Christians: What does it mean to say you can't do something contrary to your nature?

Question

Follow me on this:
If it's not in your nature to do something, it's because you choose not to do so or because you are programmed not to do so. That means that what you are saying is "You can't do something that you don't choose to do" or "You can't do something that you were not programmed to do". Are you with me? Since you would not agree that God is programmed, you are saying that God can't do what he chooses not to do. However, since you say God is omnipotent, that means if he chooses to do something, he can do it.

I may as well delete this one. I can see it already.

Answer 1

It is not possible for something to do something outside of its nature. For instance telling a dog to fly, would be pointless, because dogs can't fly. So in order for one to prove God cannot lie, we must first know the nature of God. Since God is the creator of all things, and is eternal in origin, existing without the need of anything, he must be perfect. God is the ideal, the perfect being without any flaws. Since God is eternal he cannot change. If he cannot change then his characteristics cannot change. Since being a liar and being truthful are contradicting characteristics we can conclude he either always lies, or always tells the truth. However if he always lied, then he could not have inspired the bible, because the bible is true about everything, atleast for this discussion everything not pertaining to God. So if the bible is not written by God, it must be written by man. But how could man guess the countless prophecies of the bible. The chances of just a few prophecies being fufilled in Jesus is ridiculous let alone all of them. Then we would have to consider all the scientific evidence found in the bible, end time prophecy, and every single event in the bible that came to pass. So through mathematics and logic we can conclude that God must have inspired the bible. Through this logic, we can conclude that God cannot lie. So again God cannot do anything contrary to his nature.

Answer 2

It's been my experience that we can do anything that is physically possible, good or bad. Except for accepting God. That is inherently against our nature. We inherited that when Adam and Eve took whatever that fruit was.

According to the Bible, we have an inability to go God's way, and that it takes His Spirit to hold on to the idea that we can trust Him.

So our nature is in rebellion against God. It's typical of humans. We are all the same on that point. But the Spirit of God brings change that is necessary to build that relationship that is crucial for understanding what it is that we need to do in order to gain His insight, and His ways. He has told us that we need to trust Him in order to make that connection.

So those of us who are saved are typical humans, but we have an extra added influence that those that are not saved have, and that is the influence of God's Spirit.

If I get your meaning, then I think that you are using the word 'can't' where there might be a better word to use, 'won't'.

He won't do what He chooses not to do.

Answer 3

While God is omnipotent (all-powerful), He has chosen to live and define himself by His own set of attributes: perfection, holiness, faithfulness, righteousness, justice. God will never depart from these qualities that He is made of.

The question begs the true defintion of biblical "Omnipotence"

Answer 4

You might as well. This one is sure to have confused them beyond the point of no return.

Answer 5

I am trying not to fall off my chair at your comment.