Posted on 08/18/2014 12:59:55 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
It is commonly supposed that if God can't do absolutely anything and everything, then He isn't all-powerful. Yet Scripture teaches there are some things even God cannot do, though it affirms in countless places that He is, nonetheless, “almighty.”
Here is a list of things the Bible says outright, or by necessary implication, God cannot do:
1. Lie (or do anything else immoral)—Titus 1:2
2. Deny Himself (i.e., do anything out of character)—2 Timothy 2:13
3. Remit/forgive sins without the shedding of blood (i.e., taking of life)—Hebrews 9:22
4. Avoid going to Calvary if man is to have hope of forgiveness—Matthew 26:39
5. Pardon someone who will not repent/believe—2 Peter 3:9
6. Remain righteous by passing over sins and never requiring blood atonement—Romans 3:25-26
7. Be tempted by evil—James 1:13
Can you add to the list?
Can you compose a definition of “almighty” more consonant with what the Bible says God can and cannot do?
Can you think of reasons why this might be more than an academic exercise or a needless distinction?
Well said!
Exactly. This is why Jesus cannot be G-d.
“Whatever.”
Yeah, we wouldn’t want a little thing like the meaning of words to get in the way of a good salacious tale, now would we?
Absolutely not.
“Yeah, we wouldn’t want a little thing like the meaning of words to get in the way of a good salacious tale, now would we?”
I implied nothing salacious. I was merely noting that God expected Adam to pick one of the animals and Adam surprised him by not picking one.
RE: Absolutely not.
Well, since you are not a Christian, I am not surprised that you would say that.
Post 14:
“I don’t know if he was surprised or not but he may have been disappointed that Adam didn’t find any of the animals desirable as a mate ...”
That’s not salacious?
I think, to be more accurate, these are seven actions that God chooses not to do, in order to remain consistent in perfection. God chooses to be immutably perfect, and every other aspect of God’s character would flow from that perpetual choice.
How you come to that conclusion from my statement is beyond me.
Understand how women think.
In the Genesis account, there is not an animal suitable for Adam. There is no indication that Adam was the one who came to this conclusion, nor that God was surprised by the situation.
RE: Understand how women think.
I don’t think this has anything to do with gender...
It has to do with one’s premise. If one is not a Christian and holds a different conception of God, then of course, one would say it is impossible for God to become a man.
“9. Cannot vote six times in Chicago (because He’s not dead!)”
Bawahahaha!! Now that’s funny?
2-6 are nonsense. God can do it. He chooses not to. So far. Without that God is not God but only a god.
God cannot be tempted by Evil because God defines the realities. Evil exists because He has given man the ability to make wrong choices. The only thing God cannot do is be evil because what God does is Good by definition.
In what way is this either a lie or a truth? It was simply a command, not a statement of fact or even a promise.
i don’t think God was intent on letting abraham kill his son... but to make abraham think so, well, let’s just say i will have to ask the good Lord about that one... from far away from the pearly gates, i know... but i will say i have a slight problem with that one.
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“In the Genesis account, there is not an animal suitable for Adam. There is no indication that Adam was the one who came to this conclusion, nor that God was surprised by the situation.”
It seems clear to me. God made all these animals hoping that Adam would find a help-meet BUT for Adam there was not one. God may have not been surprised but to go and make millions of animals and find out Adam rejected them all surely was not what he expected.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
19 And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.
“That’s not salacious?”
I call my buddy ‘mate’ a lot. He knows that I have no sexual desire for him.
This is not posted as part of the discussion. I just enjoyed the ending of the story.
“Choose ye now a suitable helper from one of my many animal creations,” God ordered in a somber tone. At first Adam was a bit apprehensive. “Surely,” he thought, “This must be the first practical joke! Why else would God make a mate for everyone but me?” But Adam didn’t want to seem rude. After all, he was new at this, and God knew everything about everything.
Adam politely shopped around, inspecting all the animals, pretending to fancy some more than others. He paused for a moment by the horse, and pretended to be impressed by its smooth curves and flowing mane. He gave God a small nod as if only to acknowledge His fine work, and God felt proud (indeed, God had worked a second longer on the horse, and was pleased that Adam had taken notice).
As Adam strolled along, God leaned forward, intensely curious which of His creations Adam would choose to know (yes, in the Biblical sense). Finding no suitable mate, Adam returned to God and sheepishly said, “Uh, yes Lord… all these are really great… very fine work, indeed… but, um… I, I just can’t see myself being with any of of them. May I have something else?” “Something else!?” God roared, “How dare ye object to all I have set before thee! Is my work not sufficient for thee? Have I erred in my judgement? For this request I shall forever curse thee with a mate as demanding as thee, and she shall forever be your undoing.” And with that, Adam fell into a deep sleep.”
“His Omnipotence means power to do all that is intrinsically possible, not to do the intrinsically impossible. You may attribute miracles to Him, but not nonsense. There is no limit to His power."If you choose to say, 'God can give a creature free will and at the same time withhold free will from it,' you have not succeeded in saying anything about God: meaningless combinations of words do not suddenly acquire meaning simply because we prifex to them the two other words, 'God can.'
"It remains true that all things are possible with God: the intrinsic impossibilities are not things but nonentities. It is no more possible for God than for the weakest of His creatures to carry out both of two mutually exclusive alternatives; not because His power meets an obstacle, but because nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God.”
- C. S. Lewis
i don’t think God was intent on letting abraham kill his son...
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