Is there anything God cannot do?

[SavedByGrace3]

Sometimes we have a problem with the word "cannot" in that we assume it always reveals some limitation. This is just a word game.
When we say "God cannot fail"... that is not a limitation.
When we say "God cannot sin"... that is not a limitation either. These are positive statements about the nature, ability, and power of God... not limitations. The error of this logic can be seen when we restate these concepts in the positive:
"God is always successful."
"God is always righteous."
These are not limitations.

Another thing. Does God define what love is or does love define what God is? Is "love" for God the same as it is for us? I believe that love is defined by the nature of God. To say that He is helpless and cannot help but love is not a limitation. He is love incarnate... or better, love eminates from His being.
Dids

 

[hraedisc]

Is there anything God cannot do?

He cannot take a person with unconfessed and unforsaken sin into eternity.

 

[duh_hikki_zealot]

Is there anything God cannot do?

He cannot take a person with unconfessed and unforsaken sin into eternity.

Amen!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Codger]

Dear CF,

God cannot do evil.
He cannot force you to love and serve him.
He cannot violate your freedom of choice.

This is all because of his character. I think in the great judgment day, we are going to find out all of the millions of ways that God has tried to influence and lead one single rebellious person to himself - and dispite all of this effort he has failed to do so. He holds our will and free choice paramount in my view.

Codger

 

[Zacharias]

No. He can't sin.

 

[Mr Tom]

God can do anything...there are just some things he choses not to do

 

[Antonio83]

If God cannot lie then He is not omnipotent by the english definition.

Where in the Bible does it say God can't do this or God can't do that? We were made in His image and have the ability to choose between good and evil. God's angels were able to choose between good and evil. But God is not able? I believe God is holy by choice. He can lie but chooses not to. He chooses to do good. That is why God said, "Be holy, because I the LORD your God, am holy."

 

[Antonio83]

God can do anything...there are just some things he choses not to do

Exactly.

 

[CryptoKnight]

Personally I don't think that God in perfection would need to change.
Isn't he/she sometimes described as the Alpha and Omega; the beginning and the end.
To take love away is also beyond God I believe as he is "perfect love" so here we have another limitation (in the human sense) that we can attribute to God.

David

We err when we think God changes (even in the Bible, when God "changes his mind"). Since God is outside of time, his past, present and future are all part of him. He does not change, rather we perceive a different part of him. Similarly, when we perceive he changes his mind, he impacts events to get us to react in a certain way, knowing full well what we will do (the pleas for saving Sodom for the sake of 10 good people, for example). He never changed his mind, though the prophet could think of no better way to word it. God stated a course of action to get Abraham to reason out grace. God knew there were not 10 or 50 righteous people before he "went looking".

 

[Mr Tom]

Heres an interesting point coming through - if God can do anything then He can lie...

 

[BBAS 64]

Good Day

God cannot save people with out an attonement.

Bill

 

[herev]

Good Day

God cannot save people with out an attonement.

Bill

cannot, or chooses not to?

 

[BBAS 64]

cannot, or chooses not to?

Cannot

 

[herev]

Cannot

Thanks, this is helping me understand this portion of Systematic Theology. If He cannot, does that mean He is NOT omnipotent? This will help with a paper. I appreciate your answers.
Tommy

 

[BBAS 64]

Thanks, this is helping me understand this portion of Systematic Theology. If He cannot, does that mean He is NOT omnipotent? This will help with a paper. I appreciate your answers.
Tommy

Good Day, Tommy

Omnipotence
An attribute of God alone. It is the quality of having all power. He can do all things that do not conflict with His holy nature. God has the power to do anything He wants to.

I started a thread on this in the Congreation fourm I will track it down.

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[Zacharias]

God can do anything...there are just some things he choses not to do

Can God make a rock that He can't lift?

 

[G4m]

Can we have some good, friendly debate?
How do you feel about this statement.
"There is nothing God cannot do."

For me, I agree completely, but that means we cannot say God cannot lie, God cannot be wrong, God cannot be unjust, etc. He can do anything, He is just so good, He chooses not to.
I believe that saying God cannot is always an oxymoron.
What are your thoughts?
I look forward to your posts!
Thanks
Rev. Tommy Conder

God can not do evil and would never be capable of it.

 

[Zacharias]

God can not do evil and would never be capable of it.

I agree.

 

[herev]

God can not do evil and would never be capable of it.

Thanks--why? Because it goes against his nature? As God, can he not change his nature?

 

[G4m]

Thanks--why? Because it goes against his nature? As God, can he not change his nature?

No I don't believe He can change His nature. I guess that's the thing with God, He isn't susceptible to corruption and change as we are. If He were it would be possible for Him to cease to exist.

I believe there's so much more this ties into and actually explains a lot about God.

[bible]Malachi 3:6[/bible]
[bible]James 1:17[/bible]

When you think about it, there's probably lots of things God couldn't do. Could He cease to exist, become evil, create a higher more powerful creature?