What Is the Omnipotence of God? Definition and Bible Meaning

　　The omnipotence of God ascribes God with infinite power, over all, at all times, eternally, and in all ways. Complete ability belongs to Him. His control covers everything and everyone, from the smallest to the greatest. His righteousness cannot be compromised, nor can it be without purpose.

　　

What Does Omnipotence Mean?

Our English word “omnipotence” originates from Latin. “Omni” means all, and “potent” means power. Thus, when we speak of the omnipotence of God, we declare Him All Powerful or All Mighty.

　　Three “omnis” of God credit to Him, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. These three acknowledge Him as All-Powerful, All-Knowing, and All-Present (or everywhere present). All three involve the other two as a whole and are inseparable attributes of God.

　　The Old Testament describes God as “Almighty” in nearly every book. The names of God highlight different aspects of His character, many declaring His strength, power, and might. El Shaddai, one of the Hebrew names for God, speaks to God’s ultimate power.

　　Limitless power belongs to Him. Creation testifies to His omnipotence. By His words and the breath of His mouth, He brought the physical world and all living beings into existence. God’s complete control of all He created and its obedience to Him demonstrate His omnipotence.

　　However, as with most things in life, knowing what something means and understanding it can be vastly different. The supernatural omnipotence of God exceeds our human comprehension. From eternity past to eternity future, God’s omnipotence abounds. It directs history, works in our present, saturates our daily lives, and purposes our future. It moves world affairs, personal practical life, and all events past and future.

　　God is in control.

　　

Where Does the Bible Talk about the Omnipotence of God?

If the Bible could speak with a voice, it would shout, “God is Omnipotent” throughout every book. We see God’s hand within the events of antiquity, in prophecies waiting to be fulfilled and displayed in difficult Scriptural passages we cannot quite understand. Page after page peels back one glimpse of His works after another. They reveal a God so immense that the more we know about Him, the more we recognize His power.

　　From the beginning of God’s Word until the end, God’s omnipotence shines.

　　Genesis 1:1 begins with, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” The last book of the Bible, Revelation, declares, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty’” (Revelation 1:8 ESV).

　　Jeremiah the prophet confirms God’s power in creation, “Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17 ESV).

　　The Psalms repeatedly reference God’s omnipotence, describing Him as great, abundant in power, and with immeasurable understanding (Psalm 147:5).

　　The book of Daniel also confirms His power: “He does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’” (4:35 ESV)

　　Jesus spoke of God’s power, declaring to His disciples that nothing was impossible for God (Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37).

　　The author of Hebrews declares Him as the “upholder of the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

　　Paul speaks of His eternal power and divine nature as attributes seen in creation (Romans 1:20).

　　

Why Is the Omnipotence of God Important?

The importance of God’s omnipotence cannot be ignored. God would not be God without this attribute. He could not create (i.e., make from nothing), live eternally, rule Sovereignly, or save us completely. Our faith would hinge on an unreliable, weak, and undependable god. He would not be sufficient to meet our needs, nor provide protection, or purpose. We could not place trust in such a god. If another power superseded Him, our faith would be futile. Spiritual and physical resurrection, His and ours, would become unattainable.

　　Praise God, none of these characterize our Omnipotent God. His power lacks nothing. He remains trustworthy and steadfast. He controls what happens today, and His Sovereignty rules over each yesterday and tomorrow. Events and circumstances neither surprise nor shock Him.

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　　God, however, does not sin nor do any evil. Hebrews 6:18 tells us He cannot lie. His righteousness and goodness cannot fail or be tainted. His attributes always remain perfect and complement rather than diminish one another. All His attributes work together. They do not fight one another, annul, or change.

　　

Why Is the Omnipotence of God Encouraging?

The greater our embrace of God’s omnipotence, the more we find it encouraging. His great power, the same that resurrected Him, upholds us now. Great peace accompanies the assurance that God’s power is greater than all other powers, His abilities boundless, and His purposes good.

　　Paul’s desire to know Jesus “and the power of His resurrection” demonstrate the magnificence of His omnipotence and its continuing effect on our lives.

　　“… that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:10 ESV)

　　The same power able to resurrect His body saves and resurrects us for eternal life. God’s limitless power protects, defends, and equips His children. The circumstances He allows in our lives have purpose and meaning. We can trust Him fully with every situation because He never lacks. His capabilities are unquestionable. His grace, love, and mercy can never be compromised.

　　Omnipotence becomes, for the maturing believer, a solid and precious truth. Deepening trust in God’s ultimate rule and power strengthens our weaknesses and expands our faith. It upholds us in difficult situations that seem too hard to bear. His omnipotence guards us in confusing times, which beg for answers. Although difficult to grasp both because of its magnitude and life’s mysterious happenings, omnipotence develops a sure foundation for the believer.

　　

Prayers Thanking God for His Omnipotence

We can thank God for His omnipotence. Here are some suggestions you may want to incorporate into your prayers of thanksgiving.

　　Thanking God For His Magnificent Omnipotence

　　Father, Your Omnipotence is magnificent. I cannot understand the breadth and depth of your power. I am so thankful it is beyond my comprehension. It shows me that You are much greater than I can fathom. I am grateful for the vastness of your Omnipotence. You are the Creator of the universe. You spoke the world into being. You made us in Your image. You breathed into us the breath of life. Thank you for the gift of salvation that only the power of resurrection could accomplish. Your Omnipotence is marvelous beyond words, and I thank You.

　　Asking God For His Forgiveness

　　Father, forgive me for not recognizing Your omnipotence and sometimes seeking to live on my own power rather than Yours. I acknowledge that all Power belongs to You. I recognize only an Omnipotent God can forgive sin and purchase my salvation. I often forget that You are the Ultimate Ruler, the Only One with the power to forgive and save. Help me to trust You fully day by day. I worship You as the omnipotent king over all the universe.

　　Thanking For For the Assurance that Omnipotence Brings

　　Thank You, Father, that I can rest in Your omnipotence. I know without a doubt You speak the truth, and nothing is too hard for You. I lift You High because Your greatness rises above all others. You are Omnipotent in each season of my life, every trial, and above all circumstances. I lay before You now my needs and my desires. I trust Your power to work in my life to accomplish Your good purposes for Your Name and glory. I rest in the assurance that You are omnipotent.

　　The Christian blessed by the assurance of an All-Powerful God rests knowing the Blessed Controller of all things holds us in His Almighty, capable hands.

　　“…God, who is the blessed controller of all things, the king over all kings and the master of all masters, the only source of immortality, the one who lives in unapproachable light, the one whom no mortal eye has ever seen or ever can see. To him be acknowledged all honor and power for ever, amen!” (1 Timothy 6:15-16 J.B. Phillips New Testament)

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