The "Omnis" of God

God is perfectly present with himself, transcending all limitation of space, and yet present with every point of space with all that he is. Transcendance means that God is greater than and independent of the creation. Immensity refers to the fact that God transcends and fills all space. And omnipresence indicates that God is present with every point of space in his entire being.

*This is different than pantheism. God is not only omnipresent, he is transcendent. God may be in the tree, but the tree is not a part of God. To cut down the tree, is not to somehow diminish or harm God. God is omnipresent, yet also greater than and independent of the creation.

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Scriptural Evidence

1. He is the Creator and possessor of all things (Gen. 14:19, 22; Deut. 10:14; Col. 1:16; Rev. 10:6).

2. Heaven and earth cannot contain him (1 Kings 8:27; 2 Chron. 2:6; Isa. 66:1; Acts 7:48–49).

3. He fills heaven and earth, so nothing is hidden from his presence, and he is both close and far off (Ps. 139:7–10; Jer. 23:23–24; Acts 17:27–28).

4. He manifests himself variously in various places:

a. He dwells and has his throne in heaven (Deut. 26:15; 2 Sam. 22:7; 1 Kings 8:32; Pss. 11:4; 33:13; 115:3, 16; Isa. 63:15; Matt. 5:34; 6:9; John 14:2; Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:3; Rev. 1:4–5).

b. He descends from heaven (Gen. 3:8; 11:5, 7; 12:7; 15:1; 18:1; Ex. 3:7–8; 19:9, 11, 18, 20; Deut. 33:2; Judg. 5:4).

c. He dwells in the midst of his people (Ex. 20:24; 25:8; 40:34–35; Deut. 12:11; 1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2; 1 Kings 8:10–11; 2 Kings 19:15).

d. He is far (relationally) from the wicked (Pss. 11:5; 50:16–21; 145:20).

e. He is close (relationally) to the righteous (Pss. 11:7; 51:19; Isa. 57:15).

f. Christ is the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9).

g. God indwells the church (John 14:23; Rom. 8:9, 11; 1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19; Eph. 2:22; 3:17).

1 Kings 8:27 ESV

“But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!

1ki

Jeremiah 23:24 ESV

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord.

Jer

Omniscient

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Omniscience

God’s omniscience is his perfect knowing of himself, all actual things outside himself, and all things that do not become reality in one eternal and simple (not having any parts but having distinctions) act (exertion of energy).

1 John 3:20 ESV

for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Psalm 147:5 ESV

Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.

Job 28:24 ESV

For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.

Isaiah 46:9–10 ESV

remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Scriptural Evidence

Scriptural Evidence. The following list shows the objects of God’s knowledge from Scripture:

1. Himself as triune (Matt. 11:27; John 1:18; 10:15; 1 Cor. 2:10)

2. All things (2 Chron. 16:9; Isa. 40:13; Rom. 11:34; Heb. 4:13; 1 John 3:20)

3. All needs (Matt. 6:8, 32)

4. Even the smallest physical things (Matt. 10:30)

5. The heart of man (1 Kings 8:39; Ps. 7:9; Prov. 15:11; Jer. 11:20; 17:9–10; 20:12; Luke 16:15; Rom. 8:27; 1 Thess. 2:4; 1 John 3:20)

6. The thoughts and meditations of man (Ps. 139:2; Ezek. 11:5; 1 Cor. 3:20)

7. Man in the totality of his being and acts (Psalm 139)

8. Sheol and Abaddon (Prov. 15:11)

9. Man’s sin and wickedness (Ps. 69:5; Jer. 16:17; 18:23; 32:19)

10. Things that are contingent from a human perspective (1 Sam. 23:10–13; 2 Kings 13:19; Ps. 81:12–16; Jer. 26:2–7; 38:17–20; Ezek. 3:4–6; Matt. 11:21)

11. People before they are conceived (Ps. 139:13–16; Jer. 1:5; Rom. 8:28–30; Rev. 13:8; 17:8)

12. Future things (Isa. 41:22–26; 42:8–9; 43:9–12; 44:6–8; 46:9–11)

13. The days and geographical limits ordained for each person (Pss. 31:15; 39:4–5; 139:7–16; Job 14:5; Acts 17:26)

Omnipotence

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Omnipotence

God’s omnipotence describes his ability to do anything consistent with his nature.

Jeremiah 32:27 ESV

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

Matthew 19:26 ESV

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Matt

Hebrews 6:18 ESV

so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.

JER

Heb

Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth Scriptural Evidence

Scriptural Evidence. Biblical evidence for God’s omnipotence is visible in the following observations:

1. God’s names and titles display his power: el, elohim (God), el shaddai (“God Almighty”), adonai, Yahweh, Yahweh-tsabaoth (“LORD of hosts”), “the Mighty One of Israel” (Isa. 1:24), “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim. 6:15; Rev. 19:16), “the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:18; cf. Rev. 1:8; 4:8; 11:17), and “the blessed and only Sovereign” (1 Tim. 6:15).

2. Nothing is too hard for God; nothing is impossible (Gen. 18:14; Job 42:2; Jer. 32:27; Zech. 8:6; Matt. 3:9; 19:26; 26:53; Luke 1:37; 18:27; Eph. 3:20).

3. God does whatever he pleases (Ps. 115:3; Isa. 14:24, 27; 46:10; 55:11; Dan. 4:35).

4. God’s works reveal his omnipotence (Psalms 8; 18; 19; 24; 29; 33; 104): creation (Genesis 1; Ps. 8:3; Isa. 42:5; 44:24; 45:12, 18; 48:13; Zech. 12:1; Rom. 1:20), providence (Heb. 1:3), and redemption (Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:24).

5. Power belongs to God (Pss. 62:11; 96:7; Rev. 4:11; 5:12; 7:12; 19:1).

- "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me”

Psalm 139 ESV

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Application

How do God’s “omni” characteristics encourage you?

Hebrews 13:5b ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” -

Hebrews 13:5 ESV

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Hebrew 13.6

In what ways might you live as if these characteristics were not true of God?

God uses specific means to accomplish his will.

“Equally, God ordained that prayer should accomplish certain ends. If we do not pray, we will not receive (; ). True, God could accomplish all without the prayers of his people, but he has not ordained such a remedy. He works powerfully through the prayers of his weak people ().”

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God (p. 90). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Moreover, a Christian wife might content herself with the possibility that God could convert her husband as he walks down the street listening to opera music. Instead, she ought to look to as her hope: “Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct.”

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God (p. 90). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

What is worse, Christians commit certain sins in the presence of God that they would never dream of doing in the presence of others. - Mark Jones

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God (p. 75). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

In what ways do these characteristics of God challenge you?

“As Christians we can, sometimes unwittingly but nonetheless sinfully, act as if we were God by making judgments about others without the requisite knowledge that enables us to make a sound judgment.” - Mark Jones

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God (p. 83). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

What is worse, Christians commit certain sins in the presence of God that they would never dream of doing in the presence of others. - Mark Jones

Jones, Mark. God Is: A Devotional Guide to the Attributes of God (p. 75). Crossway. Kindle Edition.

Hebrews 4:13 ESV

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.