3 Things God Cannot Do and Why He's Trustworthy

God, despite being all-powerful, cannot and will not, do things that contradict his very nature and character. These are not limitations on his power, but rather expressions of his inherent perfection, justness, and goodness.

God cannot lie:

According to the Bible, "it is impossible for God to lie".

Hebrews 6:18, "That by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us".

This verse emphasizes the reliability of God's promises and His nature as one who cannot deceive.

This is a cornerstone of faith, because it assures that God's promises and words are always trustworthy and reliable. If God could lie, his promises of salvation, eternal life, and faithfulness would be meaningless, creating instability and undermining trust. The ability to confidently lean on Him and His Word is possible, knowing that it's as true today, as it ever was.

God cannot change:

God's nature, including his character, promises, and plans, are unchanging. This is referred to as his immutability.

Malachi 3:6, "I the LORD do not change".

This is reassuring because it means God's love, mercy, and intentions towards us remain steadfast. If God could change, there might be constant worry about his disposition, whether his love would diminish, or his promises would expire. His unchanging nature provides stability and confidence in his faithfulness.

God cannot be tempted by evil or DO anything evil:

James 1:13 states that God "cannot be tempted by evil". This aligns with the understanding that God is perfectly holy and righteous.

His inability to be tempted or act in a way that is sinful, ensures his moral perfection and that his motives are always pure. If God could do evil, his nature would be compromised, and there wouldn't be a reliable foundation for morality or trust in his goodness. It is precisely because he is all-good that he will ultimately eradicate evil and establish perfection. This is just one of the many promises of God, we can count on.

God is holy (Isaiah 6:3), and that quality makes it impossible for Him to lie. The holiness of God is His moral and ethical perfection, His absolute integrity that sets Him apart from all creation. God’s holiness is related to His transcendence. God does not conform to any standard of purity; He IS the standard of purity. God is absolutely Holy, with an infinite purity incapable of being changed. Because of His holiness, when God speaks, He will not and cannot lie. He never deceives; He never distorts or misrepresents what He says or does. Lying is against His very nature.

Because God cannot lie, God’s Word, the Bible, is completely trustworthy (1 Kings 8:56; Psalm 119:160). “Every word of God is flawless” (Proverbs 30:5). God’s character and the communications that proceed from His character are purer than anything this world can produce: “The words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times” (Psalm 12:6).

The basis of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12, was God’s own unchanging nature; that is, God’s rock-solid attribute of truth makes everything He says, utterly trustworthy: He said, ‘I will surely bless you and give you many descendants’” (Hebrews 6:13-14). The text continues with the statement that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18).

If God could lie, He would not be transcendent; in fact, He would be just like us—humanity has a reputation for hiding, misrepresenting, and distorting truth. But “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19).

From the very beginning, God has rewarded faith in Him (Genesis 15:6; Hebrews 11:6). Faith, or trust, can only be a good thing if its object is worthy of trust. Faith in an unreliable person or thing, is a disadvantage. If God could lie, then His words would be suspect, and He would be unworthy of our trust. But, as it is, He is wholly dependable:

“The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy” (Psalm 111:7).

Jesus, who is “in very nature God” (Philippians 2:6), is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Everything Jesus said and taught was the absolute truth. Everything He did reflected the truth.

God, who cannot lie, is of transcendent moral purity. He wants moral purity in His children, as well. God cannot lie, and followers of Christ should not lie:

“Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25). “With whom does God dwell?” the psalmist asks. The answer, in part, is that God dwells with “the one who speaks the truth from their heart.” (Psalm 15:2).

This is my Savior...trustworthy, dependable, and pure. May we love the truth as God does.