When we speak about God, we often focus on what He can do—His power, miracles, and sovereignty. The Bible indeed declares that “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). Yet Scripture also reveals something equally profound and comforting: there are things God cannot do.
This does not limit God. Rather, it reveals His perfection. What God cannot do flows from who He is—holy, righteous, faithful, truthful, and unchanging. These “cannot” statements are not weaknesses; they are pillars of trust for believers. Because God cannot lie, cannot change, cannot deny Himself, we can stand securely on His promises. These truths give believers strong biblical reasons to trust God, even when circumstances are uncertain.
In this teaching, we will be looking into 20 things God cannot do, grounded firmly in Scripture, explained with spiritual depth, and written to nourish faith and understanding. To fully understand why God cannot lie, sin, or change, we must first understand who God is according to Scripture.
1. God Cannot Lie
For those still questioning faith, the truthfulness of God’s Word begins with the foundational question of whether God truly exists.
“God is not a man, that He should lie…” (Numbers 23:19)
Lying contradicts God’s nature. Truth is not something God speaks occasionally—it is who He is. Every promise in Scripture rests on this foundation. When God speaks, heaven and earth may pass away, but His word remains true. Because God cannot lie, believers can trust His promises even when circumstances argue otherwise.
2. God Cannot Sin
“God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
Sin is rebellion against righteousness. God is righteousness itself. He does not merely avoid sin; sin cannot exist in Him. This is why His judgments are pure and His standards are holy.
God’s inability to sin assures us that His ways are always just, even when we do not fully understand them.
3. God Cannot Change
“I the Lord do not change.” (Malachi 3:6)
People change. Seasons change. Feelings change. But God remains the same—yesterday, today, and forever. His character is constant, His love unwavering, His covenant sure. Because God cannot change, the same God who saved in the Bible is still saving today.
4. God Cannot Fail
“The counsel of the Lord stands forever.” (Psalm 33:11)
Failure implies lack of ability or foresight. God sees the end from the beginning. What He plans, He completes. What He starts, He finishes. Even delays are not failures—they are divine timings working toward a perfect end.
5. God Cannot Forget His Promises
“He remembers His covenant forever.” (Psalm 105:8)
God does not suffer memory loss. Every promise He has spoken is alive before Him. When He seems silent, it is not forgetfulness—it is purposeful patience.
Your prayers, your tears, and His promises are all remembered in heaven.
6. God Cannot Be Unfaithful
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
Human faithfulness fluctuates, but God’s does not. Even when people break their vows, God keeps His.
This truth brings comfort to weary believers who feel they have failed God—His faithfulness is not dependent on your perfection.
7. God Cannot Be Tempted by Evil
“God cannot be tempted by evil.” (James 1:13)
Temptation appeals to inner weakness. God has none. Evil finds no attraction in Him. This means God never leads anyone into sin, nor does He enjoy human downfall. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him.
8. God Cannot Deny Himself
“…He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13)
God will never act contrary to His nature. He will never approve sin, contradict His Word, or compromise His holiness to please people.
This assures believers that God’s standards are not negotiable—but His mercy is always available through repentance.
Knowing that God cannot deny Himself or make mistakes invites believers into a deeper relationship with Him and teaches us how to know God personally, not just intellectually.
9. God Cannot Make a Mistake
“His ways are perfect.” (Psalm 18:30)
God does not miscalculate. He does not choose wrongly. What looks confusing to us is never confusing to Him.
Your life is not an accident, and your season is not a divine error.
10. God Cannot Be Unjust
“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25)
God’s judgments are always fair. He does not show favoritism or act emotionally. Even when justice seems delayed, it is never denied.
This gives hope to the oppressed and a warning to the unrepentant.
11. God Cannot Break His Word
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)
God’s Word is more permanent than creation itself. He does not retract promises or revise truths.
Every prophecy, covenant, and declaration will come to pass exactly as spoken.
12. God Cannot Be Overpowered
“Who has resisted His will?” (Romans 9:19)
No force—human or demonic—can overpower God. He reigns supreme. Battles may rage, but the throne of heaven remains unshaken. This truth builds confidence in spiritual warfare and trials.
13. God Cannot Be Surprised
“Known unto God are all His works from eternity.” (Acts 15:18)
Nothing catches God off guard. He is never shocked by events, sins, or outcomes. Even when life surprises us, it never surprises Him.
Your future is already known and accounted for in His plan.
14. God Cannot Stop Being God
“Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me.” (Isaiah 43:10)
God does not evolve, improve, or diminish. He is eternally God. His authority is unmatched, His dominion eternal.
This truth calls believers to reverence, humility, and worship.
15. God Cannot Abandon the Righteous
“I have never seen the righteous forsaken.” (Psalm 37:25)
God may allow testing, but He never abandons His own. His presence remains even in valleys and storms.
Loneliness may be felt, but abandonment is never real for the child of God.
16. God Cannot Be Corrupted
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.” (Isaiah 6:3)
God is incorruptible. Power does not intoxicate Him. Praise does not inflate Him. Authority does not corrupt Him. This makes Him the only ruler worthy of absolute trust.
17. God Cannot Act Without Purpose
“He works all things according to the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:11)
Nothing God does is random. Every action carries intention, wisdom, and eternal significance.
Even suffering, when surrendered to God, becomes meaningful.
18. God Cannot Ignore Repentance
“A broken and contrite heart… You will not despise.” (Psalm 51:17)
God never rejects genuine repentance. Mercy flows where humility appears. Heaven responds when hearts turn back. This truth keeps the door of hope open for all.
19. God Cannot Stop Loving His Own
“Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.” (Romans 8:39)
God’s love is not seasonal or conditional. It does not fade with failure. His love is covenantal and enduring.
Correction may come, but love never leaves.
20. God Cannot Lose Control
“The Lord reigns.” (Psalm 97:1)
Chaos does not dethrone God. Nations rise and fall, but His rule remains intact. When the world shakes, heaven stands firm.
This final truth anchors believers in peace during uncertain times.
Conclusion: Why What God Cannot Do Matters
What God cannot do is just as important as what He can do. His “limitations” are actually the strongest guarantees of our faith. Because He cannot lie, we believe. Because He cannot change, we rest. Because He cannot fail, we hope.
Even when life feels chaotic, Scripture shows us how God accomplishes His purpose without failure, confusion, or loss of control.
Understanding these truths does not shrink God—it magnifies Him. May this guide deepen your trust, strengthen your faith, and draw your heart closer to the God who is perfectly powerful and perfectly pure.
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