October 2002

Christ:
The Landscape of Life

Part Twenty-five

“LO and BEHOLD”

(I)

“Omnipotence reigns!” [1]

             The Scriptures are replete with descriptions of the God of creation; and each characteristic is a wonder to behold. Our trouble comes when we assess these elements of His Divine Nature from a human point of view. We must be careful not to impose our mortal limitations on God’s Person!
              Whatever manifestation of His Sovereign Deity He may permit us to behold, let us remember that GOD IS AN INDIVISIBLE BEING! No aspect of His Nature is lesser than another! HE IS ONE! For this reason, Rev 19:6 proclaims:

“THE LORD GOD O-M-N-I-P-O-T-E-N-T REIGNS!”

             This is the only time “omnipotent” appears in the Bible! It is from Gk 3841, pantokrator, meaning: “ALL-RULING; ABSOLUTE, UNIVERSAL SOVEREIGN GOD, ALMIGHTY!” This has two roots: 3956 pas, “ALL OR WHOLE”, and 2904 kratos, “GREATNESS, MIGHT, DOMINION, POWER AND STRENGTH!” But pantokrator is translated 8 times in the NT as “ALMIGHTY”. Once in 2 Cor 6:17-18 the Lord says, “Come out from among (unbelievers); be separate from them (idol worshipers) and do not touch the unclean thing! Then I will receive you and I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord ALMIGHTY!” The other 7 times Almighty appears is in the The Revelation of Jesus Christ! The first reference is the signature verse as the Lord Jesus Christ declares:

“I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE ENDING,

SAYS THE LORD WHICH IS, AND WHICH WAS, AND WHICH IS
TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY (that is, THE OMNIPOTENT ONE)!”

Jesus Christ is revealed here as “THE LORD GOD OMNIPOTENT WHO REIGNS!”

“Although (He was) essentially ONE WITH GOD and in the form of God (possessing the fullness of the Attributes which make God, God) did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained; but stripped Himself of all privileges and rightful dignity so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave) in that He became like men and was born a human being. And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself still further, and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the Cross! Therefore, because He stooped so low,God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the NAMETHAT IS ABOVE EVERY NAME; that at the Name of Jesus, every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth; and every tongue (frankly and openly) shall confess that Jesus Christ is LORD to the glory of God the Father! Therefore...work out, cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete- your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling self-distrust...with serious caution and tenderness of conscience watchfulness against temptation; timidly shrinking from whatever mightoffend God and discredit the Name of Christ; not in your o-w-n strength;FOR IT IS G-O-D WHO IS ALL THE WHILE EFFECTUALLY ATWORK IN YOU- ENERGIZING AND CREATING IN YOU THE POWER AND DESIRE- BOTH TO WILL, AND TO WORK, FORHIS GOOD PLEASURE AND SATISFACTION AND DELIGHT!”(Php 2:6-13 Amplified Version)

             Behold, beloveds! The Most High God, the Omnipotent Sovereign of all, the Almighty One, works in, and empowers all to want and will and work His Will and Good Pleasure! How can any be denied salvation; or miss the “mark of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus”? (Php 3:14) The “LORD GOD ALMIGHTY Who was and is and is to come” (Rev 4:8) does this Secret Work in the hearts of men from the INSIDE-OUT; so only eyes of spirit can “see” His Workmanship!

[TO BE CONTINUED]