In the department where I worked, our patrol sergeants worked eight-hour shifts. We patrolmen worked ten-hour shifts. That meant that part way through our shift we would get a different sergeant to work under.
Now if all the sergeants in our department held the same standards and preferences for how they wanted things to be done, we wouldn’t have had any trouble. But because we don’t work in a perfect world, you can guess what it was like having to “shift gears” in almost everything you did in the field so as not to invite wrath from above, if you catch my drift…
Aren’t you glad God isn’t like that?
Did you know that there are some things God can not do?
The old question, “Can God make a rock so big that He can’t lift it?” is a stupid one. That’s not what we’re talking about when I say that God has some limitations.
The truth is that God can and will never do anything that violates His attributes of holiness, truth, and perfection. Here are His limitations.
I. God Can Not Change
“For I am the LORD, I change not;” – Malachi 3:6
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” – James 1:17
For God to change in any way would violate his holy character of perfection. The Word of God would not be dependable if God changed in any way. Complete perfection can not be improved upon.
It boggles my mind that so many people trust man-made religions that change their teachings from time to time because they have become “outdated.” What a sad state of affairs.
God’s Truth can not change. It was the same in eternity past; it is the same today, and it will be the same for eternity.
Unlike the shifting sand of man-made traditions and teachings, God’s Truth is something we can depend upon!
II. God Can Not Lie
Every Word from God is Truth and applies to all people, cultures, and nations at all times under all circumstances. That is what ultimate Truth is (See On Truth).
“I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” – 1 John 2:21
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” – John 17:17
Sin came upon all of creation when Adam and Eve did not believe God. Satan lied to them, and they chose to believe the lie. You may not believe some of what is in the Bible. That’s your choice. But to pick and choose what you believe of the Bible to be true and not true is to call God a liar. Are you ready for that?
III. God Can Not Let Sinners into Heaven Heaven is reserved for perfect sinless people. Without God’s gracious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ it would be a pretty empty place!
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” – Romans 3:23
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” – 1 John 1:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
In His mercy, God sent Himself in the person of Jesus Christ to give Himself as a sacrifice to pay for our sin so that any who believe upon His name will have eternal life. God’s love for us is not the basis for the forgiveness of our sin. God’s love for us took the Lord Jesus to the Cross of Calvary to die for us. The forgiveness of our sin is only because of His shed blood; for without the shedding of blood, there can be no payment for sin. (See On Being Born Again)
The reality is that God’s Word is inerrant. It contains no mistakes. If any of God’s Word can be called into question, disputed, or doubted, it looses it’s authority and can not be trusted at all. There would go our forgiveness and salvation out the window! But God is faithful and will do what He promises!
If you have learned something about the Character of God, I would like to hear from you! Please feel free to email me at any time.
Other Selected Reading Suggestions:
On Repentance
On Driven-by-Purpose Theology
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