The biblical view of God’s omnipotence, His ability to bring about His will, shows that God is not subject to or dependent upon His creatures
Surely, as I have thought and planned, so shall it come to pass, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand
For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who can annul it? And His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? – Is. 14:24-27;
I am very grateful and relieved that God doesn’t depend on me or my faith to get what He wants done. It was a big burden for me to carry, when I thought that I was God (in a sense) and I controlled God’s ability to do things in my life. The pressure was enormous.
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God. – Matt. 19:26
That’s another post that causes me to pause and breathe a sigh of relief. It reminds me that this is HIS show and HE’S the one who is able and capable.
In Him we also were made [God's] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, – Eph. 1:11
HE works it out. HE does it. It’s HIS idea. Phew. For a while there I thought that my faith controlled the whole show. No wonder I threw a wobbly and things stopped working.
For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. – Luke 1:37
Ok! So I can rest assured that if HE says it… then it will happen? Phew. Relief.
7 comments
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March 3, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Rainer Liem
i agree with you, it’s a relief to know that a being WAY GREATER than wicked humans is in control!
August 5, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Esther Ukoha
I am so so blessed by this brief biblical analysis. I agree with you every inch.
Before anything was ever made, God was there. And when all would have passed away, He will still be there.
God is definitely in charge
December 10, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Jennifer Sovik
I am actually working on a philosophy paper right now where I trying to prove Gods omnipotence and these verses have really helped.
Thank you!!!
August 3, 2009 at 1:20 am
Sean
actually Rainer… the devil is in control of the world… not God.
But don’t take that the wrong way, humans gave it to him.
this is all backed up in scripture. God is all powerful, but he’s not in control of us or the devil… I think this idea of omnipotence has been hyped up way too much. Not that I think God can’t do anything, it’s just people have turned it into a philosophical lie by trying to negate it using human wisdom, which fails in comparison to God.
August 27, 2009 at 4:05 am
Tim
I would disagree with Sean respectively.
1. The book of Job, The devil asks permission to attack Job and God agreed but set limits. Also The Devil request permission to sift Peter like wheat. The laws of logic dictate that the limits and request do not take place if one is not in control of the other.
2. Another point is found in Romans. Which clearly indicates God’s direct hand in Man’s purpose and making. God’s will and purpose will take place. This cannot happen unless he is in control. Nor can he write the book of revelations if he is unsure about the outcome. Nor could Jesus predict how Pete would have died had he not been in complete control.
Iwill keep this short, but when God’s profit Isaiah states explicitly God is Omnipotent then we have to interpret the implicit in light of the explicit.
1 Job
12 “All right, you may test him,” the Lord said to Satan. “Do whatever you want with everything he possesses, but don’t harm him physically.” So Satan left the Lord’s presence.
Luke 22
31And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Romans 9
16So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God
that sheweth mercy.
17For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
23And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
From the KJV version.
With love and respect
Tim Durham
Timothy_durham00@hotmail.com
August 27, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Sean
Tim,
Good reply… but every since August 3rd, I’ve only learned more to back up my(well not my) theory.
I would urge anyone who disagrees to check out http://www.truthortradition.com
and their youtube page. I would also urge you to buy or at least read excerpts from their top theologists book “Don’t Blame God.”
As for your examples Tim, they are good ones—but they are all explained in the book I read.
1) Job— the beginning is an allegorical story depicting a misunderstanding the people of the OT had. If you’ve read the entire story–you know Job was a great man, and then all of a sudden every downfall landed on him. His friends(whom God denounced) were not helpful–because they did not wish to think God had made a mistake(in letting him be harmed)–because in those times–everyone believed that God was in control of everything(and that if bad things happened, it was only because you deserved it because you sinned, Job had not sinned)—and rarely was anyone aware of the Holy Spirit–or the devil. That is why many scriptures attest to this through-out OT and why the OT seems filled with God’s wrath–and the NT with God’s love.
The real point of that story… is not what the beginning makes it seem like—God testing us with evil…because God cannot do that.
James 1:13
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;
Now that doesn’t mean you won’t be tested by the devil, or that God will not ask for your *trust and faith*… but God will never cause evil to befall you to gain your trust… it’s not loving–nor is it a scriptural truth.
The wrath of God is another story Tim… but I’d have to read more on what you posted to understand that entire passage(I haven’t before).
In the mean time, read these scriptures
Luke 4:5-6
“(5)The Devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
(6) And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.”"
During Jesus’ tempting–we see that the devil had the kingdoms of the world, but it was not given to him by God–because that would imply God controlled him, not so(the devil has free will too, otherwise he wouldn’t have had the choice to disobey God in heaven). If you read Genesis… God gave control of the world to Adam(when he said “rule over…” etc, Adam lost it in his sin to the devil.)
1 John 5:19
“We know that we are the children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
all other versions, say basically the same thing too… so no translation mistakes there.
Again—I have more, but I don’t feel like typing out their entire book onto this little comment box… Go to the website, and/or go by the book… you will learn that traditional Christian beliefs are not biblical, and at the least not very logical if truly put in the limelight–most are just passed down philosophies and ideals from the Greeks and others(Calvin etc)
August 28, 2009 at 2:50 am
timothy durham
I will set this ground rule as I am not interested in getting into an “I am right you are wrong” scenario. Please accept my comments with the love of Christ as they are intended and we can agree to disagree and let the Lord work as he so chooses. Please post a response, but know that my intention is to let this go after I read your response. I will give you the last word.
I have one major concern regarding your interpretation of the Book of Job regarding it’s overall theme, and a few comments to bolster why I see it another way. Yes this is an allegorical story, but all allegorical stories communicate a central message complementary to the central Motif of the story. I believe the central Motif of this story is correct on the assumption of demonstrating God control over all things. This does fly in the face of a few religious interpretations; Pentecostalism, Word of Faith and Unitarianism. All of which have theologies I disagree with.
1. God was not testing Job with evil. He was demonstrating to the devil that Job did not follow him based on his wealth, health or any other material possession/ protection God had given him. Hence the hedge the devil asked God to remove. (if God is not in control there could be no hedge.) I would argue that James 1:13 does not apply here in the manner your implying, rather James 1 3-13, John 17, 1 Peter 1 7, 1 Peter 2 16
A. 1 Peter 2:16 is important as is James 1:13 this is because Job could not blame God if he sinned and cursed him. God does not make us sin we choose to sin or not to sin. God does expect when we find our selves in situations like Job to seek him first above all else (Righteousness of the heart) Not to have a heart of revenge and hate or blaming God, but rather full an total submission to his will regardless if we understand it or not.
B. (Hence the Romans 9 11-24 verse)
10 This son was our ancestor Isaac. When he married Rebekah, she gave birth to twins.[f] 11 But before they were born, before they had done anything good or bad, she received a message from God. (This message shows that God chooses people according to his own purposes; 12 he calls people, but not according to their good or bad works.) She was told, “Your older son will serve your younger son.”[g] 13 In the words of the Scriptures, “I loved Jacob, but I rejected Esau.”[h]
14 Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.”[i] 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”[j] 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. 19 Well then, you might say, “Why does God blame people for not responding? Haven’t they simply done what he makes them do?” 20 No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 When a potter makes jars out of clay, doesn’t he have a right to use the same lump of clay to make one jar for decoration and another to throw garbage into? 22 In the same way, even though God has the right to show his anger and his power, he is very patient with those on whom his anger falls, who are destined for destruction. 23 He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for glory. 24 And we are among those whom he selected, both from the Jews and from the Gentiles.
2. God’s response to Job in Ch 38. (Too long to type please reverence your bible) Job essentially begins to question God. God’s response is what determines the entire motif of the book. God emphatically states he created the earth and all that is in it, and is in control of all that is in it. (This point is the same if you read it as a narrative or as didactic scripture.)
3. If you believe God when he gives us Isaiah 45 5-12 and when Paul repeats this purpose to the Romans in 9 11-24 then the conclusion is Job had a purpose on this earth. He does not know what it is but since he sincerely is seeking God’s righteousness for his life nothing will prevent that from happening not even taking away all the earthly creature comforts God had allowed him to have. Why?, because God knew Job was not a man to fall in love with the things of this earth. How did he know this? Because God created him. God knew this before he was created, but Job did not. Hence these verses James 1 3-13, John 17, 1 Peter 1 7, 1 Peter 2 16
Luke 4:5-6
Counter argument to Luke
5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’[c]”
1. Yes the devil posses the power to temp Jesus. He posses the power to temp all man kind. (Hence Luke 22 the devil asking permission to sift Simon like wheat) This is because God allows it to happen. Humans have free will in sin. Yes, the devil will build his kingdoms on this earth, which is allowed by God to serve his purpose. This does not infer that the devil is in control of the world. None the less if God was not in control the entire book of revelations, all the prophecies regarding the end time in the OT and NT are lies. God could not have his prophets make claims to the end of this world if he was not in control of it.
2. Further more the Devil is full of lies. Should the Devil state I am in control of the kingdoms of the earth, should we believe him. This is about Jesus temptation not what the devil does or does not have control over.
1 John 5:19
Counter argument to John.
18 We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. 19 We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one.
1. This does not state explicitly that God does not control the world. In fact the message in it’s entirety states something completely different. God is in control of his people on this earth. How can this be, because he controls the world. It states that those who are not the elect/ have not received Christ are in the control of the devil. The world in this text is not equal to the physical planet earth rather to the population that has not or will not received Christ as their lord and savior. (total depravity).
2. My point is if God is not in control of the heavens & the earth like he claims to be then we are re writing the bible and that is a gross miss reputation of the word of God. One should interpret the unclear with the clear or the explicit by the implicit and use of the didactic scriptures to understand the narrative.
3. The entire book of Isaiah is a book of major prophecy. God could not have had his prophets speak these truths if they were not going to come true this would mean he was not omniscient or omnipotent like he claims to be.
Isaiah 43:13 (Should God not be in control anything could be snatched out of his hand)
13 “From eternity to eternity I am God.
No one can snatch anyone out of my hand.
No one can undo what I have done.”
Isaiah 42:9 (Should God not be in control he could not predict the future)
9 Everything I prophesied has come true,
and now I will prophesy again.
I will tell you the future before it happens.”
Isaiah 48:12-13 (Again God in control)
12 “Listen to me, O family of Jacob,
Israel my chosen one!
I alone am God,
the First and the Last.
13 It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth,
my right hand that spread out the heavens above.
When I call out the stars,
they all appear in order.”
Isaiah 51:15 (Again God in control)
15 For I am the Lord your God,
who stirs up the sea, causing its waves to roar.
My name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
16 And I have put my words in your mouth
and hidden you safely in my hand.
I stretched out[d] the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
I am the one who says to Israel,
‘You are my people!’”
Isaiah 45:5-12 (God’s control of man and the earth)
5 I am the Lord;
there is no other God.
I have equipped you for battle,
though you don’t even know me,
6 so all the world from east to west
will know there is no other God.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
7 I create the light and make the darkness.
I send good times and bad times.
I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.
8 “Open up, O heavens,
and pour out your righteousness.
Let the earth open wide
so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together.
I, the Lord, created them.
9 “What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator.
Does a clay pot argue with its maker?
Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying,
‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
Does the pot exclaim,
‘How clumsy can you be?’
10 How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father,
‘Why was I born?’
or if it said to its mother,
‘Why did you make me this way?’”
11 This is what the Lord says—
the Holy One of Israel and your Creator:
“Do you question what I do for my children?
Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?
12 I am the one who made the earth
and created people to live on it.
With my hands I stretched out the heavens.
All the stars are at my command.
Romans 4:13 (God could not give Abrahams decedents to the earth if it was not his to give)
13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham
I wish I could say I learned the same things as you from these Authors. I am familiar with them and find most of their teachings to be contradictory to the historical grammatical method I us to understand the Bible.