The term omnipotent comes from two Latin words, “omis” meaning “all” and “potentia” meaning “power”.
There have always been many questions raised in the area of this doctrine that are aimed at making difficulties for the theologian.
Can God make a rock too big for Him to lift? Can God draw a shorter than straight line between two points? Can God make two parallel lines meet? Can God make two mountains without a valley between? Can God commit suicide? Can He create a material spirit? Can He create a sensitive stone? Can He create a body without parts? Can He create a square triangle? Can He create a round square?
Let us end this foolishness by stating that He can do anything that He cares to do as long as it does not contradict any of His other attributes.
Let us define the doctrine.
God is able to do all things that are consistent with His own nature and character. God cannot be untrue to Himself. His power is limited by His nature. God is not free from all restraints of reason and morality. He must and always does act within the confines of his character.
God is never exhausted by the exercise of His power neither is His strength diminished (Isaiah 40:28). God is the only perpetual motion possible. He can go on working overtime, if there is overtime for Him, and never run out of energy, initiative, nor ability to cope.
Augustine, “God is omnipotent, and yet he cannot die…..How is he omnipotent then? He is omnipotent for the very reason that he cannot do these things. For if he could die, he would not be omnipotent.”
Ryrie, “Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful and able to do anything consistent with His own nature. In actuality He has not chosen to do even all the things that would be consistent with Himself for reasons known ultimately only to Himself.” (Reprinted by permission: Ryrie, Charles C.; “Basic Theology”; Wheaton: Victor Books, 1986, p 40)
In other words He could have created fifteen earths side by side. He could have given them each a moon of a different color and caused a shuttle to move people from one earth to the other. He did not decide to do that, however.
God manifests His power in many ways. I want to list some of these before we move on.
In Creation: Jeremiah 10:12, Romans 1:20
In Preservation: Hebrews 1:3 In Nature: Jeremiah 10:13
In History: Daniel 4:17
In delivering Israel from Egypt: Psalm 114 In Heaven: Daniel 4:35
In miracles: Luke 9:43
In the resurrection: 2 Corinthians 13:4
In Redemption: Nehemiah 1:10, Luke 1:35, 37, Ephesians 1:18-23
In Security: 1 Peter 1:5
In whatever He pleases: Psalm 115:3
Even in these we see only a part of His power. Job. 26:7, “He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing.” I always wondered if there was a big hook and large string up on the north pole holding things up. Picture God hanging earth, as a Christmas tree ornament — on nothing.
These are only areas where He has revealed his power to us. He may have thirty million different ways of demonstrating His power for us in the eternal state, when He has time to explain things to us in a little greater detail.
Some other references that relate to the study: Genesis 17:1,
“And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
God is addressed as “almighty” 56 times in the Scriptures. Genesis 18:14,
“Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
Exodus 15:11, 12,
“Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? (12) Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.”
The context is the Egyptian army having their long drink in the Red Sea.
APPLICATION
Don’t mess with Him For He Can Cream You.
There is nothing that He can’t do for us if it is within His will.
There is no way that the Devil can rip us out of God’s hand. We are secure.
He is powerful enough to withstand all the national forces that might come against us or turn our forces to jelly.
If you have a hymnal handy, turn to “It Took a Miracle” and read it. (Peterson, John W.; “It Took a Miracle”; New York: Hill and Range Songs, Inc., 1948 by Crawford, Percy B.)
I trust that this section has brought you to appreciate your God a little more than before. If not, you might reread it, for the passages given declare a God that is mighty and powerful, and He is ready to hear your needs, be they humongous or minute. He is aware of His children and He is desirous of helping us do His work.[1]
[1] Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D. B.A. (n.d.). DERICKSON’S NOTES ON THEOLOGY: A STUDY BOOK IN THEOLOGY.
Truth2Freedom's Blog 