If this was my sermon, I would probably say. You can’t get to heaven without Jesus, you can’t live eternally without Jesus, you can’t live a sinful life and still get to heaven. Things like that. So it may shock some of you to know that the four cant’s are the Four Cants of God.
Whoa wait a minute. Am I saying there is not just one thing God cannot do, there are four.
I agree. God is capable of absolutely everything. Look at our scripture reading the first two verses. The first born over all creation. For by him all things were created: Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities all things were created by him and for him.
That is a powerful statement. If God cannot create all things by him and for him, meaning by God for Christ which are one in the same or three in the same if you will, what on Earth or in heaven is there in existence that he cannot do? But I think that after today, you will agree that there are four things God cannot do.
Here they are.
1) God cannot tolerate evil.
He is so pure. So righteous so holy. He cannot tolerate evil
In this world we live in today, sin is tolerated so widely. In the 50’s and 60’s, Leave it to Beaver was a classic tv show. No wrongdoing was portrayed. Pornography in movies was rare. There was no need for TV ratings like TV14 that now appears in most shows aired after 8:00 during the week.
We as a society have learned to tolerate sin. Some say, well it is not really sin, because it is ok now. Our society is a little more liberal so it is ok to swear on TV or to talk about sexual relationships.
I say WAKE UP PEOPLE. READ 1 John 5:17. IT doesn’t get any plainer than what’s in the Bible.
1 John 5:17 All wrongdoing is sin.
It is that simple folks. All wrongdoing is sin and God cannot tolerate it. Whether it is disobedience, oppression, greed or lack of love, it is sin and we cannot live with God if we are not free from sin. Bottom line. No lower than that. This is the absolute fact. Hear it, and know it. If you are not free from sin, then God cannot tolerate you.
Habakkuk 1:13. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.
Whoa you say. I have sinned, how can I be saved? The apostle Paul asked the same thing in Romans 7:24 and 25 when he said. What a wretched man am I who will save me. Praise be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Which brings me to the next Can’t.
2) God can’t accept any solution except the saving work of HIS Son Jesus.
The Romans were great road builders. In fact much of what we have today comes from Roman roads. The standard US gauge for railroads comes from the Romans. The width of a railroad is the same width of the wheels on a roman chariot.
It was once said that all roads lead to Rome. Along the same lines, it is often said that all Religions lead to God. Not SO at all.
For there is one God and One mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5 If I were to stop every single person I meet on the road and ask "How do you get to heaven?" Along with the smart remarks, many would say "By living a good life." Is that your final Answer? Sorry folks, wrong answer, you miss out on the eternal prize. Good works, virtuous lives and noble thoughts are not enough to pay for the infinite guilt of sin. In fact they don’t pay for it at all.
Only the death of Jesus on the cross could pay this infinite price. Here is the beauty of it all too. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. NO one comes to the father except through me." John 14:6.
Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on Earth or things in Heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. This is the only way. So if you want to go to live, hear it and know it. This is the only way. You could be as righteous as Elijah and Moses and if you do not accept Jesus Christ as your savior, you will perish for eternity.
Along those lines, what about people that do accept him.
3) God cannot reject anyone that comes to him in the name of Jesus.
Ted Bundy
muslims responsible for sep 11
Charles Manson
One might ask, how could these people go to Heaven? Folks, I don’t know if they are or were Christians, I hope for their souls that they were. But if they or anyone that commits a heinous crime like they did, anyone, even the person that takes your parking spot after you waited for the car to pull out at Wal Mart, even the person that runs the red light and nearly hits a pedestrian. No matter what they do, if they accept Christ as their savior, no matter what they ever did or ever will do ( and let me put an asterisk on that statement) no matter what, they will go to heaven if they have accepted Jesus Christ.
God does not punish twice. No one could bear the punishment for sin except Jesus and he bore it all. If you accept the sacrifice of Jesus for your sins, you will never be condemned.
Romans 8:1 There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
John 6:37 Whoever comes to me I will never drive away.
John 6:40 For my fathers will is that everyone who looks to the son believes in him shall have eternal life.
Colossians 1:22b without blemish and free from accusation.
No one will be turned away from the wedding feast of the king provided that person has accepted the invitation.
Did you RSVP?
I put an asterisk by that statement because Jesus says in Matthew 12:31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the sprit will not be forgiven.
So do not call God a liar and try to put down or belittle his power. Do not have disbelief in the existence of God. This type of blasphemy will not be forgiven. Do not deny the power of the Holy Spirit, this will not be forgiven.
Finally what Can’t God do?
4) God cannot take second place in your life.
Gale Sayers wrote a book. I am third. He said God is first, my family is second and I am third. Words to live by.
In this day and age, people acknowledge that God exists. They may even accept that Christ died for them. They may even get baptized if they were not baptized as infants, but they do not put God first.
What happens to these people when they die? They go to heaven. Like I said, the in the third can’t. God cannot turn away any one that seeks him. James wrote that faith without deeds is dead. What good is a car if it doesn’t have wheels. The wheels are a very necessary part of the vehicle. What good is being a Christian if you do not live with God. It would be like buying a house and never living in it. What is the point? Paul’s message to the Romans. I urge you in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices… Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1,2
The fourth can’t leads into the four doesn’t.
God doesn’t make money grow on trees. My job is too time consuming.
God doesn’t put food on the table or cook the meal for me.
God doesn’t have to run all the errands I have to run.
God doesn’t talk back to me so how do I know he is listening.
Well, you know what. There is a fifth doesn’t that goes with that. God doesn’t require all of your time. He only wants some of it. Some people live their daily lives thinking of and praying to God for 75% or more. That is great. Others will pray in the morning and in the evening. That is great too.
What this can’t is trying to say is don’t push him so far on the back burner that you cannot find him when you need him.
Keep God first. Rely on God. He wants to help but will not help unless we ask for his help. Tell others about God. Maybe someone is searching and cannot seem to find him. Show that person the way. Even if you only give God the first five minutes of ever day. Keep up your relationship with God. Be thankful also when he doesnt do something for you.
