I Believe in Almighty God

What do we mean by Almighty?

Quite simply the word Almighty means that there is nothing that God cannot do. Calvin put it in this way:

That not only he has might he does not exercise; but that he has all things under his power and hand.

We have to be careful with such a statement because God himself has declared that he cannot lie and he cannot sin. However, these are negatives. They are the opposite to God's nature so that it is ridiculous even to contemplate them in respect of God. As Karl Barth says:

The almightiness of God is not an abstract notion, not a power omnipotent in itself, a mad and profligate notion. But it is an action, and existence, a concrete manifestation of almightiness. (Barth, The Faith of the Church )

We should not concern ourselves with the abstract question about what God can or cannot do. The real importance of his almightiness or omnipotence is that there is no power great enough to undo what he does and no power great enough to do something that he cannot undo.

Satan's power, while it may sometimes seem great, is nothing compared to God's omnipotence. The kingdom of evil is nothing compared with the Kingdom of God. Since God "never slumbers nor sleeps" there is no power on earth or in the heavenlies that can catch him unawares. Therefore we can put all our trust in him. When Paul tells us that "all things work together for good," ( Rom. 8:28 ) he is telling us that our God is so almighty that even evil can be changed into good - "not that evil as such becomes good, but by reason of God's work, evil is used unto good." (Barth, The Faith of the Church )

Omnipotence and our Relationship with the Father

William Barclay says:

The word Almighty saves us from ever sentimentalising the relationship of God to men. God is love, but nonetheless God is the Almighty, infinite in might, majesty and power.

In no way does God's omnipotence detract from his Fatherhood . On the contrary, it makes his Fatherhood all the more wonderful. That the King of Kings, the

Immortal, invisible, God only-wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

is prepared to be my Father and give to me the right to be a child of God when all I deserve is damnation - that is Grace beyond all measure. It gives a wonderful privilege but demands an awesome responsibility. Thank God he also supplies the needed strength!

Omnipotence and Sovereignty

The concept of almightiness or omnipotence are very closely linked with that of sovereignty . He who made all things and who declares himself the sustainer of all things is also he who rules all things. No other being in heaven or on earth has the right to rule. Satan may lay claim to rulership of this world and bears the title "Prince of the Power of the Air" but eventually he is as nothing and must yield all authority to Jesus Christ who rules all things under the Father.