What Christmas Teaches Us About God: He Cannot Deny Himself (Week 2)

Timothy 2:11-13

I am sure you’ve heard the question at some point: “Can God make a rock so big He cannot lift it?” Children often ask questions like these because they have learned an important truth: God is omnipotent.

However, it is good for us to remember that the Bible says there is something God can’t do: He cannot deny Himself. This is why God saves sinners through the Gospel—He must be both just and the justifier. He does not simply snap His fingers and save us because He is both gracious and just. The Gospel gives us future hope. Death feels ultimate from our perspective, but we are reminded that if we have died with Christ we will live with Him (v. 11).

The Gospel gives us hope beyond the curse of death. The Gospel also reminds us that life has high stakes. God desires to be merciful to us, but He cannot deny himself. Thus, if we deny Him (by not receiving His grace through Jesus), He will also deny us (v. 12).

The Advent season is a sober reminder that we must receive God’s grace by faith. The Gospel also guarantees God’s faithfulness. All of us have challenging days and moments where our faith is weak. However, the Gospel of grace encourages us that even if we are faithless, God remains faithful. Who God is is not dependent on who we are or what we do. He cannot deny Himself. God’s faithfulness is guaranteed because God always has been and always will be God.