Omnipotence

Omnipotence is the perfection of God by which he is almighty — possessed of infinite power and able to do all his holy will. Scripture names him El Shaddai, "God Almighty" (Genesis 17:1), and Pantokrator, "the Almighty" who reigns (Revelation 19:6). All power belongs to God, and "whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth" (Psalm 115:3).

The doctrine is framed by a question put to Sarah's unbelieving laughter, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" (Genesis 18:14) — and answered everywhere in Scripture. Jeremiah prays, "Ah, Lord GOD! ... Nothing is too hard for you" (Jeremiah 32:17); Job confesses, "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2); and the angel tells Mary, "nothing will be impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). God's power is seen first in creation, where he speaks and it is so (Genesis 1:1), and in providence, "upholding the universe by the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3).

Rightly understood, omnipotence is not the bare capacity to do anything whatever, including the absurd or the self-contradictory, nor is it raw force unmoored from God's nature. God "cannot lie" (Titus 1:2) and "cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:13) — not from weakness but because his power is the power of his holy, wise, and faithful will. To say God is almighty is to say that he is never frustrated in accomplishing all his good purpose.

Divine power reaches its highest display not in thunder but at the empty tomb: God worked "the immeasurable greatness of his power" when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand (Ephesians 1:19–20). Yet the same omnipotence chose the apparent weakness of the cross, for "the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Corinthians 1:25). The Son who upholds all things is mighty to save, "able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him" (Hebrews 7:25).

For faith, omnipotence is deep comfort: no enemy, no death, no sin can finally thwart the saving will of the Almighty, and nothing he has promised lies beyond his power to perform — "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). It calls forth humble trust and the worship of heaven: "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns" (Revelation 19:6).