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1. Omnipotence a) Definitions (1) Omnipotence
comes from two Latin words (omnis - all and potentia - power)
and means, “all powerful.” (2) Gibson states, God is able to
accomplish anything He designs or desires, and it will not be contrary to His
nature. (3) Thiessen, in his Lectures in Systematic
Theology, p. 82 writes, God is all-powerful and able to do whatever he
wills. Since his will is limited by his nature, God can do everything that is
in harmony with his perfections. b) God
possesses all power and might (Ge 17:1; Re 19:6) (1) This is
demonstrated in one of the names of God - El Shaddai. El Shaddai is transliterated in English Bibles as
“Almighty” or “God Almighty.” Literally El shaddai means “God of the
Mountain” in the sense that God stands as the most powerful “King of the
hill” against all false and powerless gods (Ge 17:1; 28:3; Isa. 13:6; Joel
1:15). (2) This is demonstrated in the creation of the
world. God brought into existence the universe without any preexisting
materials. This is referred to as creatio ex nihilo (created out of
nothing). To bring all that we observe into existence “out of nothing” is one
of God’s most monumental exercises of power (Ge 1:1; Ps 33:6, 9; Ro 4:17; He
11:3). c) God
is able to do all things (Nu 11:23; Job 42:2; Mt 19:26) (1) This is
demonstrated by God’s supernatural power. The word “supernatural” means to be
above the natural observable order of things. This is not to say that God’s
creation of the “natural” was anything less than miraculous, but God also
demonstrates His power by performing outside the realm of the natural
observable order of things (Ex 9:14; Ps 106:9; Ac 2:24; 1Co 6:14). d) Nothing
is impossible for God (Je 32:17; Mt 19:26; Lk 1:37). (1) This is
demonstrated in that God is able to do what is humanly impossible. God did
the impossible (supernatural) when Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah (Ge
18:10-14 cf. Ge 21:1-3 cf. Ro 4:21). (2) Sadly, there will always be those who ask
the ridiculous questions such as, Can God create a rock so heavy that he
cannot lift it? Or, Can God make a square triangle? The answer is
that, God can never do anything that violates his own attributes and nature.
If he did, he would cease to be God. Augustine argued that God could not do anything
or create any situation that would in effect make God not God. Therefore, God
cannot lie (He 6:18), give His glory to another (Is 42:8), sin (Jm 1:13), or
deny Himself (2Ti 2:13). e) Christ
also possesses the attribute of omnipotence (Col 1:15-17). (1) Christ
demonstrated His omnipotence in being co-creator of the world (Col 1:15-17). (2) Christ demonstrated His omnipotence when He
displayed His power over distance (Jn 4:50-53), time (Jn 5:6), nature (Jn
6:19-21), and death (Jn 11:43-44). f) The
psalmist declared God’s omnipotence when he contemplated his own creation
(Psa 139:13-16). For that matter, all of God’s “omni’s” are referred to in
Psa 139, including man’s response (1) God’s
Omniscience (1-6) (2) God’s Omnipresence (7-12) (3) God’s Omnipotence (13-16) (4) Man’s Omni - Response (23-24) g) Observations
and Applications (1) The
unbeliever who rejects Christ will experience the omnipotent power of God
with eternal punishment (Mat 10:28). (2) The salvation of a sinner is accomplished
by the power of God (Rom 1:16; 1Co 1:18). (3) The believer is a new creation by the power
of God (2Co 5:17). (4) The believer’s eternal security is kept by
the power of God (1Pe 1:5). (5) The believer is empowered by the
omnipotence of God (Eph 3:16; Col 1:11). (6) The believer is able to overcome temptation
by the power of God (1Co 10:13; Php 4:13). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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