from God’s unchanging love because His love, like a ray of light, pierces the darkness and gloom of this sin-filled world.
Whether you want to look at the things God cannot do as limitations He puts on Himself, or whether you want to look at it like I do, as an innate part of His character, either way the things God cannot do are what makes Him the beautiful and perfect God that He is and separates Him from all false gods. The things that God cannot do are just as powerful an argument for belief in Him and love for Him as the things that He can do.
In conclusion, let us remember that, God cannot lie, He cannot break His promises, God’s character cannot change (same yesterday, today and forever), God’s Word and His Ten Commandments cannot change, God cannot stop or avoid the judgment work He must do, God cannot excuse or look past sin, God cannot be pleased without faith, God cannot despise the broken spirit, and He cannot stop loving us.
It is my wish and prayer that we will realize that because our all-powerful God cannot do certain things this makes His power even greater and His character more perfect, thereby “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13. Because our God cannot, and will not, do certain things, this gives us the opportunity to do all things through Christ and overcome all sin through His power.
As Christians who serve a God that cannot, and will not, do certain things, are there certain things we will refuse to do? Absolutely, there should be. We will ultimately look at the restraints of God’s law, which restrains His creatures from committing acts that hurt themselves and others, as the greatest blessing to us.
Let us follow Christ’s perfect example in everything, realizing that a love for truth and righteousness will put us under the restraints of God’s law. Just as Jesus lived under the restraints of God’s law when on this earth and as God lives under the restraints of His own law, the restraints of God’s law will give us the ultimate freedom from all that besets us—sin, Satan, and the Darkness of this world. Amen.
Richard Eaton