The Omnipotence of God
Job 42: 2 — “I know that Thou canst do everything, and that nc
thought can be withholden from Thee.”
Gen. 18: 14 — “Is anything too hard for the Lord?”
Matt. 19: 26 —” But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With
men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
FIRST PROPOSITION: God can do all things, nothing is too hard for him, all things are possible ‘with Him. God is omnipotent.
(i) Gen. 1:3 — “And -God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Ps. 33: 6-9 — “By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
Ps. 107: 25-29 — “For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted be cause of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit’s end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.”
Nah. i: 3-6 — “The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebuketh the sea: nd maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon Ian fiisheth. The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the *arth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. Who can stand before his indignation? And who can abide vi the fierceness of his anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.”
Omnipotence 31
All nature is absolutely subject to God’s will and word.
(2) Jas. 4:12-15 — “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? Go to now, ye that say. To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
All men are absolutely subject to His will and word. NOTE. — Happy is the man who voluntarily subjects himself to God’s will and word.
(3) Heb. 1:13, 14 — “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Angels are subject to His will and word.
(4) Job. i: 12 — “And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord.”
Job 2:6 -” And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.”
Satan is absolutely subject to His will and word.
n. The exercise of God’s omnipotence limited by His will.
Is. 59: i, 2 — “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it can not save; neither his ear hoavy, that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
SECOND PROPOSITION: The exercise of God’s omnipotence is limited by His own wise and holy and loving will. God can do anything, but will do only what infinite wisdom and holiness and love dictate.
QUESTION: Why doesn’t God destroy Satan? ANSWER: It would not be wise to destroy him yet. By his malevolence he is working out part of God’s benevolent plans.