This is a continuation of a series on the attributes of God.
When we speak of God’s attributes, we are talking about those characteristics that help us to understand who He truly is. One of these attributes is “omnipotence.” In other words, God is the all-powerful One.
Where it is in the Bible
“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”
(Romans 11:36)
“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”
(Ephesians 1:11)
“[God’s Son upholds] all things by the word of His power.”
(Hebrews 1:3)
“And He said, ‘Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.'”
(Mark 14:36)
“Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for you.”
(Jeremiah 32:17)
“With God all things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:26)
“But our God is in heaven; He does what He pleases.”
(Psalm 115:3)
What it means
God has the unlimited power to accomplish anything that can be accomplished — this is termed omnipotence. The things God does are neither difficult nor easy for God; they are only either done or not done. This is because difficulty is a factor that comes about only through the potential for not accomplishing a task. This does not apply to God for potentials do not apply to Him — only actuals.
God’s power to do all that He desires is the fuel for the engine of sovereignty, which accomplishes His providence. A senseless challenge to God’s sovereignty is the question of whether He can make a rock so heavy that he couldn’t lift it. This is a senseless question because the feat requested is not a thing to be accomplished through power, but rather by contradiction of reality — the equivalent of asking whether Homer could write an epic so long that he couldn’t read it.
Why it matters
Knowing that God is omnipotent, able to do whatever He pleases is great news. First, it reminds us that, in His divine justice, He is fully capable of unleashing His holy and righteous wrath against us sinners at any moment in time. The very fact that sinners can go on living and breathing while rebellion against Him is not because He is unable to carry out His justice; rather, it is because He chooses to show common grace to His creatures by creating and sustaining the lives that they live.
Furthermore, for the Christian, the truth of God’s omnipotence is great news because although God is fully capable of smiting us with His right hand, those who are found in Christ Jesus are secured in His grace. And when God makes a covenant promise to His people, we can be assured that His intentions will be realized because the Faithful One is also the All-Powerful One—His plan of redemption could never be thwarted.
