July 8, 2019

The gospel of the grace of God by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/063-grace.html

The gospel of the grace of God

Just hearing his name was enough to frighten Christians in the first century. He was known far and wide as a tireless persecutor of Christians. “He made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:3).

In those days, who would have thought that Saul of Tarsus would ever become a Christian, let alone become God’s chosen vessel to proclaim the Christian message to the nations of his time and, through his writings, to the nations of all times. But, by the grace of God, he became the apostle Paul whose commission was “to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).

In his letter to the Romans Paul explains the gospel: why grace is necessary, how it is provided, what it accomplishes, and how it is obtained. Grace is necessary because everyone sins. Grace is provided by justification. The intended result of grace is sanctification. Grace is obtained by obedient faith.

[For the many references from Romans, only the chapter and verses will be given.]

What is grace?

Grace is benevolent, unmerited favor. “The LORD is merciful and gracious” (Psalm 103:8). God’s grace is shown by His bountiful blessings, especially salvation in Christ. God bestows grace according to His sovereign will: “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion” (9:15,Exodus 33:19).

What is the gospel?

“Gospel” means “good news.” The gospel is the good news of salvation by grace through the substitutional sacrifice of Christ. The gospel “which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures” (1:2) is God’s power for salvation (1:16). The gospel was foretold in the Old Testament as a mystery and is “made known to all nations” in the New Testament (16:25, 26).

Grace is necessary because everyone sins.

Sin is the violation of God’s laws. The whole world is blameworthy before God (3:19). “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (3:23). “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4).

Grace does not excuse sin. After powerfully affirming His graciousness to Moses, God added, “by no means clearing the guilty” (Exodus 34:6, 7). “The righteous judgment of God” (2:5) requires that sin be punished by death (1:32). “The wages of sin is death” (6:23).

Through Adam “sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (5:12).

Because of our sins, we deserve the death sentence. To appreciate grace, we must understand how bad sin is. “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (1:18). God’s wrath is mentioned twelve times in Romans (1:18; 2:5, 8; 3:5; 4:15; 5:9; 9:22; 12:19; 13:4, 5). God is not unjust when He inflicts wrath (3:5).

Although everyone sins, people have different patterns of behavior and different relationships with God, “who ’will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath” (2:6-8).

Since all are sinners, and death is the just penalty for sin, how can God extend grace to some sinners and wrath to others, and still be righteous?

Grace is provided by justification.

God can forgive the sins of believers without compromising His righteousness if the penalty for their sins is borne by someone else.

But who is qualified to serve as a sacrifice for sin?

Animal sacrifices are not sufficient: “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Hebrews 10:4). No sinner is qualified because he must die for his own sins! Only a sinless man could volunteer to suffer the penalty for the sins of mankind.

Of the Messiah it was foretold: “By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11).

God sent His Son who “became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14) and “was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15) so He could die for man’s sin. John testified: “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Because He was without sin, Jesus did not have to die, but He allowed Himself to be crucified for the sins of humanity (John 10:11, 17, 18). He “bore our sins in His own body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24).

God justifies believers through the atonement of Christ.

Justification is mentioned seventeen times in Romans (2:13; 3:4, 20, 24, 26, 28, 30; 4:2, 5, 25; 5:1, 9, 16, 18, 19; 8:30, 33). “To justify” means to declare free of condemnation. We are justified by the blood of Christ and His resurrection (5:9; 4:25). Someone whom God has justified may not be condemned (8:30-34)!

Justification is “by faith” not by meritorious “deeds of the law” (3:28, 30; 4:2, 5; 5:1). Justification is a “gift” (5:16).

Although we are “under grace” and “not under law” for justification (6:14, 15), grace does not exempt one from God’s laws. “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (3:31). Grace encourages and helps believers to abide by God’s laws!

Justification is for those who keep “the righteous requirements of the law” (2:26). “Doers of the law will be justified” (2:13). But because the law is “weak through the flesh” “the righteous requirement of the law” is fulfilled only by grace through Christ’s sacrifice for those “who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (8:3, 4).

People can be righteous only by the grace of God!

“The righteousness of God” is bestowed on those who believe (3:22), who are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith” (3:24, 25). This was to demonstrate “His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (3:26).

In justification, faith is accounted as righteousness.

“Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (4:3, Genesis 15:6). This means that God credited Abraham’s faith to him as righteousness even though he was not completely righteous.

Abraham was faithful and obedient. “You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8). “Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws” (Genesis 26:5).

Although Abraham was obedient, he was not justified because of his obedience but because of his faith. Justification was necessary, not because of the good he did, but because of his sin! God credited his faith to him as righteousness.

When someone believes on Him who justifies the ungodly “his faith is accounted for righteousness” (4:5). “David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ’Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin’” (4:6-8, Psalm 32:1, 2).

Abraham’s example indicates that righteousness will also “be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” (4:22-24).

The intended result of grace is sanctification.

Paul’s letter is addressed to those who are “called to be saints” (1:7). Throughout Romans he calls believers saints (8:27, 12:13; 15:25, 26, 31; 16:2, 15). A saint is someone who has been sanctified (made holy) and is dedicated to God. Paul’s purpose in writing was that his readers might be “sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (15:15, 16). The branches on God’s tree are holy (11:16). The sanctified ones present their “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (12:1). They present their “members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification” (6:19, 22 ESV).

The intended result of grace is “sanctification without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NASB).

Sanctification involves obedience.

In the letter to the Romans disobedience is denounced seven times (1:30; 2:8; 5:19; 6:12; 10:21; 11:30, 32). This refutes those who would turn God’s grace into license (Jude 4) by claiming that grace makes obedience unnecessary.

The gospel must be obeyed (10:16)! The preaching of the gospel of grace is for “obedience to the faith among all nations” (1:5; 16:26). “The faith” that must be obeyed is the “one faith” (Ephesians 4:5) “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Paul defines the sanctified as those who have “obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine” to which they were subjected (6:17). Believers must avoid teachers who depart from the original doctrine (16:17).

The sanctified must be slaves of “obedience leading to righteousness” (6:16). Christ worked through Paul “to make the Gentiles obedient” (15:18). Paul complimented the saints at Rome for their obedience (16:19).

Grace is obtained by obedient faith.

Justification is “by faith” (3:28, 30; 5:1, 2; 9:32; 11:20). In the gospel “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ’The just shall live by faith’” (1:17, Habakkuk 2:4). This has a two-fold meaning. Habakkuk 2:4 is quoted in two other passages. The life of the just is founded on his faith (he does not “draw back” but “believes to the saving of the soul” - Hebrews 10:38, 39) and God gives him eternal life because of his faith (not because of his imperfect “works of the law” - Galatians 3:10-12).

Thus, one must live by faith! Superficial, half-hearted faith is not enough. The faith required to receive God’s grace is a true, living, obedient faith that walks “in the steps of the faith” of Abraham (4:12) who trusted God and obeyed His voice (Genesis 26:5; Hebrews 11:8).

We are “justified by faith” (5:1) but “not by faith only” (James 2:24). As “obedience to the faith” (1:5; 16:26) additional prerequisites for salvation by grace are stated in Romans: “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (10:17), “the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (2:4), “with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (10:10), and one is “baptized into Christ Jesus” (6:3).

Since we are “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (3:24) and since we are “baptized into Christ Jesus” (6:3) baptism is essential for salvation by grace.

After being “buried with Him through baptism” we “walk in newness of life” (6:4), continue “in doing good” (2:7), and present our “bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (12:1).

What have we learned about grace?

In Romans, Paul has testified to the gospel of the grace of God, explaining why grace is necessary, how it is provided, what it accomplishes, and how it is obtained. Grace is necessary because everyone sins. Grace is provided by justification. The intended result of grace is sanctification. Grace is obtained by obedient faith.

“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (5:1, 2). Amen.

Roy Davison

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

Teachings of Jesus (Part 16) A House Divided by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1818

Teachings of Jesus (Part 16) A House Divided

Abe Lincoln was elected to congress in 1847. The Mexican war was going on at the time and Lincoln opposed the war. His antiwar speeches did not make his political supporters very happy and he knew they wouldn’t re-elect him.

So at the end of His term in 1849 he returned to Illinois to practice law. Then in 1858 he was nominated by the republican party to be an Illinois state senator.

Addressing the State convention at Springfield, he gave the first of his memorable speeches. His huge hands tensely gripped the speaker’s stand, he declared slowly and firmly: “A house divided against its self cannot stand”

At that time he was talking about the country being divided on the issue of slavery. But where did he get that phrase? He got it from Jesus. And it’s recorded in 3 of the 4 gospels. Matthew 12:25, Mark 3:25, and in our text for today Luke 11:17.

Even tho He was doing a good things Jesus was accused of driving out demons in the name of Beelzebul, or the ruler of demons.

In Luke 11:17-20 it says: “Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

Jesus brushes their accusation off with logic. They’re accusing Him of being in league with the prince of demons because of His power over demons. Basically He says that Satan would not attack his own subjects because it would only weaken and divide his kingdom.

As you know, we live in a country that is divided on many issues. Certain events periodically bring it together (Like what happened on 911). But that unity is usually short lived. We live in a world full of division and different loyalties. But we as Christians we are not to be of this world.

We are separated from the world by our belief in the word of God, and His Word never changes nor will it ever fade away.

Sad to say, that even Christ’s church has divided over time on numerable issues. But it did not start out that way when it began on the day of Pentecost and closely thereafter. One can read in Acts 2 how the apostles and the early church was all with one accord in one place when it first began there in Jerusalem and the church was a unified body, of one faith, one hope, and love that bound believers together.

Bu that slowly changed; and in Eph. 4:3-6 the Apostle Paul wrote: “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one spirit. Just as you were called to one hope when you were called. One Lord, one faith, one baptism; One God and Father of all. Who is over all and through all and in all.”

When church members disagree over what God has prescribed in His word, then division begins to occur. Unfortunately we see division in almost every venue of life; in our nation, in families, in business, and even in the church.

Today I’m going to briefly talk about this problem which is addressed in one church, and then what will help cure division.

In the city of Corinth Paul shares some issues that they had and then tells us how to deal with these issues in His letters to them.

When Paul went to Corinth He worked as a tent maker and preached the Gospel there on a regular basis. He remained there for about a year and half, and established a growing church. (Acts 18)

The congregation consisted of some Jews, but was mostly Gentile and ex-pagan in nature. Socially, the membership ranged from the very affluent to Jewish refugees (Ac.18:2) and former criminals (I Cor.6:9-11).

Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church was written about 55 years after the death of Jesus. In it he deals with issues on marriage, celibacy, food offered to idols, proper dress, responsibilities of women, public worship, spiritual gifts, and the resurrection of the dead.

Paul was also concerned about growing friction and division in that church. Different groups were forming and were quarrelling among themselves. Some had even taken other members to pagan courts to settle disputes. Although Paul’s first letter to the church at Corinth was written to deal with specific needs of that church, it also has a tremendous value for us.

In his letter Paul addresses divisions in the church. I Corinthians 1:10; Paul wrote, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

And in verse 12:13 He says, “What I mean is this: One of you says, I follow Paul, another , I follow Apollos, another, I follow Cephas, still another, I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into Paul?”

Sometimes congregations even today are divided for the same reason. People say I’m going to follow this teacher because He’s my favorite speaker, or I’m going to side with this person because he a family member. I’ve heard of some churches where the affluent people sit on one side and the not so affluent sat on the other side. Invisible barriers like this actually divide congregations. Close fellowship with one another should be a distinctive mark of the members of Jesus’ church. This unity among our members came about because of Jesus Christ. And this fellowship is meant to prompt church members to help one another emotionally, spiritually, and even economically if the need arises because of our relationship with Jesus..

Because of Jesus and what He did on that cross, He made it possible for all of us to unite across all cultural and economic lines to become ONE BODY. Our relationship with Jesus should help produce unity and bonds with other church members who they would not normally associate with,

Galatians 3:27-28 says, “27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Listen to what Paul says in Romans 15:5-7; “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

God desires unity among His people. Holding grudges and resenting other members of the body separates us from the will of Christ. Christians should accept each other as Christ accepts us. In Christ all people are one. All are brothers and sisters in Christ because all are indebted to Jesus.

Paul has weaved a thread of unity throughout this letter, but that thread doesn’t stop in this one letter to the Corinthians. It is woven throughout the Bible. We are called to be in harmony and in unison with each other. In chapter 11:19; Paul also says that there is no doubt that there will be differences of opinions. But differences can be healthy if they are approached in a Christ like manner. It’s where we can learn from one another, but we need to be careful with our attitudes.

Now in our text today, Jesus said that a house divided will not stand. In other words, division destroys relationships and peace. A divided home will fall apart. Division and arguments will cripple if not destroy a marriage, a friendship, a business, a church and even a nation, and more if things go too far.

We therefore need to learn how to nip this problem in the bud before they corrode our relationship and permanently divide us.

There are many things that can divide us. One big thing that can divide us is when we sin. Sin divided and separated us from God. Satan deceived Eve, separating man from fellowship with God. And He’s still at work, deceiving and dividing people with sin.

Immoral and adulterous behavior and lies divide husbands and wives. Sinful behavior can divide children from their parents. Jealousy, envy, and greed will divide people. Gossip, slander and sowing discord among brethren can tear even the best congregation apart.

There are other things that also can lead to division if we are not careful; things like poor communication, jumping to conclusions without all the facts, selfish behavior and other bad attitudes. We have to be careful of all of these.

So what is the cure for division? If anything, I believe a loving, faithful, kind, truthful, and forgiving attitude is the best cure. I believe they will pacify if not cure the problem. Love is the key to defusing division..

In I Corinthians 13:4-8, Paul says “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

God sent his only begotten son into the world, because He loves us. Jesus suffered and died on the cross for our sins, why? Because He loves us and wanted to fix the great rift or divide between us and God.

Love is the Key. Not being selfish, self centered, confrontational and always trying to argue our point as being the best.

I’m not saying that we need to approve of or even tolerate sinful behavior in others; some things are just plain unacceptable. But when someone simply thinks differently than we do, our love for them should prevent us from getting upset wit them because of those differences.

I would like to close by reading what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans about our need to love, and our need to accept other rather than divide over differing opinions.

Read Romans 12:9-18 “ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

13:8-10 “ Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.“

And Chapter 14:1-3 “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. “

6-8 “Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. 7 For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. 8 If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.”

13-22 “ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”

You want to defuse arguments and potential rifts? Then seek peace. Sometimes that means keeping some of your beliefs and opinions to yourself.

Based on what I’ve read here, some things are just not worth fighting and dividing over. You don’t have to win every battle, and every argument. Rather in vs 19 Paul wrote, “Make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification.”

Can you do that? I pray that you will make an effort to do so. It will only lead to a happier and more peaceful life.

Is there a rift between you and someone else? Go and do your part or what you can to fix it. You don’t have to put up with another’s sinful behavior or fake that it’s OK, but it’s important for us to remember that we need to hate the sin but love the sinner…. Just like God does with us.

(Based on a Sermon by David Thompson) For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com

The Omnipotence of God by Caleb Colley, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1396

The Omnipotence of God

by	Caleb Colley, Ph.D.

God is the only being Who possesses omnipotence. In the Oxford English Dictionary, “omnipotence” is defined as “all-powerfulness,” or “almightiness.” In other words, when God wants something to be done, it is done. God has all power in heaven and on Earth (Matthew 28:18), so unlike the limited power of humans, which is constrained by time, space, and force, God’s capabilities are limited only by His own character (see Miller, 2003). Paul wrote of God’s omnipotence in the sense that He is “above all, and through all, and in you all,” (Ephesians 4:6). God is preeminent for many reasons, not the least of which is His great power.

God has complete power over the Earth. The very first chapter of the Bible (Genesis 1) is full of references to God’s power. The words of His mouth brought the Universe into existence; He spoke the Cosmos into existence with only a word (Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 11:3). In order to create the Universe, God needed no pre-existing matter with which to work; rather, He Himself spoke the very first matter into existence (see Thompson, et al., 2003a, 2003b). After He created “the heavens and the Earth,” He spoke “light” into existence on Earth (Genesis 1:3). After creating light, He created the firmament, and much more, all by the power of His word.

God has complete power over the spiritual realm. Just as the first chapter in the Bible reveals that God created light on Earth, the last chapter in the Bible reminds us that God’s power will be responsible for the eternal light in heaven (Revelation 22:5). Christ repeatedly cast out devils during His earthly ministry (Matthew 8:16; 9:32-33; 12:22), and James revealed that the demons believe in the one God of the Bible, and that because they are aware of God’s omnipotence, they tremble (Luke 8:31; James 2:19). God now limits Satan himself, keeping him from directly inhabiting people or causing people physical pain (Zechariah 13:1-2).

Only God can perform “wonders,” and only God can furnish that capability to others (Job 5:9; Psalm 72:18; John 3:2). Christ again revealed His power over the spiritual realm when He brought Lazarus’ soul back from the realm of departed spirits, and returned it to Lazarus’ body (John 11:43). Similarly, God will resurrect all the dead one day, having already determined the fate of their souls (Mark 12:26-27; Romans 6:4; 1 Corinthians 15:15,32; 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

God has complete power over the affairs of men. John Waddey observed: “God was known to the patriarchs as El-Shaddai, God Almighty (Exodus 6:2-3). The term Shaddai, when connected with the Hebrew word El (God) means, ‘the mighty One to nourish, satisfy and supply.’ Thus we see His power to send forth blessings for He is the all-bountiful One” (1987, p. 1). It makes sense, then, that when Moses spoke to the entire assembly of the children of Israel the lyrics of a lengthy song, he included this line: “Nor is there any that can deliver out of My [God’s] hand” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Of course, just as God has the power to bless us and deliver the righteous from spiritual harm, He also has the uncontainable power to destroy the wicked, as can be seen in His utter destruction of the world through the global Flood of Noah’s time (except eight souls; see Thompson, 1999a).

The plural form of El, Elohim, brings to light the fullness of God’s power, in that it highlights the Trinity (Psalm 38:75). Still another Old Testament expression used to denote omnipotence is Abhir, or “strong One” (Genesis 49:24; see Vos, 1994, 3:2188-2190). Jesus said that God is Spirit, emphasizing that God is not limited by impotence of flesh, as are humans (Isaiah 2:22; 31:3; John 4:24).

God’s power over the nations of the Earth is evident. Though God used the children of Israel as His means for bringing Christ to Earth, God’s power over large groups of people has never been limited to Israel. God has authority over all nations, and frequently has used them to accomplish His purposes (Isaiah 10:5; Jeremiah 25:9; Amos 1). Job said: “He makes nations great and destroys them” (Job 12:23). Kings have their dominion only because God allows it (see Custance, 1977, p. 134). Vos observed: “The prophets ascribe to Jehovah not merely relatively greater power than to the gods of the nations, but His power extends into the sphere of the nations, and the heathen gods are ignored in the estimate put upon His might (Isaiah 31:3)” [1994, 3:2189]. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar was warned:

This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men…. This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses (Daniel 4:17,24-25, emp. added).

God has complete power over the devil, whom He created (though the devil was not evil at the time of his creation; see Colley, 2004). While the devil has certain powers that humans do not possess (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; see Thompson, 1999b, pp. 11-12), Satan is not omnipotent. During his temptation of Christ, Satan admitted that whatever power he possessed had been “delivered to him” (Luke 4:6). Satan had to ask for God’s permission to harm Job (Job 1:7-12). Jesus said that Satan had desired to sift Peter as wheat; that is, Satan sought the express permission of God. Without it, Satan would be powerless to tempt Peter. While God never had a beginning, Satan was created (Colossians 1:16). For this, and other reasons, Satan is not omnipotent, and his power is far less potent than the power of God. John wrote: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

If we were to try to imagine someone whose power approached God’s might, we might think of Satan. Yet, the Bible reveals that nothing is too hard for the Lord—even defeating Satan (Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17). In fact, Christ already conquered the devil, and eventually will punish him everlastingly in hell (Matthew 25:41; see Thompson, 1999b, pp. 12-13). Hebrews 2:14 reads: “He [Christ] Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.” Milton, in Paradise Lost, wrote of Satan: “Him the Almighty Power hurled headlong flaming from th’ ethereal sky…Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to arms” (1.49).

God’s complete power is unending. Because God would not be God if He were not omnipotent, and because we know that God will never end, we can know that God’s power will never cease or diminish (see Colley, 2004). Furthermore, Isaiah plainly stated: “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable” (40:28).

CONCLUSION

God’s omnipotence reassures us, because it is through the Divine power that His servants know that “nothing will be impossible” to those who faithfully serve Him (Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23; Philippians 4:13). Those who are not faithful to the Lord should be terror-stricken by God’s omnipotence, because, in the Day of Judgment, the very force that created the Universe will condemn them to an everlasting punishment. Vos commented that omnipotence

evokes a specific religious response. This is true, not only of the Old Testament, where the element of the fear of God stands comparatively in the foreground, but remains true also in the New Testament. Even in our Lord’s teaching the prominence given to the fatherhood and love of God does not preclude that the transcendent majesty of the Divine nature, including omnipotence, is kept in full view and made a potent factor in the cultivation of the religious mind (Matthew 6:9). The beauty of Jesus’ teaching on the nature of God consists in this, that He keeps the exaltation of God above every creature and His loving condescension toward the creature in perfect equilibrium and makes them mutually fructified by each other. Religion is more than the inclusion of God in the general altruistic movement of the human mind; it is a devotion at every point colored by the consciousness of that Divine uniqueness in which God’s omnipotence occupies a foremost place (1994, 3:2190).

Little wonder that the multitude of Revelation 19:6 cried: “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!” The fact that God so willingly uses His omnipotent capacity for the ultimate benefit of His servants should motivate everyone to obey the Gospel (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). We will not escape the vengeance of God if we neglect the great salvation offered us (Hebrews 2:3).

REFERENCES

Colley, Caleb (2004), “The Eternality of God,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2565.

Custance, Arthur C. (1977), Time and Eternity and Other Biblical Studies (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan).

Miller, Dave (2003), “Things God Cannot Do,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2292.

Lockyer, Herbert (1997), All the 3s of the Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker).

Thompson, Bert (1999a), The Global Flood of Noah (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press), second edition.

Thompson, Bert (1999b), Satan—His Origin and Mission (Montgomery, AL: Apologetics Press, 2001 reprint).

Thompson, Bert, Brad Harrub, and Branyon May (2003a), “The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique [Part I],” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/22.

Thompson, Bert, Brad Harrub, and Branyon May (2003b), “The Big Bang Theory—A Scientific Critique [Part II],” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/26.

Vos, Geerhardus (1994), “Omnipotence,” The International Bible Encyclopaedia, ed. James Orr, (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson).

Waddey, John (1987), “The Omnipotence of God,” Firm Foundation, 104[18]:1,4, September 22.