OMNISCIENCE and OMNIPOTENCE (MIKAL SMITH)

We often use the term “omniscience” when referring to an attribute of God, wherein He has ”all knowledge” or “knowledge of everything.” We also would define “omnipotence” as God having “all power” or being “most powerful.” 

And many will not dispute this fact. However, men often use these terms but lay an unbiblical definition or understanding of them.

(Yes, I am aware the terms are not found in scripture, but merely theological terms made by men. Yet, the teaching of God’s omniscience and omnipotence is found throughout many places in scripture.) But I digress…. 
Some, if not most, define God’s omniscience as “God knowing everything that can, will, does or doesn’t happen BECAUSE he is eternal and can see what men choose to do or not do, from all points in time.” Thereby, they have now defined God’s omniscience, declared his attribute, and all the while, preserved God’s sovereignty and man’s free will/choice from those pesky “hardshall predestinarians.”

Omnipotence, however, is not defined as cavalier as some define omniscience. “God having all power,” is pretty much known and understood by most, but often compromised in its application.

Notice, “decla-ring” not respond-ing or fore-seeing. God has declared the end FROM the begin-ning.

God just doesn’t have all power, but He has all power, that He might accomplish all His pleasure. Meaning, there is nothing that can stand in the way, that can detour, that can thwart God’s purpose or pleasure. Man’s will, his disobedience, his rejection, his flippant ever-changing notions, his many inventions, and his concerted efforts to stop God, will never and can never stop God’s purpose or pleasure because HE is omnipotent. 
Now I do not disagree, that God knows all things that will happen, can happen, or won’t happen. God truly is, all-knowing. But brethren, God’s knowledge of all things does NOT come from being eternal, which he is, and seeing all points of time at once, which I suppose He can and does. No this is not how the Bible reveals God’s knowledge of all things. This is a man-made attempt, through natural thinking to preserve their precious free will. 

May God give me the ability to explain… 

If God is infinitely all-knowing, all-wise, and all-powerful but relinquishes the reigns of eternity and destiny into the hands of finite, unknowing, unwise, and unpowerful depraved sinners, is He really omniscient, and omnipotent? Is He really the God of the Bible? He must not be the God of the Bible, as the God that scripture reveals clearly testifies of the God who has all things under HIS control, and works everything according to the purpose of HIS will. 
Let’s think about it…. If God knows something because He has seen it ahead of time, then makes a decision to do or do otherwise based on foreseen activity, then THAT is NOT omniscience. God did not know said activity UNTIL He saw, and had no course of action except after He learned what would take place. 
This is not an omniscient God and surely not an omnipotent one, for He has no power to accomplish His purpose without the foreseen consent of His subjects. God would now be reacting and not acting. He would be learning not knowing. He would be powerful, but not all-powerful. 
But what says scripture? 

Isaiah 46:10-11 DECLARING the end FROM the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are NOT YET done, saying, MY counsel SHALL stand, and I WILL do ALL my pleasure…. yea, I have spoken it, I WILL also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I WILL also do it.

Notice, “declaring” not responding or foreseeing. God has declared the end FROM the beginning. Not the beginning from the end! God is not declaring His works, purpose, or pleasure BECAUSE OF what He sees, but He sees BECAUSE of everything He HAS declared. In other words, God knows all things, not from foresight, but because He has declared His purpose from the beginning and promises to accomplish it. And God who cannot lie, has made clear, that He “will do all (his) pleasure.” Knowing what He will do, and all power to bring about every detail He has declared.

Acts 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.

Daniel 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and NONE can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

This is biblical omniscience and omnipotence. 

May we find more desire in glorifying God’s freedom, than trying to build an altar at man’s supposed freedom. 

May God be glorified! 
Mikal Smith