Q: #5. Is there anything God can't do?
A: Yes, there are lots of things God can’t do. I am guessing many of you are now saying, WHAT, I thought God could do anything! God is indeed omnipotent (all-powerful), omnipresent (able to be everywhere at once), and omniscient (all-knowing). However, we also need to understand that God has a set, defined nature, and attributes that He operates within. For instance, the Bible says God cannot lie (Heb 6:18)(Titus 1:2)(Num 23:19)(1 Sam 15:29). ABSOLUTE truth is an attribute that defines Gods nature. Another attribute that we know about God is that He doesn’t change (Mal 3:6)(Jas 1:17)(Heb 13:8). Therefore, God cannot lie because He IS truth, but also because He cannot change from being truth. This should be a great comfort for all Christians because we can know God’s attributes and nature from His Word in the Bible, and we can rest assured that those attributes will NEVER change.
It is said that the Bible lists approximately 100 things that God cannot do. Here is a list of some:
God cannot be tempted with evil (Jas 1:13).
God cannot approve of evil nor look on wickedness with favor (Hab 1:13)(NASB).
God cannot deny Himself (2 Tim 2:13)
God cannot have fellowship with darkness (2 Cor 6:14)(1 Jn 1:6)
God cannot change His mind (Num 23:19)(1 Sam 15:29)(Heb 7:21)
God cannot stop existing (Ps 102:25-27)(Ps 90:2)
God cannot revoke His gifts and calling (Rom 11:29)
God cannot break His promises (Ps 89:34)(Num 23:19)(1 Kin 8:56)(Jer 33:20-22)
God cannot get tired or weary (Isa 40:28)(Ps 121:4)
God cannot show partiality (Acts 10:34-35)(Rom 2:11)(Gal 2:6)(Eph 6:9)
God cannot stop loving us (Rom 8:38-39)(1 Jn 4:8-9,16)(Jer 31:3)(Jn 3:16)
God cannot learn anything new (1 Jn 3:20)(Isa 42:9)(Ezek 11:5)(Ps 147:4-5) (*Because He is omniscient.)
God cannot be imperfect (Mt 5:48)(2 Sam 22:31)(Ps 18:30)(Deut 32:4)
God cannot stop showing mercy (Lk 1:50)(Deut 4:31)(James 5:11)(Ps 136:1-26 – KJV every verse)
A common question that people ask to try and disprove God’s omnipotence, or even His existence is, “Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?” To answer this, we need to realize that God also does not operate outside the boundaries of logic. For instance, can God make a square circle? Of course He can’t… That is illogical, nonsensical, and a contradiction in terms. The question about “God making a rock” is the same contradiction in terms. It is illogical to ask if something that is finite by nature (a rock) can be made bigger than something infinite (God). So, while God is indeed omnipotent, His power is manifested within the guidelines of His nature, His attributes, and logic.