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5. Omnipresence a) Definitions (1) Omnipresence
comes from two Latin words (omnis - all and praesens - presence) and means, “everywhere
present.” It refers to God’s presence everywhere at all times. (2) One definition simply states that, God
is everywhere present with His whole being at all times. (Gibson) (3) Another definition says, God, in the
totality of his essence, without diffusion or expansion, multiplication or
division, penetrates and fills the universe in all its parts. (Strong,
Systematic Theology, p. 279) (4) If God’s eternality relates to time, God’s
omnipresence relates to space. Sometimes “omniscience” is called “immensity.”
"Immensity" points to the fact that God transcends all space and is
not subject to its limitations, while "omnipresence" denotes that
He nevertheless fills every part of space with His entire Being. (Berkhof,
Systematic Theology) b) God’s
presence is everywhere at all times (Ps 139:7-12; Je 23:23-24). (1) This is
not the same as Pantheism, which states that God is in everything. (2) Nor is this Panentheism,
which means that everything is in God. (3) This is not Process Theology, which
erroneously teaches that the world is the embodiment of God. Therefore, God
is increasingly become more perfect. (4) Rather, omnipresence means that since God
is everywhere (Ps 139:7-12), everything is also in His presence (Je
23:23-24). God is both transcendent (separate from His creation) and immanent
(present in the world). c) God
cannot be contained by any limitations of space (1Ki 8:27; 2Ch 2:6). (1) Similar
to God’s relation to time, God existed before His creation of space. Yet God
cannot be limited by His creation of time or space, so He transcends (is
separate from) space (1Ki 8:27; 2Ch 2:6). (2) However, because God is omnipresent, He
also is present throughout the heavens and earth that He created. d) God does
not dwell in a localized place (Ac 7:46-49 cf. Is 66:1; Ac 17:24-26). (1) Similar
to God’s relation time, God can be in His created space. (2) But God will be everywhere in space with
His whole Being and is not confined to one place. e) Christ
also possesses omnipresence in His deity. (1) Since
Christ is fully God, then He always possessed omnipresence. It was expressed
in the name El Raah, “the God who sees” (Ge
16:7-14). (2) Jesus spoke of His omnipresence (Mt 18:20;
Mt 28:20). (3) However, in relation to Christ’s
incarnation on earth, His human physical presence was limited as with all
humanity (Lk 2:11-12; 9:58; Php 2:7-8). f) Observations
and Applications (1) The
omnipresence of God is a comfort to believers in that they are always in His
presence and they are always under His protective eye (Psa 139:18; Ps 23:4). (2) The omnipresence of God is a warning to
those who sin because they are sinning under His watchful eye (Pr 5:21;
15:3). In addition, because God is omnipresent He is able to see man’s inner
thoughts (Mt 5:28; 6:4). (3) Though
God is omnipresent, He revealed that He dwells in a special sense in heaven
(Re 11:19 cf. Re 21:22; Ac 9:3; 1Pe 3:22; 2Co 12:2) and in a special sense in
the believer (Father - 2Co 6:16; Son - Jn 15:4; Col
1:27; Spirit - Jn 14:17; 1Co 3:16; 6:19). |
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Grace Bible Church · 4000 E. Collins Rd · PO Box #3762 · Gillette, WY · (307) 686-1516 |
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