Is there anything God can't do?

crystalpc · Feb 1, 2004

Mar 6:5

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed [them].

Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].
Heb 11:6But 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.

There are questions we all deal with daily. Why did this happen? Where was God? Gods will be done (when something bad happens) act of God etc. Is there actually some things God can't do?
Thoughts for discussion only.

Svt4Him · Feb 1, 2004

Sure there are. Can't lie, can't sin, can't create something bigger than himself.

crystalpc · Feb 1, 2004

Very Good! Another one is that he can't go against his own nature. Is there anything that he can't do in our personal lives?

LynneClomina · Feb 1, 2004

hi... all true, but forgiveness IS His nature, healing IS His nature... can He not do all things that ARE in His nature?

one might think of sin not so much as being something he cannot do... more of its not his nature... so why? Sin and death being states of being without God... He is with God because he is God... so it just wouldnt couldnt happen.... and the act of sinning, again, comes aobut from having temptation that He does not have... so it just wouldnt happen, i dont think it even becomes and issue of can/cant....

great discussion, brothers and sisters!!!

heavenly

crystalpc · Feb 1, 2004

Good points. God cannot go against his nature. But his nature is healing, yet there is sickness! I think it goes back to the book of Job as we were discussing in another thread. Bad things happen to good people.
During Jesus's ministry on earth, the prevailing thoughts of the time was that sin was punished immediately, you see this in the story of the blind man, and Jesus making mention of current events of his time when the tower fell. Luke 13:6. It was accepted as it was in Jobs day when calamity struck it was an act of God. To punish the wicked.
But the question here is there anything God can't do? It is his nature to heal, but why then is there sickness? It is his nature to save, but why isn't all saved?
I think that Hebrews 11:6 gives us a good reason, and I am not talking about our faith in this But no faith First you must believe that there is a God. Second and that he rewards instead of punishes. If there is no faith God is not there.

Godz Marine · Feb 1, 2004

crystalpc said:
Good points. God cannot go against his nature. But his nature is healing, yet there is sickness! I think it goes back to the book of Job as we were discussing in another thread. Bad things happen to good people.
During Jesus's ministry on earth, the prevailing thoughts of the time was that sin was punished immediately, you see this in the story of the blind man, and Jesus making mention of current events of his time when the tower fell. Luke 13:6. It was accepted as it was in Jobs day when calamity struck it was an act of God. To punish the wicked.
But the question here is there anything God can't do? It is his nature to heal, but why then is there sickness? It is his nature to save, but why isn't all saved?
I think that Hebrews 11:6 gives us a good reason, and I am not talking about our faith in this But no faith First you must believe that there is a God. Second and that he rewards instead of punishes. If there is no faith God is not there.

No, there is nothing God cannot do! Scripture even tells us that with God, all things are possible.

But, there are many things God will not do! The number one thing He will not do is impose His will upon us, especially His will of salvation.

crystalpc · Feb 1, 2004

Godz Marine said:
No, there is nothing God cannot do! Scripture even tells us that with God, all things are possible.

But, there are many things God will not do! The number one thing He will not do is impose His will upon us, especially His will of salvation.

Now that is a great point! He can do all things, but he will not override our own free will! He will not impose himself on anyone.

look · Feb 1, 2004

How about this?
God is not a man in that He should lie...This tells me that He will not go back on His promises to us (or His Word). This also tells me that if it doesn't work, it has to be us. That's when we should examine ourselves for the reason or reasons why we didn't get it...But that's a subject for another thread...

Theophilus7 · Feb 2, 2004

Godz Marine said:
No, there is nothing God cannot do! Scripture even tells us that with God, all things are possible.

You're right - it is true that God can do all things. But there are some "things" which do not qualify as "things", if you understand me

. They are non-entities. For example, God cannot make a square circle. "Nothing which implies contradiction falls within the omnipotence of God" (Thomas Aquinas).

Pip pip.

crystalpc · Feb 2, 2004

look said:
How about this?
God is not a man in that He should lie...This tells me that He will not go back on His promises to us (or His Word). This also tells me that if it doesn't work, it has to be us. That's when we should examine ourselves for the reason or reasons why we didn't get it...But that's a subject for another thread...

Great point. God never fails! We are yet children, we don't see all that is going on in the spiritual world on our behalf. Paul said we see through a glass darkly. Often we can miss things, or have preconcieved notions that block answers to our prayers, not a failure with God, or his Word. Paul said we are to hold fast the promises of God. In my own life, I have had remah on a word, and walk in it for a while, but then let it slip, some time later someone would teach, or preach on it, and it would again be remah. I would think, I use to know that and walk in it! How did I forget it? Usually it was because I would get busy working, or get overly tired, in a Martha sort of way, and let it slip from my life. Thank God he would always reopen it to me again.

victoryword · Feb 2, 2004

There are some things that God cannot do

1. God cannot work in an atmosphere of unbelief (Mark 6:5, 6)

2. God cannot be pleased apart from faith (Heb. 11:6)

3. God cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13)

4. God cannot lie, as matter of fact, it is impossible for Him to do so (Titus 1:1, 2; Heb. 6:19).

5. God cannot save anyone apart from their acceptance of the finished work of His Son, though it is His will to save all (John 1:11, 12; 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

crystalpc · Feb 2, 2004

victoryword said:
There are some things that God cannot do

1. God cannot work in an atmosphere of unbelief (Mark 6:5, 6)

2. God cannot be pleased apart from faith (Heb. 11:6)

3. God cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13)

4. God cannot lie, as matter of fact, it is impossible for Him to do so (Titus 1:1, 2; Heb. 6:19).

5. God cannot save anyone apart from their acceptance of the finished work of His Son, though it is His will to save all (John 1:11, 12; 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

Thank you, these are the answers that we answer the questions when people ask us why. I have had some good christians get angry at me because of my testimony of healing. I have had some nominal christians get really angry because of it.
I have asked the questions myself, since my healing came about when I was looking for answers for a loved one, who did not recieve it, but went on to be with the Lord.
I have had relatives who actually believed in this doctrine! If it was God's will to save you that he would save you no matter what you did in this life. That if it was not his will to save you that no matter what you did in this life you would not be saved! This is pre-destination to the extreme.

Theophilus7 · Feb 2, 2004

victoryword said:
There are some things that God cannot do

1. God cannot work in an atmosphere of unbelief (Mark 6:5, 6)

2. God cannot be pleased apart from faith (Heb. 11:6)

3. God cannot be tempted to sin (James 1:13)

4. God cannot lie, as matter of fact, it is impossible for Him to do so (Titus 1:1, 2; Heb. 6:19).

5. God cannot save anyone apart from their acceptance of the finished work of His Son, though it is His will to save all (John 1:11, 12; 3:16; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9)

Some good ones there, victoryword. I take issue with number 1, though (assuming you meant it to be taken literally). Would it not be better to interpret Jesus inability to do miracles in this situation as an example of 'quenching the spirit'? All of us, I think, would agree that Jesus effected his miracles of healing (at least, most of them) by the Holy Spirit.

Pip pip.

victoryword · Feb 2, 2004

crystalpc said:
Thank you, these are the answers that we answer the questions when people ask us why. I have had some good christians get angry at me because of my testimony of healing. I have had some nominal christians get really angry because of it.
I have asked the questions myself, since my healing came about when I was looking for answers for a loved one, who did not recieve it, but went on to be with the Lord.
I have had relatives who actually believed in this doctrine! If it was God's will to save you that he would save you no matter what you did in this life. That if it was not his will to save you that no matter what you did in this life you would not be saved! This is pre-destination to the extreme.

I know what you have gone thru Crystal. It is the same "anger" from people that I have experienced that launched me into deeper Bible study. Thankfully, the Bible study STRENGTHENED (rather than weaken) my resolve concerning God's working in our lives.

Don't get me started on predestination type teaching. It's one of those things that make my blood boil

victoryword · Feb 2, 2004

Theophilus7 said:
Some good ones there, victoryword. I take issue with number 1, though (assuming you meant it to be taken literally). Would it not be better to interpret Jesus inability to do miracles in this situation as an example of 'quenching the spirit'? All of us, I think, would agree that Jesus effected his miracles of healing (at least, most of them) by the Holy Spirit.

Pip pip.

Oh the richness of the English language both helps and hurts as we explain things. This is especially true in the case of theology.

Perhaps we must distinguish between God's ABILITY and the which is intrinsic to His nature. God has the ability to do anything (a statement that must be qualified itself but I do not want to take the time to do that). Ability wise, God is able to work the miraculous. However, due to self-imposed limitations, He does not. Once God has stated that He will work or not work in a certain way, He is uable to go back on His Word because His holy and righteous nature prevents this (Ps. 89:33, 34).

Therefore, it was not that Jesus/God lacked the divine ability to perform mighty works among the people mentioned in Mark 6:5, 6. He COULD NOT because of His own Word in which He covenanted to honor faith and to show no honor to unbelief.

Jim B · Feb 2, 2004

Godz Marine wrote

No, there is nothing God cannot do! Scripture even tells us that with God, all things are possible.

But, there are many things God will not do!

Now, as far as I am concerned, this is just about the most profound thing that has been said on this forum. Thanks, GM.

Svt4Him · Feb 2, 2004

Jim B said:
Godz Marine wrote

Now, as far as I am concerned, this is just about the most profound thing that has been said on this forum. Thanks, GM.

It may be, but it's still wrong.

Jim B · Feb 2, 2004

Svt4Him wrote:

It may be, but it's still wrong.

How so?

On the other hand, you could be wrong.

Svt4Him · Feb 2, 2004

Well, let's see. God can not lie. Pretty black and white to me. And yes, I've been wrong before...once I think. :holy:

Now here's a though, and I don't think I agree with it, but play along. I once heard the reason God can't lie is because when He says something, it happens. For instance, if He said the moon was made of cheese, the moon would change into cheese. I don't know if I agree with this, but it got me thinking.

Hebrews 6
18that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

victoryword · Feb 2, 2004

I have the utmost respect for Godz Marine, so this post is not aimed at him, but at Jim B (not that I disrespect you Jim, it's just that Godz Marine and I share similar views on most stuff). Svt4Him, has a point because God has said that there are some things that He CANNOT do:

In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Titus 1:2)

God says here that He CANNOT lie. He did not say that He WON'T lie, He CAN'T lie.

If we believe not, [yet] he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. (2 Tim. 2:13)

God says that He CANNOT deny Himself, it does not say that He WON'T, it says that He CAN'T!

Now I understand what Godz Marine is saying. I agree with him in principle if not in language. I believe that this is what Svt4Him is alluding to.

Is there anything God can't do?

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