By the Numbers

Monday, February 20, 2012

Things Impossible for God to Do

                                          Things Impossible for God to Do
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Jesus said, "With God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:26). Then could God make a stone too heavy for Him to lift? If He can, then could there be some other things impossible for God to do? Let's ponder the possibility.
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The Biblical God is the simple, unified, infinite creator and sustainer of the universe.
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God cratered and sustains the material universe--hence He always existed in essence as personal spirit not composed of parts as material things that can come apart, come into being, change in being, or cease to be. God's nature is forever the same without change--pure spiritual essence. So God can be said to be uncaused, self-existent, eternal, unchangeable..
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 All God's attributes or perfections exist and act as a unified whole with no conflict among them. Thus, God is and acts with both justice and love, exists apart from His universe yet upholds and acts within it. Further, God's essence is infinite so all His attributes or perfections are infinite such as His infinite power, presence, knowledge, truth, love and so on.  Hence, for the Bible's God nothing actually possible is impossible.  
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Abundant statements of Scripture teach this. "In beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1). See also Gen. 1:21; John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11; Acts 17:25. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deut. 6:4). Moreover, it is impossible to have more than one infinite or absolute Being. See also Isa. 45:18; Mark 12:29. God informed Moses, "I Am Who I Am" (Exodus 3:14). This speaks of the eternal self-existing God as confirmed in John 8:58-59). "Says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8).
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But the Biblical God can't do anything actually impossible, illogical, or immoral.
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God can't do things actually impossible. Can God make a stone to heavy for Him to life? Whatever God can make, the Almighty can move, destroy, or recreate in another place. He can lift anything finite, but He cannot make another infinite as there cannot be two absolutes or infinities.
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 On the cross, the God-man Jesus Christ could have called ten thousand angels to come to His rescue, but it was impossible having come to do His Father's will and to save us wicked rebellious sinners. His love for us wouldn't allow it--"Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). And yet, "God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him" (Rom. 5:8-9). 
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God can't do things illogical. God can't do things absurd or contradictory such as make a sensitive stone, a square triangle, or anything contradictory. Such things impose no limits upon God as they are really nonexistent and one would eliminate the other. Moreover, there's no contradiction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as they are three persons but the same essence. Also, the spiritual body described in First Corinthians 15:40-46 is a heavenly body incorruptible, powerful, and gloriously adapted for believers heavenly life.
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God can't do things immoral. "It is impossible for God to lie" (Heb. 6:18) or to "deny Himself"" (2 Timothy 2:13). While we are often unfaithful, our Lord cannot do anything contrary to His holy nature and will. That's something we can depend on. Sin or wrong doing  makes no sense unless there be a standard of right doing with which to compare it. Our creator God unlike ourselves can have no threats or temptations as He alone is King of kings and Lord of lords. He knows our thoughts, words, deeds and holds us accountable. "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil" (1 Pet. 3:12). Eyes, ears, face are anthropomorphic expressions--God is spirit but we will see Jesus embodied in Heaven. So we violate God's Word or our conscience when we do wrong being imperfect before a perfect God and future perfect Heaven. Jesus never did any wrong and could challenge His enemies to disclose any sin in him."Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?" (John 8:46). So we must look to Jesus the sacrificial "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
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And God has done crucial things we desperately need to know.
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"The things which are impossible with men are possible with God (Luke 18:27). With all our efforts, we cannot become perfect or take away even one sin--so Heaven doesn't depend on our goodness. God can do something far more wonderful than lifting a great stone. He can melt our stony hearts with love, joy and peace when we come to Him in faith confessing our sin and trusting Him to cleanse, save and guide our lives from now on.
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Won't you ask the Lord Jesus to do this for you today? Pray, Lord Jesus, I come to You as a sinner condemned deserving of eternal life. But now I trust You to give me eternal life, make me a child of God, forgiven and accepted with You and fit for Heaven. Thank You, Lord. 
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From Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:5-7). "Without faith it  is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" (Heb. 11:6).
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