It seems likely that every Christian above a certain age will sooner or later be asked by self-avowed skeptics some version of the killer question—that masterpiece of logic and irrefutable reason which no religionist can possibly answer.  These ‘stump the band’ conundrums are intended to shut down discussion, end debate of all serious issues and mock those inexperienced enough to try to play the game.  Particular favorites for flustering the faithful include variations of the following:

“Could God create a stone too heavy for Him to lift?”

[Jesus said, “…with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).  The reference to “all things” does not encompass the mutually exclusive, which by definition, do not exist together.]

“Who created God?”

[No one.  Unlike us, God is not a creature, made by another.]

“When did eternity start?”

[The underlying assumption is that God exists within time, a dimension He created.  The Bible emphasizes repeatedly that this is not the case.]

Shaking my head at such silliness, I began to more seriously consider whether there might be some things that Jesus Christ truly cannot do after all.  No sooner had my thoughts turned onto that track than examples started popping into mind.  The list grew quickly, so I arbitrarily decided to cut it off at ten items (below).

10 Things Christ CAN’T Do

1. Lie to you
2. Cheat you
3. Steal from you
4. Be unfaithful to you
5. Break His promises to you
6. Betray you
7. Leave you or Forsake you
8. Deceive you
9. Mislead you
10. Fail you

This list is certainly not exhaustive, is not anybody’s “Top 10” and is not prioritized.  One reason that these items made the list is that Jesus is an historical figure.  Many accounts of His earthly life have been documented and preserved.  We need not speculate about what Jesus would think, do or say in numerous situations, because that information is a matter of record.

A second witness is related to the first—what biblical accounts of His life reveal about Jesus’ attributes (all powerful, all knowing, etc.), Jesus’ character (sinless, compassionate, gracious…), and Jesus’ promises (for these I focused on the experience of others throughout history, who have believed in Him and taken Him at His word).

In addition to the Bible, historical records, evidence-based inference, and the testimony of those who down through the ages have trusted in Jesus (often to the point of their own martyrdom), is my personal experience as a follower of Christ.  Taken all-in-all, it’s a substantial fact base.

This first hastily scribbled list led me to repeat the exercise, flipping the question to more positive phrasing (results below; same caveats apply).

10 Things Christ CAN Do

1. Give you His peace
2. Be with you always, to personally lead you
3. Intercede with the Father on your behalf
4. Bless you with every spiritual blessing
5. Keep His promises to you
6. Love you forever
7. Save you from eternal death and hell
8. Credit His righteousness to your account
9. Forgive your sins and cleanse you from within
10. Prepare a place for you in heaven (and take you there)

Having ever-so-briefly considered what Jesus Christ can’t or won’t do, as well as what He can and will do for those who place the full weight of their trust and hope on His shoulders, (the ones on which He carried the cross and bore the sins of the world), I must admit to being baffled by one question: why would anyone prefer someone or something else?

While you’re mulling that one over, I’d like to offer a critical summary of that list of things that Jesus Christ can’t do: He just can’t seem to turn His whip-scarred back on one sinner who repents and confesses Him as Lord.  Think about it.  Act on it.  Come as you are.  Come now.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can transform you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)