The Bible teaches that God is all-powerful, or omnipotent. This means that God has unlimited power and authority to do anything He desires. There are several key things the Bible reveals about God’s omnipotence:
God’s Power Has No Limits
God’s power has no boundaries or restrictions. There is nothing too difficult for Him to accomplish (Genesis 18:14). Scripture says that with God, “all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God’s power is infinite, meaning it is without limits or constraints. He has complete and full power to do whatever He chooses.
God Can Do All His Holy Will
God’s omnipotence means He has the power to accomplish anything that aligns with His holy character and will. God cannot do anything that contradicts His nature or goes against His perfect purposes. For example, Scripture says it is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18). He cannot deny Himself or act unfaithfully contrary to His promises (2 Timothy 2:13). But anything God sincerely desires and determines to do, He has the power to make happen.
Nothing is Too Difficult for God
No task is too hard for the Lord. Things that seem impossible to us are more than possible for God. He has power over all things in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). With just a word, God created the entire universe out of nothing (Genesis 1:3). He raises the dead to life and “calls into being things that were not” (Romans 4:17). God’s power has no limits – He is able to do far more than we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20).
God’s Power Upholds All Things
Not only did God create everything through His limitless power, but His omnipotence continues to sustain everything. The writer of Hebrews says that God’s power upholds all things and keeps the universe operating (Hebrews 1:3). Without God’s continual exercise of His power, the world and all it contains would cease to exist. Every breath, every heartbeat, and every moment is a demonstration of God’s ongoing omnipotence.
All Things Are Under God’s Authority
Since God is all-powerful, all things are under His governing authority. His omnipotence means He has rulership over everything. God exercises His supreme power and sovereignty over the whole universe and all created things. Nothing catches Him by surprise and nothing is beyond His control. His omnipotence secures His position as the ultimate Ruler and Highest Authority over all.
God Cannot Be Overpowered
No one can successfully oppose or overcome God’s power. God will accomplish all His good purposes, despite any resistance. Psalm 33:10-11 says, “The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever.” God’s plans cannot be thwarted or defeated. His purposes will stand firm from generation to generation.
Only God Deserves Worship Because of His Power
God alone deserves all glory, honor and praise because He alone possesses omnipotence. Since God has unlimited power over all things, He is supremely worthy of worship. Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
God’s omnipotence has many astounding implications. It means we can trust Him to fulfill His promises and bring His plans to completion, no matter how desperate our circumstances may seem. We never have to wonder if God has enough power to help us or provide for us. The God of the Bible possesses all power – He is able to handle any need or problem we could ever bring before Him.
Old Testament Examples of God’s Omnipotence
The Old Testament records many powerful demonstrations of God’s limitless power and authority over all things:
- God created the entire universe out of nothing by the power of His word (Genesis 1).
- God destroyed the sinful world with a global flood, preserving Noah and his family (Genesis 6-9).
- God parted the Red Sea to deliver Israel from Egypt (Exodus 14).
- God provided manna from heaven to feed Israel in the wilderness for 40 years (Exodus 16).
- God caused the fall of Jericho’s walls so Israel could conquer the city (Joshua 6).
- God gave Samson supernatural strength to fight the Philistines and tear apart a lion (Judges 14-16).
- God answered Elijah’s prayer and sent fire from heaven to consume his waterlogged sacrifice (1 Kings 18).
- God preserved the three Jewish men, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, in Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery furnace (Daniel 3).
- God shut the mouths of the lions when Daniel was thrown into their den (Daniel 6).
These examples give visible proof of God’s limitless power. Anything He desires to do, He has total ability to make happen. God’s omnipotence was demonstrated time and again in the Old Testament.
New Testament Demonstrations of God’s Power
God’s supreme power was also evidenced throughout the life and ministry of Jesus:
- Jesus healed all kinds of diseases with just a word or touch (Matthew 4:23).
- Jesus cast out demons and overpowered the devil through His authority (Mark 1:27).
- Jesus calmed a raging storm with His spoken command (Mark 4:39).
- Jesus miraculously fed thousands of people with a few loaves and fish (Matthew 14:19-21).
- Jesus raised several people from the dead including Lazarus (John 11:43-44).
- Jesus rose from the dead in resurrection power (Matthew 28:6).
Jesus Himself said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). The New Testament gospels showcase Jesus exercising divine omnipotence through His teaching, miracles and authority over nature, sickness and death.
God’s Power Will Be Made Fully Known at Christ’s Return
When Jesus returns, the full extent of God’s unlimited power and glory will be clearly displayed. Philippians 2:9-10 says that one day, “at the name of Jesus every knee [will] bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” The apostle Paul also said that when Christ returns, He “will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” exercising “the power that enables him to bring everything under his control” (Philippians 3:20-21).
Currently, God restrains the complete demonstration of His infinite power and majesty. But when Jesus comes again, God’s omnipotence will be on full display for every eye to see. The absolute limitlessness of God’s power and authority will be impossible to miss.
How Should We Respond to God’s Omnipotence?
Since God’s power has no boundaries, He is infinitely worthy of our worship and wholehearted service. God’s omnipotence should lead us to:
- Worship Him – God alone deserves our praise because of His unlimited power (Revelation 4:11).
- Trust Him – We can rely on God’s power to help us and keep His promises to us (Isaiah 40:28-29).
- Obey Him – God has supreme authority over us, so we should obey His Word (Deuteronomy 10:17).
- Fear Him – God’s omnipotence means we should fear disobeying or dishonoring Him (Luke 12:5).
- Serve Him Wholeheartedly – We should commit all our strength to obeying and serving God (Mark 12:30).
God’s complete power over all things deserves our total devotion. His omnipotence makes God utterly unique – there is no one like Him. Our lives should be wholly centered around bringing glory and honor to our all-powerful Creator.
Some raise objections about God’s omnipotence and how it can be reconciled with other aspects of God’s nature:
If God is all-powerful, why does He allow evil?
God certainly has the power to eliminate evil. However, in His wisdom, He currently allows it to exist for His sovereign purposes. God can use even evil events to bring about greater goods. But one day, He will judge all evil and completely eliminate it from His creation.
Can God make a rock so big He cannot lift it?
This question is flawed and based on human logic. It assumes God’s power has limits. But Scripture does not actually put any restrictions on what God can do except that He cannot act contrary to His holy nature. God’s power has no boundaries. If God sincerely chose to make a rock He could not lift, He could do it. But God will not contradict Himself.
Can God override people’s free will?
God gives people genuine free will and moral responsibility for their choices. However, God can intervene to guide people’s decisions if He chooses. For example, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart so he would not let Israel go (Exodus 4:21). But Exodus also says Pharaoh hardened his own heart. God’s sovereignty works hand-in-hand with human free will.
While we cannot fully grasp the depths of God’s omnipotence, we can worship and trust this all-powerful God revealed in Scripture. He is able to accomplish far more than anything we could ever imagine (Ephesians 3:20). With God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37).
