In this YouTube short video, Sean McDowell explains that God’s limits are a sign of His power:

I love the way Sean McDowell thinks and communicates. When he spoke at our church, it was powerful, great for young and old alike. These are some supplementary thoughts that I would add to what he said in the video. Some of them make the same points, but I develop them differently and cite pertinent Scripture.

1. God cannot contradict His own character. 

Second Timothy 2:13 tells us that “he cannot deny himself.” Luke 1:37 says with God, nothing is impossible.

Back in the 1970s when I was a brand-new Christian, it was popular for people to ask questions like, “Can God create a stone so heavy that He cannot lift it? If not, then He is not all powerful, and if so, He is not all powerful. Therefore, if it is impossible, that contradicts Scripture.” To some it seemed convincing, but it was just a ridiculous self-contradiction that proved nothing at all. If God is all powerful, then of course He cannot create a stone so large He cannot lift it. That doesn’t prove anything negative about God; it just affirms His attributes do not violate His own nature.

2. God cannot lie.

Hebrews 6:18 says, “It is impossible for God to lie.”

All human morality is properly derivative of the character of God.  God is a truth teller; therefore, truth telling for humans is a virtue. As the embodiment of truth, God cannot deceive or contradict Himself. (It’s true that there are a few difficult passages related to God appearing to deceive people--one of those is sending a lying spirit to mislead Ahab, see this explanation.)

3. God cannot change. 

In Malachi 3:6 God declares, “For I am Yahweh, I do not change.”

The classic theological doctrine of God's immutability means He does not and cannot change. His nature, purposes, and promises are therefore absolutely dependable. This is a source of comfort, because God’s faithfulness remains constant. Otherwise, He could love us today, but in the future stop loving us.

4. God cannot be tempted and cannot sin.

James 1:13 says God “cannot be tempted by evil.”

Because God is holy and righteous, He cannot act against His moral nature.

5. God cannot be unjust.

Hebrews 6:10 says “God is not unjust.”

Justice is an integral part of God's character, so He cannot act unjustly or unfairly. This does not, of course, mean that He will never appear to be unfair to us. But the problem is, we are both fallen and finite, so we are not always in a position to accurately judge God's own justice and fairness.

6. God cannot fail and cannot break His promises.

Luke 1:37 is a wonderful comfort: “For no word from God will ever fail.” And Numbers 23:19 says, “Has he spoken, and will he not do it? Has he promised, and will he not fulfill it?”

God's plans and purposes will ultimately succeed. His sovereignty ensures that nothing can thwart what He intends to accomplish.

That's why I totally agree with what Sean McDowell says in this clip. God's limitations are not weaknesses, but rather, expressions of His perfect nature.