Question: Hello, thank you for the Good Newspaper and all the team. I have a question about God. Does God have limits, and is He limited in any way? Bigirwa
Understanding God’s nature
The concept of limitation or limitlessness is an issue of nature, what something or someone is and what it can or cannot do. To ask whether God is limited or unlimited is to inquire about the very nature of God. Discussing God’s nature does not mean assuming the office of divine conception (claiming to know God in His entirety), as God is incomprehensible to finite creatures like us.
Christian epistemology (how we know what we know) is rooted in God’s self-revelation through general revelation, the world (creation) and special revelation, the word (Scripture) and historical events such as the Cross.
Who is God?
When Christians speak of God, they refer to the uncaused cause, the Creator of everything good and natural in the universe. God is the source and origin of all things, both known and unknown, across all galaxies. A careful study of the world through the lens of science and art reveals the hallmarks of an intelligent designer. The opening verse of the Bible states:
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
The ‘beginning’ mentioned in this verse does not refer to time, for even time is a creation of the timeless God. In other words, there was never a moment when God did not exist, He has always been.
Everything was made through Him (Colossians 1:16-17), and in Him, all of humanity has its being (Acts 17:26-28). This is what Christians mean when they speak of God. Such a being is, therefore, limitless.
The question of whether God has limitations is addressed through His divine attributes. The Bible portrays God as omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and perfect in every sense.
Omniscience: God’s limitless knowledge
God is limitless in knowledge. He does not learn or revise anything, for He already knows everything, both known and unknown. He does not need to be informed, nor does He forget. He knows the thoughts and intentions of every individual.
Psalm 139:1-6 illustrates this by stating that God knows when a person sits or stands and even their unspoken words. Isaiah 40:28 declares that no one can measure the depths of His understanding, while Romans 11:33 marvels at the impossibility of comprehending His decisions and methods. His knowledge is infinite (Isaiah 55:8) and, therefore, without limitation.
Omnipotence: God’s unlimited power
God’s power is without limits. It is not a form of energy or strength as found in nature, but rather, all power derives from Him. His power is incomprehensible yet experienced (Job 26:14, Job 37:5, Numbers 11:23).
This is why nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26). The omnipotence (all-powerful nature) of God demonstrates that He has no limits in power.
Omnipresence: God’s ever-present nature
God is not restricted by space or time. There is nowhere that He is absent; He is present in all of creation simultaneously and eternally. Psalm 139:7-11 poetically describes this by stating that no one can escape God’s Spirit. Whether in heaven or the depths of the earth, His presence remains constant.
God’s presence is not something that needs to be invoked, He is always present everywhere. That is why He promises believers that He is always with them (Matthew 18:20). Again, God is not limited.
God’s authority: supreme, absolute
Scripture also portrays God as having absolute authority over all creation. John 5:19-22 explains that Jesus acts in perfect unity with the Father, performing works such as raising the dead and executing judgment.
Isaiah 40:28 reiterates this by describing God as the Creator of all the earth who never grows weary. His authority extends over all things, affirming that He operates without constraints. God, therefore, is not limited in authority. This is what makes Him sovereign.
God’s perfection: excellence without limits
God’s perfection is limitless in excellence. He is excellent in all that He is, all that He does, and in all His will and thoughts. He has no shortcomings or limitations in excellence. His perfection ensures that no standard is too high for Him to meet.
Psalm 119:96 contrasts human perfection with divine perfection by stating: “Even perfection has its limits, but your commands have no limit.” This highlights the boundless nature of God’s moral and ethical standards.
According to Scripture, God’s nature defies human limitations and encompasses infinite attributes that reflect His divinity and sovereignty over all creation. In response to your question: The one true God transcends all limitations. He is infinite and limitless.
