God Can, But I Can’t?

I heard this phrase before, but recently heard it in a song. It says, “I can’t, But God can.”

While I understand somewhat where they are coming from, what is being said,  is false. It is true as a basic doctrine of God’s sovereignty that He can do anything. God has no limitations. God directly controls all things, including all human thoughts and actions so that He is the metaphysical author of sin[1]. This is so simple a child can understand and affirm it. I also understand the doctrine that man, only being considered in himself, is weak and very limited. However, if we consider a Christian, then it becomes a “what if scenario” because such a thing does not exist. God does not define or consider a Christian as just a human anymore. Thus in obedience, we do not consider any Christian as just a human with just human limitations. If someone is just human, then they are by definition, not a Christian.  

Jesus, who is the most God centered man who ever lived, helps us to redefine our ability when He says “the mountain will obey YOU.” Because the bible rejects pantheism, we do as well. Thus, Jesus is correct when He says the mountain will obey “you.” God and His creation are separate. This is why Jesus said give to Ceasar what belongs to him. When God fills us with His Spirit, He is filling us, and not Himself with His Spirit. It is not God telling the mountain to move, or telling the demon to come out, or sickness to get out; no, it is “you” speaking these things. And the mountain responds to your command. Jesus did not see any reason to interject His own doctrine by saying, “But God is sovereign, it is really His power not you, and so God is moving the mountain.” No. Jesus, despite what people think, did not say such things in the context when teaching about His extreme faith doctrine. Thus, I see no relevance in saying it.

Jesus’ extreme faith doctrine says with faith I cast out demons, heal the sick and cause mountains to obey me, when I tell them to do something. If a mountain “obeys me,” then it is painfully obvious that “I can.” How can I say, “I am limited,” if I can make demons, sickness and reality obey me? Most Christians have no idea who, or what they are. Most seem to scarcely believe they are forgiven and so they have no power to do any other command of God that involves faith. But Jesus’ faith teaching still stands, because Jesus is still relevant. He still rules, and His definition about us, still holds.

This authority to use Jesus’ name and command reality is not something that will be given to me, but already has. I do not need to ask God to give me this authority or ask His permission to use it. I have already been made the righteousness of God and given full permission to wield Jesus’ name for whatever I want and need. It already belongs to me. I do not ask and beg for something that is already in my possession and part of my definition and DNA.

God can, but with faith, I can as well. This is the theology of Jesus. He likes it. Let us follow His teaching and give glory to God by saying, “God can, but I can to. With faith in Jesus, reality obeys me. To God be all the glory.”

[1] I got this phrase from Vincent Cheung.
See www.vincentcheung.com for more of his materials.