Communicable Attribuites: Omnipotence

The Power of God

Stephen Charnock:

The power of God is that ability and strength whereby He can bring to pass whatsoever He pleases, whatsoever His infinite wisdom may direct, and whatsoever the infinite purity of His will may resolve. ... God's power is like Himself: infinite, eternal, incomprehensible; it can neither be checked, restrained, nor frustrated by the creature.!

We will spend our time this SS hour unpacking this definition and then draw some application. First we’ll note a distinction between God’s absolute power and ordained power.

Absolute Power

Theoretical consideration of God’s power. He could have created more worlds, a billion worlds with billions of galaxies in each. He did not run out of power in creating our world. He didn’t exert himself to the limit after expanding this world to 400 billion galaxies. Because God is living, independant, and infinite we confess his absolute power

Matthew 3:9“and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.”

Ordained Power

What God decrees will come to pass according to the pleasure of his will and then accomplishes in creation and providence.

Matthew 26:53–54“Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?””

It is possible, but because of the ordained power-what God willed would take place-it does not.

Things God cannot do

Are there things God cannot do? Things contrary to his nature. Things contradictory.

These are not for lack of power, but a consequence of God’s perfection

God’s Power is like himself

Simplicity- Gods power is identical with God.

Exercise. Is God’s power:

Incomprehensible

Infinite and unchanging

Independent

Wise, merciful, loving, just, good

Does God have power? No.

What is an accidental property?

Something not essential to somethings essence.

EG, Humanity. Is brown or blue eyes essential or accidental? Is rational soul essential or accidental? Is image bearing essential or accidental? Is Ron Rice being a handsome man accidental or essential to His humanity?

In God his existence is identical to his essence. The manner in which God exists is identical with himself. All that is in God is God. He does not have power, He is power. He does not have wisdom, or love (as accidental properties in us), he is eternally and unboundedly those perfections.

What we are considering here once again is Gods simplicity. While we distinguish the attributes for our own benefit, we must understand that they are not really separate parts or accidental parts in God. Again, we take in things one at a time, and God in Scripture accommodates himself to our capacities, but in no way is limited or confined to the metaphysical makeup of his own creatures. Which is what we do if we deny simplicity.

Application

Worship.

Is a god who is not all-powerful deserving the worship? No. But our God is and therefore is to be worshiped because he is all-powerful. His creative power, and providential power, his redemptive power are all reasons to worship and fear him. Psalm 100.

Revelation 5:13 “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!””

Fear.

The fear of the wicked and unbelieving is not only that he is present and eternally present in their punishment, but that he is able, he has the power to execute the just punishment due to them.

His power is irresistible. Can you imagine the sun and moon saying no to being created? Could Phaero resist God’s power? Could Lazarus resist God’s power to raise him from the dead? Last year I heard a pastor say that the only thing that hinders God is unbelief. If God cannot overcome our unbelief, than we’re all in trouble. The good news is that he can and will overcome the opposition of his people to himself. We were enemies, now brought near by his blood, and by the powerful work of the Spirit.

The power of God is a delight to the righteous. He is able to deliver on His promises. He is not only present with us, but present in power. To work in us, to bless us, to change us.

The greatest display of power is shown in Christ. The glory of God’s power is seen in the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. At the cross, what appears to be weakness, is Jesus wiping away all of our sins. In his resurrection, death and the devil are conquered and glory secured. In His ascension, His ongoing reign in power by his Spirit secure the building of his church and bringing his bride to glory. As our priest the ongoing efficacy of his blood speaks in power. As our prophet, he still speaks in power today. Bending the minds and wills of his saints and calling his sheep to himself. As our king, he protects us and defends us from all of our enemies.

The same power that raised Christ from the dead, has raised you from spiritual death, and will raise your body from the dead(unless the Lord comes), and all those who have died in the Lord before us. This same power will maintain and sustain the world to come and all the joys and delights and glory in the new heavens will be to the glory of Gods power.