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Answer
The term omnipotent originates from omni- meaning “all” and potent meaning “power.” Similar to the qualities of omniscience and omnipresence, it logically follows that if God is infinite and sovereign, as we know He is, then He must also be omnipotent. He possesses all power over all things at all times and in all manners.
Job acknowledged God’s power in Job 42:2: “I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Job was recognizing God’s omnipotence in fulfilling His plans. Similarly, Moses was reassured by God that He had the power to accomplish His intentions concerning the Israelites: “The LORD answered Moses, ‘Is the LORD’s arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you’” «And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD’s hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not. », (Numbers 11:23).
Nowhere is God’s omnipotence more evident than in creation. God spoke, “Let there be…” and it came to be «And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. », (Genesis 1:3,6, 9, etc:). While humans require tools and materials to create, God simply spoke, and through the power of His word, everything was created out of nothing. “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth” «By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; And all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. », (Psalm 33:6).
God’s power is also evident in the preservation of His creation. Without God’s continuous provision of all our necessities for food, clothing, and shelter, sustained by His power from renewable resources, all life on earth would perish.
As the preserver of man and beast, “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O LORD, thou preservest man and beast.”, (Psalm 36:6). The seas, which cover most of the earth and over which we are powerless, would overwhelm us if God did not prescribe their limits (Job 38:8-11).
God’s omnipotence extends to governments and leaders, “and he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”, (Daniel 2:21), as He restrains them or lets them go their way according to His plans and purposes. His power is unlimited regarding Satan and his demons. Satan’s attack on Job was limited to only certain actions. He was restrained by God’s unlimited power (Job 1:12; Job 2:6). Jesus reminded Pilate that he had no power over Him unless it had been granted to him by the God of all power, “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”, (John 19:11).
Being omnipotent, God can do everything that is in harmony with His Holy character. The Bible reveals that He cannot do things that are contrary to His Holy character. For example, Numbers 23:19, Titus 1:2, and Hebrews 6:18 teach that He cannot lie. God lacks the ability to lie because lying is contrary to His moral perfection. Similarly, despite His being all-powerful and hating evil, He allows evil to happen according to His good purpose. He uses certain evil events to allow His purposes.
To unfold, such as when the greatest evil of all occurred—the killing of the perfect, holy, innocent Lamb of God for the redemption of mankind.
As God incarnate, Jesus Christ is omnipotent. His power is seen in the miracles He performed—His numerous healings, the feeding of the five thousand (Mark 6:30-44), calming the storm (Mark 4:37-41), and the ultimate display of power, raising Lazarus and Jairus’s daughter from the dead (John 11:38-44;Mark 5:35-43), an example of His control over life and death. Death is the ultimate reason that Jesus came—to destroy it (1 Corinthians 15:22;Hebrews 2:14) and to bring sinners into a right relationship with God. The Lord Jesus stated clearly that He had the power to lay down His life and the power to take it up again, a fact that He allegorized when speaking about the temple «Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. », (John 2:19). He had the power to call upon twelve legions of angels to rescue Him during His trial, if needed «Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? », (Matthew 26:53), yet He offered Himself in humility in place of others (Philippians 2:1-11).
The great mystery is that this power can be shared by believers who are united to God in Jesus Christ. Paul says, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power can rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
God’s power may rest on me. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9b). God’s power is exalted in us most when our weaknesses are greatest because He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Ephesians 3:20). It is God’s power that continues to hold us in a state of grace despite our sin. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12), and by His power we are kept from falling (Jude 24). His power will be proclaimed by all the host of heaven for all eternity. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.” (Revelation 19:1). May that be our endless prayer!
