What’s Impossible for God?
How many times have you heard, “There’s nothing impossible with God…”? Or, in a similar fashion, “God can do anything!” We sing songs about these truths; we hear passionate sermons reminding us of the same. Do these statements reflect an accurate theology?
To some extent (and from a certain perspective), these statements are true. The problem isn’t so much as what is said as much as it is in the fact that they do not tell the whole story. What if you were to learn that the Omnipotent God of the entire universe had some limitations? What if you were to find out that there is something He cannot do – and He’s actually told us about it in His Word?
Let’s set the context on just how powerful our God is. In Matthew 17.20, Jesus told his disciples that if they simply had the faith the size of a single grain of mustard seed, nothing would be impossible for them.
Again, in Matthew 19.26, Jesus looked at His audience and made a powerful statement. His words are a great source of encouragement: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
Yet, in two separate places a truth is revealed about God’s inability to do something! In Titus 1.2, Paul wrote that God cannot lie. The writer of Hebrews (who may have been Paul as well) reinforces this idea in Hebrews 6.18: “That by two immutable[1] things, in which it was impossible for God to lie…”
From a positive perspective, Jesus stated to His disciples that He was “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” (John 14.6). We serve a God of truth – it is literally impossible for Him to lie. He cannot do it.
Think about this! The God who can create the entire universe out of nothing – He just speaks it into existence – that God cannot lie. The One who created the human race from the dust of the ground and breathed life into Him – He cannot lie.
I know you’ve been lied to before. I know you’ve been disappointed, frustrated, and hurt by broken promises. I know you’re tired of all the empty promises made by politicians to get your vote. I get it. But put all that aside for a moment and consider the One who has made some amazing promises to you. He cannot break even one of them! We don’t describe God as faithful because He keeps most of His promises; we describe Him that way because He keeps them all!
In John’s writings, we find nine distinct promises that God makes to the overcomer. Prepare to be encouraged as you consider what God has promised. Over the next several chapters, we’ll dive into these promises and then conclude with some practical principles to help us live victoriously.
The nine promises we’ll observe are:
- We can be full of joy and not fear
- We can enjoy food from the Master
- We need not fear the sting of death
- God has a rock for us
- We will rule over nations
- We have some new clothes and a new name
- Here’s some stability
- Here’s your throne
- Here’s your inheritance
God never made a promise that was too good to be true. – D.L. Moody
Just joining us on the journey? Follow the links below to see the previous posts.
INTRODUCTION
- Part 1: Click here
- Part 2: Click here
- Part 3: Click here
- Part 4: Click here
Chapter 1
- Part 1: Click here
- Part 2: Click here
- Part 3: Click here
- Part 4: Click here
- Part 5: Click here
Chapter 2
- Part 1: Click here