SEMESTER 1
115 – The Omnipotence of God
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY I LESSON # 15
THE OMNIPOTENCE OF GOD
Read Job 26:1-14
.
INTRODUCTION:
1. By this word, I mean the limitless power of God.
2. This is (in its true capacity) a doctrine hated by proud natural man.
3. It is acceptable to man only if he can “control the power switches.”
III: “The armies of God’s saving power must halt at the battlements of your free will.”
4. That is to say, the Creator must not by His power finally determine the destiny of any human creature, He must leave that to the creature.
5. Man can never worship God in Spirit and in truth, so long as he holds such a view.
I. THREE OBJECTIVES OF GOD’S POWER
1. Omnipotence is at work in God’s administration. (Dan. 4:35)
2. Omnipotence is at work in salvation. (Jn. 5:21)
3. Omnipotence shall work in future judgment. (Jam 4:12, Rev. 20:12)
4. These are all interrelated and God is necessarily omnipotent in them all.
II. HUMAN CONFUSION ABOUT GOD’S POWER
Many view God (as to His power) like “Santa Claus,” or a little old lady giving away candy. Some of the following blasphemous quotations illustrate this confusion.
1. “The banners of God’s army halt outside the heart inviting surrender.”
i. This ignores depravity and slanders regeneration.
2. “Omnipotence is powerless in the presence of obduracy.”
i. If this is true, you are afflicting and teasing God to pray for the stubborn sinner.
3. “I must choose, God cannot choose for me, I can put God at length and say, `I will not'.”
i. Some truth on the surface, yet a denial of Philippians 2:13.
4. God’s word says, God is the mover of the heart, and thus the man. (Pro. 21:1)
III. THE NATURE OF GOD’S POWER (READ JOB 23:13
)
1. It is absolute, limited by nothing, except divine desire.
2. It is original, neither derived from, or dependent upon His creatures.
3. It is the force by which all other activities have their meaning and implementation.
4. Without it, mercy would be only pity, judgment a bluff, promises empty, prophecy fortune telling, love helpless, and councils in vain.
IV. MANIFESTATIONS OF GOD’S POWER
1. It is manifested in creation. (Heb. 11:3, Jer. 32:17)
2. It is manifested in sustaining creation. (Col. 1:7, Acts 17:28)
3. It is manifested in human redemption, birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ.
4. It is manifested in regeneration, giving the human hearer proper volition or will. (II Cor. 4:7, Eph. 1:19, Phil. 2:13)
5. It is manifested in the preservation of the saints. (Heb. 7:25, Jn. 10:28)
6. It shall be displayed in judgment. (Rev. 20:1-10, Rev. 20:12)