Scripture of the Day
Jeremiah 32:17-18 (NIV)
“Omnipotent”
“Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the fathers’ sins into the laps of their children after them. O great and powerful God, whose name is the LORD Almighty,
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This word “Om-nip-o-tent” means almighty or infinite in power. In Genesis 1:1, GOD is identifying HIMSELF as Omnipotent with, “In the beginning . . . “ This should help us understand GOD was there before we began! Therefore HE is our beginning! The passage above describes just how powerful HE is! HE is the creator of everything and in full control of everything. Man can develop something or build something and then lose control of it . . . But GOD, who created everything, is always in control! Think about the automobile. Man built the automobile, yet he cannot control what another man does behind the wheel! We can put laws in place, restrict the lawbreakers, yet we cannot control what a man will do behind the wheel! Nothing happens without GOD’s permission and HIS knowing! GOD is always in control of what happens behind the “Will” HE can make a rock cry out! HE can make a donkey speak! HE can make a mountain move!
I know I will never be able to understand all the reasons why GOD does what HE does, but I have full faith that HE is always in control. Don’t limit HIS power to your reality, but understand that HIS power is unlimited in HIS Truth! GOD doesn’t rely on man for anything . . . but man should rely on GOD for everything! What A Mighty GOD We Serve!
3 comments:
Thanks for breaking down the meaning for "Om-nip-o-tent" As a new born again Christian, I hear the word used, but never really explained. God is almighty and I have learned that I cannot rely on man, but I can rely on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord! Thanks!
When it comes to understanding our Christian doctrine salvation, I focus on four of your SOD comments:
1. This word "Om-nip-o-tent" means almighty or infinite in power. (God is Omnipotent)
2. HE is the creator of everything and in full control of everything. (God is Omniscient)
3. Nothing happens without GOD's permission and HIS knowing! (God is Omnipresent)
4. Man should rely on GOD for everything! (God is Omnipotent, Omniscient, & Omnipresent)
If all the above is so, then some might ask did God make us sin and if God is in control of all things, how does our "human free will" fit into God's salvation plan?
First, with regards to sin, the answer is without doubt no; God created man with a free-will and able to make a choice between obedience and disobedience to God. God does not cause anyone to sin (James 1:13). The idea of man's salvation and human free will is a bit more sticky.
Secondly, the next question that comes to mind is how does God who is Omnipotent, Omniscient, & Omnipresent execute His Salvation Plan? We've all heard of Christians who refer to themselves as "Free Will" Baptist. My question is why do they call themselves by this title? Obviously, they're either knowingly, or unknowingly referring to the doctrine of free will. Free Will Baptist are basically Arminians...meaning they follow the teachings of Joseph Armius either knowingly or unknowingly (unfortunately, most unknowing).
Most Free Will Baptist believes that a person can be saved, become a child of God and then if they fail and get into sin....God will withdraw their salvation and they can go to hell. Basically that means they are working to keep themselves saved by their good works and faithfulness. My mind immediately ponders the thought the following: if Salvation is God's sovereign plan, and faith is a gift from God, why do so many Christian focus so much on the contribution of our "Human Free Will" with regards to salvation? Yes, we do have a free will, but I believe that we over inflate its importance with regards to God's salvation plan.
I remember once talking to a fellow Christian and the subject of Christian denominations came up; the person told me that they were affiliated with the "Free Will Baptist" Church. So, I asked what was the difference between a "Free Will Baptist" and regular Baptist? Unfortunately, the person had no idea, even though they had been a part of that congregation all her life (this person was at least 80 years old). Immediately, I thought of my belief that "once a person is saved they're always saved." Also, remember your comments "HE is the creator of everything and in full control of everything." "Nothing happens without GOD's permission and HIS knowing!" "Man should rely on GOD for everything!" My human mind and human free will suddenly gets smaller and smaller indeed. Therefore, I stand on (Eph 2:8-9) "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: (it is) the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Salvation is all about who God is, and nothing about who I am and very little to do with my human free will!
The doctrine of predestination or election has confused and separated Christians for generations. I personally believe in predestination -- I believe that we are "saved," born-again, or brought to faith in Jesus Christ because God has chosen us for salvation. Romans 8:29-30 "29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."
Obviously, we could talk on this subject for days -- but your comment "GOD doesn't rely on man for anything...but man should rely on GOD for everything! What A Mighty GOD We Serve!" says it all, and this is a good place for me to close. I thank God for saving me--for reaching down into the depths of the murky darkness to extract such a retched sinner as me -- then placing my feet onto the solid ROCK, Christ Jesus my Lord and Savior; then indwelling within me the Power of His Holy Spirit, WHOM has taught me His Holy Word to transform me into the image of His Son...all to which I take no credit...for how could I boast being once blind and could not see, but now I am found, and once lost, but now I am found...my heart now shouts........hallelujah, hallelujah, and hallelujah!!
I may not understand the mysteries of your salvation, but one thing is for certain-- I THANK GOD FOR SAVING ME!!!
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