Trust . . . His Inability

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Hebrews 6:13-18 (KJV)

13. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all strife.
17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:
18. That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

You probably think this is a strange title for a message, particularly since we saw last week that with God nothing is impossible. What kind of inability does God have? Simply put, God cannot do certain things; not due to His lack of power but because of who He is.

1. God cannot deceive His people . . . "it is impossible for God to lie" (v.18).
   God promised Abraham that his family would be numerous and prosper (Genesis 22:17). The promise to Abraham was confirmed by an oath ("he sware by himself"). It is an impossibility for God to ever make a promise and then not fulfill that which He said.
   1. This should bring you comfort . . . "we might have strong consolation" (v.18).
      Has He promised you forgiveness through Christ? (Hebrews 8:12). Has He said to you that all your needs will be provided? (Philippians 4:19). Trust all His promises.
   2. This should give you confidence . . . "lay hold upon the hope set before us" (v.18).
      The writer of Hebrews uses this same language in 12:1 when he says, "Let us run with patience that race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus." You have the greatest treasure of all -- access to the God of the Universe. Look to Him.
2. God cannot desert His plans . . . "the immutability of His counsel (purpose)" (v.17).
   When we make plans, we sometimes change them because we do not have the power to implement them, or we didn't have enough information when we first made them.
   1. God decrees all things that happen . . . theologians call this providence. He has a purpose for every event. History is His Story. His plans and decrees are immutable. "He is the Blessed and only Potentate" (I Timothy 6:15). He does as He pleases.
   2. God decrees that all things work for good . . . (Romans 8:28). This doesn't mean that all things are good, but that God orchestrates all things for our good. "Behold therefore the goodness . . . of God toward thee" (Romans 11:22). "O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good" (Psalm 106:1). "Taste and see . . ." (Psalm 34:8).
3. God cannot deny Himself . . . "that by two immutable things" (v.18).
   The writer of Hebrews has already called the plans of God immutable (His counsel) but what is the other immutable thing? It is the nature of God Himself. God is One who never changes! The way He is is the way He will always be. He can't change.
   1. Who is God? We must ask this before we can appreciate His immutability. God is holy; He can't love sin. God is truth; He can't lie. God is good, He can't punish an innocent. God is just, He can't love an impenitent sinner. God is love, He can't wrongfully hate. God is righteous, He can't accept imperfect obedience.
   2. What is the Gospel? A righteous, holy God sent His Son to die for sinners. God must remain "just, and the justifier of him that believes" (Romans 3:26).
4. God cannot die . . . "who only hath immortality" (I Timothy 6:16).
   God cannot die. He is life Himself. He sustains all life by His power and glory. "None can keep alive his own soul" (Psalm 22:29). "Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am" (Psalm 9:4).

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