God’s Omnipotence

QUESTION: Does God’s omnipotence have any limitations?

ANSWER:

Yes, God’s omnipotence has natural limitations and self-imposed limitations. This does not mean He lacks the power, but that God chooses not to act.

Natural Limitations

• God cannot lie – Titus 1:2: “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time...”
  
  
• God cannot sin – James 1:13: “When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
  
  
• God cannot deny Himself – 2 Timothy 2:11-13: Here is a trustworthy saying: “If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.”

Self-imposed Limitations
“Self imposed limitations include those things He has not chosen to include in His plan which he might have included as long as they were not contrary to His nature. He did not choose to spare His Son; He did not choose to save all people; He did not choose all nations in Old Testament times; He did not choose Esau; He did not choose to spare James (Acts 12:2). Though He could have done any of these things without being inconsistent with omnipotence, He did not choose to do so in His plan.”¹

God cannot make wrong right.

Footnote:
¹ Ryrie, Charles, Basic Theology. (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books), p 40.

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