The term “omnipotent” comes from a combination of two words in Latin: omnis, meaning “all,” and potens, signifying “power.” Given that God is endowed with the attributes of omniscience and omnipresence, it suggests that, should God be supreme and everlasting as we hold Him to be, then it logically follows that God is indeed omnipotent.
Yes, God has complete control over everything at all times and in all circumstances. So, what does the Bible really mean when it says that God is all powerful or omnipotent? What different facets of God’s omnipotence exist? And are God’s capabilities limited in any way?
Key Takeaways
- God’s omnipotence, as described in Christianity, means He has absolute power and control over the universe, being the source of all creation and authority.
- The Bible portrays God’s power through His actions, such as creation, governance, defeating evil, delivering people from sin, and performing miracles, highlighting His boundless might and providential care.
- God’s omnipotence is exercised within the framework of His character, suggesting that while He can do anything consistent with His nature, He chooses to limit His power to allow for human free will and moral responsibility.
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Is God All-Powerful?
“O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you.”
— 2 Chronicles 20:6
Consider eternal life and the power God held at the beginning of time. God was the sole being who existed before creation and hence possessed all power. Nothing could stop Him from doing anything.
To allow His creation to be liberated, God spoke and freely granted us a share of His authority, giving up His capacity to “always have his way.” Man’s freedom[1] must infer that the free individual can choose their very own path that may or may not accord with God’s will. Hence, when God “lends” His power to us, it becomes our responsibility.
In the Bible, the term “Elohim” is used to signify the divine majesty and power of God, often in the context of creation, as seen in Genesis where it states, “In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth.”
Still, God’s omnipotent power surpasses all and remains the world’s dominant force, and only He knows what the world would be without His continual, holy influence.
What Does It Mean God Is All Powerful Or Omnipotent?
The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
— Habakkuk 2:20
God’s omnipotence proclaims that He possesses ultimate power over all things and is the origin of all power. He is boundless in His might, knowledge, righteousness, love, and ability to carry out His sovereign plan. There are reasons why the everlasting God is omnipotent.
1. God Created The Universe
Nowhere does God’s power shine brighter than in his very own creation. In it, we see a mesmerizing picture of just how much power God possesses. When God simply spoke, “Let there be,” it happened (Genesis 1:3, 6, and 9).
Man needs resources and tools to produce; God only had to speak, and through the power of His utterance, everything came into existence. As Psalm 33:6 says, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and their heavenly host by the breath of his mouth.”
The source of man, the sun, stars, moon, earth, plants, and animals have all been objects of universal curiosity among men throughout history. This is answered in Jeremiah 32:17: “You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm.”
According to the Bible, God created everything in nature from nothing. Whoever designed the universe could accomplish everything He set His heart to. In line with this, nothing is too challenging for God, as evidenced by creation (Job 36:26–33; Acts 17:15, 17:24).
2. God Rules The Universe
God’s power stretches to leaders and governments (Daniel 2:21), as He limits or allows them to go their own way in accordance with His plans. In relation to Satan and his demons, He has unbounded authority.
Satan’s assault on Job was restricted to specific behaviors. He was bound by the omnipotence of God (Job 1:12; 2:6). Pilate, Jesus Christ reminded him, had no authority over Him unless handed to him by the Lord of all power, based on John 19:11.
God’s power rules over the universe since He created everything, as declared in Acts 17:24–25 and 28. Only He possessed the ability to succeed. Therefore, only He has the authority to rule it, and only He deserves such authority. In reality, everything in nature comes from the Creator of all things.
He owns all in heaven and on earth. Every good thing comes from Him. God has proven His claim to oversee the universe throughout history and has penalized men who refuse to acknowledge His authority (2 Chronicles 20:6).
3. God Dominates The Powers Of Evil
Despite how tragic life may seem right now, compassion, peace, and hope will win out. God’s grace can vanquish anything, regardless of how severe your sin is or how heavy your shame and guilt are. You can be freed from the chains that bind you, thanks to the One who overcame sin and death and mocked Satan and his demons. If your heart truly asks Him, He has the ability to provide you with complete spiritual freedom and enlightenment.
Just before He died, Jesus declared, “Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out” (John 12:31). Jesus Himself was going to deliver the judgment that you and I deserved. And, while God demonstrated His supremacy over demons and Satan by exiling them from heaven, Christ’s sacrifice defeated and insulted the forces of darkness.
4. God Delivers People From Sin
God has the ability to either punish or reward. Accordingly, He prefers to give rewards. However, the issue is that every person has sinned and requires punishment (Romans 3:23; 6:23). We need God’s power since a human can’t save himself on his own. As shown in Hebrews 7:25, “He is able to save completely those who approach God through Him.” To make this happen, He had to pass away as a sacrifice and take our penalty (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24).
Jesus Christ’s blood is the only force capable of delivering people from sin. The entire earth should obey what our God has commanded and declared in the Bible. When the followers of Christ Jesus sincerely believe in God’s ability to save, those people will obey and honor Him, according to Matthew 28:18–20.
Only God, if He is the God of power, can redeem us from our sins. And if He has the authority that the Bible portrays, nobody will dare deviate from what He advises doing in order to receive salvation. However, according to His word, Jesus’ blood only offers conditional salvation. Hearing, believing, repenting, confessing, and being baptized are all necessary steps. Consequently, we need to lead a devoted life.
5. God Performs Miracles
Jesus Christ is almighty because he is God incarnate. His power can be seen in the miracles He performed, such as healings (John 4:46–54; 5:1–9; 9:1–11, 30–38; Mark 2:1–12), feeding the five thousand (Mark 6:30–44; Matthew 14:13–21; 15:32–39), soothing the storm (Mark 4:37–41; Matthew 14:22–33; 8:23–27), and raising Jairus’s daughter and Lazarus from the dead (John 11:38–44; Mark 5:35–43; Acts 9:36–42)—which is an example of His intense power over life and death.
Additionally, while God has performed miracles through human agents, the power itself originates from God. According to Jeremiah 32:17, 20, and 22 in Old Testament Wonders, nothing is insurmountable for God.
As God raised Jesus, so will he raise us up by his power. As we read in Colossians 2:12, “For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him, you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
God also demonstrated his divine power by performing magnificent miracles to bring Israel out of Egypt. God also inflicted severe plagues on Egypt, including the death of the firstborn and the river turning to blood. Nonetheless, Israel was spared the plagues. God parted the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross on dry land while the army of Pharaoh drowned when attempting to cross.
Miracles were intended to validate God’s word and demonstrate God’s might. In John 20:30–31, “By the time the New Testament was written, God had already amply demonstrated His deity in the Old Testament.” However, men needed evidence that Jesus Christ was God and that the Holy Spirit inspired the authors who wrote the New Testament. That’s why miracles were performed.
What Are The Different Sides Of God’s Omnipotence?
God’s divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.
— 2 Peter 1:3
The concept of God’s omnipotence in Christianity has been explored from various angles, giving rise to different interpretations and perspectives.
One perspective holds that God’s omnipotence entails the ability to do anything that is logically possible and consistent with His divine nature. This view emphasizes that God’s power is not arbitrary or contradictory; rather, it is exercised within the framework of logical coherence.
God’s omnipotence is also linked to His providential care for his creation. Thus, he can provide for all of our needs according to his divine plan. As 2 Corinthians 9:8 reads, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Some theologians propose that God voluntarily limits His own power in certain ways to allow for human free will and moral responsibility. This perspective suggests that God’s omnipotence doesn’t imply that He exercises every possible action, but rather that He acts in accordance with His divine purposes while respecting the autonomy of His creation.
Are There Limits To What God Can Do?
You formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.
— Psalm 139:13–14
When we talk about God’s eternal power, we’re talking about God’s unfathomable ability to uphold His unwaveringly holy character and keep His word. In other words, His mercy, justice, love, grace, and truth are the means through which His omnipotence is contained and manifested.
God’s power has limited Him to actions that are consistent with His just and loving nature. God’s strength is therefore confined within himself. However, God demonstrates that nothing can stand between his sovereignty and those who trust in him.
God’s power will never fade, and neither will His love for us. Therefore, we can declare with assurance, “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies” (Psalm 118:6–7).
Summary
We must recognize God as the Almighty, who is all-powerful and omnipotent. Take into account the authority God possesses as the Creator and Ruler of all things. Let it encourage you to huddle beneath the protection of our loving Father’s wing, fully aware that He is greater than anything and capable of withstanding any challenge we may face.
Furthermore, He has vowed to stay. We can stand confident and strong through the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing we belong to the God who keeps control over all, regardless of how messy our situations are, how noisy the entire planet is, or how unclear our future seems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does omnipotence mean in the context of God?
Omnipotence, in the context of God, means that God possesses unlimited power and authority over the universe, being capable of doing anything that is logically possible and consistent with His divine nature.
How does the Bible illustrate God’s omnipotence?
The Bible illustrates God’s omnipotence through narratives of creation, governance of the universe, dominion over evil forces, salvation of humanity from sin, and the performance of miracles, showcasing His supreme power and authority.
Can God do anything?
God can do anything that is logically possible and does not contradict His nature of being just, loving, and truthful, meaning His omnipotence is exercised within the bounds of His character and divine purposes.
Does God’s omnipotence allow for human free will?
God’s omnipotence does allow for human free will, as He voluntarily limits His power in certain ways to respect the autonomy and moral responsibility of His creation, according to some theological perspectives.
Are there any limits to what God can do?
There are limits to what God can do in the sense that He cannot act contrary to His just and loving nature; His actions are always consistent with His character, meaning He cannot do anything that would contradict His essence or promises.