Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

June 29, 2003

1. It seems strange to talk about God's limitations. God is omnipotent -- Almighty.

a. Matthew 19:26 -- "with God all things are possible."

b. Mark 14:36 (NKJV) "Abba, Father, all things are possible for You."

c. Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV) "Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think"

2. Surely, God can do anything. No, as powerful as God is, the Bible teaches that there are limitations upon Him. It will help us to understand what those limitations are.

I. GOD IS LIMITED BY HIS NATURE.

A. God is holy.

1. He cannot be tempted [James 1:13 (NKJV) Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.]

a. Jesus was tempted [Hebrews 4:15 (NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.]

b. Jesus was fully human as well as fully divine. The human Jesus was tempted so He understands what we go through when we face temptation. Jesus did not succumb to temptation, but he was tempted in the three ways that Satan can tempt us into sin [1 John 2:16 (NKJV) For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the Father but is of the world.]

2. God does not tempt anyone to do wrong. Instead of leading us into sin, God makes it possible for us to resist temptation [1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.]

B. God is just. [Isaiah 45:21]. There is no partiality with God [Romans 2:11]. His plan of salvation is the same for every person [Acts 10:34-35 (NKJV) Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 "But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.] This is borne out by Paul's teaching in Galatians 3:28 (NKJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.]

C. God is truthful [Hebrews 6:18-19 (NKJV) that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,] Our hope is sure and steadfast because God means what He says. His promises are ALWAYS TRUE. It is impossible for God to lie.

II. GOD IS LIMITED BY TRUTH.

A. God's word is truth [John 17:17]. By abiding in the word of Christ, we can know the truth [John 8:31-32].

B. God is logical. Logic is the science of correct reasoning.

1. To some people, logic is a bad word. They think that anything logical is cold, intellectual, and unfeeling. They want religion to be warm and comforting so the notion of a logical God puts them off. This is a misunderstanding of logic.

2. God is still a God of love [1 John 4:8]. However, to say that God is logical is to say that He always reasons correctly. His conclusions are always right. He is all-knowing and all-wise. We can trust what He says.

3. Understanding this aspect of God's nature helps us deal with the absurdities some people come up with to challenge our faith in God. As a teenager, I spent a considerable amount of time pondering the question, "If God is all-powerful and can do anything, then can He make a rock so big He cannot lift it?"

III. GOD IS LIMITED BY HIS WILL.

A. God binds Himself by the revelation of His will.

1. We hear people make statements like "There are so many people in the world who have never believed in and obeyed Christ. It would be a terrible thing for them all to be condemned to hell. Maybe God in His infinite grace and mercy will save them even if they don't ever become Christians."

2. I know God agrees with the basic sentiment expressed in that statement. He does love every soul and wants every soul to be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 says that He is "not willing that any should perish." 1 Timothy 2:4 says He "desires all men to be saved."

3. However, God has revealed His will to us in the Bible that there are some necessary requirements for anyone to be saved.

a. Belief in Christ is necessary for salvation.

(1) Mark 16:16 (NKJV) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

(2) John 8:24 (NKJV) "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

(3) God has revealed His will that those who do not believe will be condemned and die in their sins. He is bound by that revelation of His will.

b. Repentance of sins is necessary for salvation.

(1) God commands repentance [Acts 17:30 (NKJV) "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,]

(2) Those who do not repent will perish [Luke 17:3,5].

(3) God has revealed His will on the subject of repentance. Repent or perish! He is bound by that revelation.

c. Other gospel commands must be obeyed.

(1) Those who do not obey the gospel will face the vengeance of the Lord when Christ returns [2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 (NKJV) in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,]

(2) People who have not been baptized as the Bible teaches have not obeyed the gospel of Christ! It is imperative that we realize that a truthful God must act in accordance with His revealed will.

B. God wills that we must choose to follow Him.

1. Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. We must choose to open the door.

2. God wants everyone to be saved, but He has restrained Himself from being able to save those who refuse to hear His voice and open the door.

3. Mark 6:1-6 (NKJV) Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Jesus could do no mighty work in Nazareth. The people of His home town were not willing to accept Him. No one can be forced to be a disciple. God didn't create robots; He created human beings with the free will to choose for ourselves how we will live our lives. God cannot override that human choice.

C. God wills that we live by faith [Romans 1:17 (NKJV), "The just shall live by faith."] Thus, we limit God by our lack of faith. We are the tools God can use to accomplish great things. When we fail to do the work of a tool, the Lord is hindered from having His will accomplished.

1. James 2:15-17 (NKJV) If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

2. God could have spoken and His will would have come to pass. That is evident from creation. He said, "Let there be light!" and there was light [Genesis 1:3]. But God has willed that He will work in the world by having human beings be His agents . . . to get His work accomplished. Saul of Tarsus was a "chosen vessel" of God's to bear the Lord's name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel [Acts 9:15]. God had a work for Saul to do. He gives all of us talents and opportunities which we should be using to accomplish His will in the world around us.

a. When we're lazy, God's work doesn't get done.

b. When we get discouraged and quit, we hinder the work God wants us to do.

c. Think very seriously before you say, "I can't" because with God's help, you can! [Philippians 4:13]. How well do your excuses hold up? Consider that your excuses may be limiting what God wants to do in the world.

CONCLUSION