God is a perfect and holy being who cannot lie. This is an essential attribute of His nature that sets Him apart from human beings and false gods. Though some may argue God can choose to lie if He wants to, several key biblical reasons show it is impossible for God to lie.
God is Truth Itself
God is the source of all truth and righteous. There is no lie or falsehood in Him at all. Deceitfulness and deception are contrary to His holy character. The Bible describes God as truth itself, making it impossible for Him to lie:
- God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
- He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind. (1 Samuel 15:29)
- God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. (Hebrews 6:18)
- In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. (Titus 1:2)
These verses expressly state it is impossible for God to lie. He is truth itself, and there is no falsehood in His character. Unlike humans, God does not change His mind or break His promises. His word is trustworthy because lying contradicts His holy, perfect nature.
God is Always Faithful and True
Not only is deception out of God’s nature, but He is always faithful and true. From beginning to end, the Bible reveals God’s unwavering faithfulness and integrity. He keeps all His promises, demonstrating it is impossible for Him to lie.
- Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. (Deuteronomy 7:9)
- Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. (Psalm 36:5)
- For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
God’s faithfulness flows from His eternal, unchanging nature. He relates to humanity with complete faithfulness and truth because lying contradicts who He is. His promises are always kept, revealing it is impossible for Him to lie.
Lying Contradicts God’s Perfection
The Bible teaches God is morally perfect, holy, and flawless in all His ways. Lying would be a moral flaw and sin that would contradict His divine perfection. Therefore, it is impossible for the God of Truth to lie.
- God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
- He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
Even the smallest falsehood would mar God’s holy character. But He has no sin or moral failure in His being. The impossibility of God lying flows from His perfection.
Lying Makes God Untrustworthy
Furthermore, if God had the capacity to lie, He would become unreliable and untrustworthy. Human beings and false gods may vacillate and deceive, but the one true God speaks only truth. His word can be trusted fully because lying contradicts His dependable nature.
- God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. (Hebrews 6:18)
- In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time. (Titus 1:2)
God must be fully reliable for our faith to rest securely in Him. If He could lie, how could He be trusted? But His promises are unchangeable because it is impossible for Him to lie.
God Cannot Deny Himself
The Bible teaches God cannot contradict or deny Himself. He always acts consistently with His nature and character. Lying would be a denial of His truthfulness and therefore is impossible.
- If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself. (2 Timothy 2:13)
God acting contrary to His essential nature would be a self-contradiction. Just as God cannot stop being eternal or being all-powerful, it is impossible for Him to act in a way that denies His character. Lying contradicts God’s truthfulness, making it impossible.
Lying Contradicts God’s Holiness
Not only is lying opposed to God’s truthfulness, but it is also contrary to His perfect holiness. There is no sin or darkness in God at all. As the Holy One, all deceitfulness is repugnant to His nature.
- Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. (Habakkuk 1:13)
God’s absolute moral purity makes it impossible for the darkness of a lie to exist in Him. Lying would require God to operate contrary to His holiness and introduce sin into His perfect being. This is impossible for the Holy One.
The Implications
The fact that it is impossible for God to lie has profound implications:
- God’s word can be fully trusted. Every scripture in the Bible comes from the God who only speaks truth. His words, promises, prophecies, and commandments are completely reliable and trustworthy.
- God is the source of truth. All truth flows from the God who cannot lie. Absolute moral and spiritual truth are grounded in His unchanging, holy nature.
- God does not change. If God could lie, He would be fickle and unreliable like a human. But it is impossible for Him to lie, affirming His immutable trustworthiness.
- Jesus embodied God’s truth. Since it is impossible for God to lie, Jesus never lied or deceived others. He perfectly reflected the truthfulness of God the Father.
- Satan is the father of lies. In contrast to God’s truth, Satan deceives and perverts truth. But the lies of the Devil are powerless against the God who is Truth.
Understanding the impossibility of God lying helps us have well-grounded faith and see reality accurately. Grounding our lives in the God of Truth protects us from deception.
Conclusion
Though some argue God could hypothetically choose to lie, the Bible makes it clear it is impossible for Him to do so. Lying contradicts His nature as perfect truth, faithfulness, and holiness. God is the solid foundation of truth, not subject to lies or whims. He cannot deny Himself or operate contrary to His attributes. Trusting fully in the God who cannot lie allows our lives to reflect His glorious truth and light.