The Omnipotence of God
By Ben R. Vick, Jr.
God's power can be visualized through the eye of faith in
the universal flood which came in Noah's day. Peter wrote concerning the
scoffers:" For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the
heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby
the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens
and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto
fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (II Peter
3:5-7).
Time and space prohibit my telling of God's power in the
ten plagues which came upon the Egyptians prior to Israel's deliverance from
bondage. Or, His power in separating the Red Sea so they could cross on dry
ground. Who can explain God's extending the day in Joshua's time that he might
win a great victory? Or, who can understand God's power seen in His causing the
axe head to float in the river Jordan in the days of Elisha? God's power can be
seen in the virgin birth of Christ. It can be seen in many miracles which Jesus
Christ did while on earth: His walking on water, His calming the storm on the
Sea of Galilee, His raising the dead and causing the blind to see and the lame
to walk. The resurrection of Christ is a great demonstration of God's power and
the Lord's deity (~Romans 1:4~).
There is also power in the blood of Jesus. Hebrews 9:22
reads, "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without
shedding of blood is no remission." When Jesus instituted His supper he said: "For
this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission
of sins" (~Matthew 26:28~). The blood of bulls and goats was not powerful
enough to wash our sins away (~Hebrews 10:4~). Silver and gold does not wield
enough power to redeem us (~1 Peter 18,19~). John wrote, "And from Jesus
Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us
from our sins in his own blood" (~Revelation 1:5~). My sins, your sins are so
many and burdensome that we cry out, "O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?" (~Romans 4:24~). The answer is: The
blood of Jesus cleanses all sins away. So, we sing, "There's Power In The Blood."
Since Jesus shed His blood for all men (~Hebrews 2:9~;
~Matthew 20:28~; ~1 Timothy 2:6~), how does one contact His blood? He shed His
blood in His death. When we are baptized, we are baptized into His death
(~Romans 6:3,4~). Therefore, when one is baptized, he is baptized into the
death of Christ wherein he shed His blood. Thus, in baptism one contacts the
blood of Christ. In order for one's baptism to be valid, he must believe the
gospel (~Mark 16:15,16~), repent of his sins (~Acts 3:19~), and he must confess
or acknowledge Christ before men (~Acts 8:37~; ~Romans 10:10~).
Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus:" For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:14-21).