Question and Answer
Question 4. How is God Almighty?
Answer: God is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love.
Scripture Proofs
· Job 12:13 – “To God belong wisdom and power; counsel and understanding are his.
· Job 42:2 – “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
· Psalm 89:14 – Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.
· Psalm 107:1 – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
· Isaiah 55:9 – “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
· Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
· Matthew 19:26 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
· Luke 1:37 – For no word from God will ever fail.”
· Luke 18:7 – And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
· Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
· Romans 11:33-36 – 33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
· Romans 16:27 – to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
· 1 John 4:7-16 –
Articles of Religion: Article 1
There is but one living and true God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and good; the maker and preserver of all things, both visible and invisible. And in unity of this Godhead there are three persons, of one substance, power, and eternity—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Confession of Faith: Article 1
We believe in the one true, holy and living God, Eternal Spirit, who is Creator, Sovereign and Preserver of all things visible and invisible. He is infinite in power, wisdom, justice, goodness and love, and rules with gracious regard for the well-being and salvation of men, to the glory of his name. We believe the one God reveals himself as the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, distinct but inseparable, eternally one in essence and power.
The Testimony of Wesleyan Scholars
By infinity we mean that there are no bounds or limits to the divine nature. It is a term which applies to God only, and as such is peculiarly applicable to the personal attributes of power, wisdom and goodness. Hence the statement of the creed that God is “of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.” Dr. Foster considers this attribute as the basis of the related attributes of eternity and immensity. In the words of St. Augustine, “He knows how to be everywhere in His whole being and to be limited by no place. He knows how to come without departing from the place where He was; He knows how to go away without leaving the place whither He has come.… He is everywhere in His whole being, contained by no place, bound by no bound, divisible into no parts, mutable in no respect, filling heaven and earth with the presence of His power.” The term “infinite” is applicable to Personal Spirit only, and the word should be used in its integrity as simply expressive of that which does not admit of limitation. (H. Orton Wiley and Paul T. Culbertson)
The omnipotence of God is manifest in his works of creation and providence. The concentration of all finite forces into a single point of energy would be infinitely insufficient for the creation of a single atom. In the sublime words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth,” there is the agency of an omnipotent personal will. Only such a will is equal to the creation of the universe, and to the divine providence which rules in the universal physical and moral realms. (John Miley)
The article proceeds to state that God is “of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.” These three perfections are specified and grouped together because all the attributes of God are necessarily blended with them, or rather are comprehended in them. All the natural attributes of God are embraced in his infinite power and wisdom, and all the moral attributes in his infinite wisdom and goodness—for wisdom partakes of both a natural and a moral character. (Thos. O. Summers and Jno. J. Tigert)
Introduction
In this lesson, we will look at Question and Answer 4 from the Catechism, which explores the powerful and all-encompassing reality of God’s almighty nature. What is striking about this Question and Answer is that God’s “almightiness” is manifested in how infinite his power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love are. We often restrict discussions of omnipotence to how powerful God is, but understanding this also includes the infinite nature of his wisdom, justice, goodness, and love encourages us, and offers us hope, as we grow in our comprehension and appreciation of this mighty God we love and worship.
Summary of Wesleyan Scholar Insights
Our Wesleyan scholars for this lesson emphasize that God’s nature is infinite, meaning it has no bounds or limits. This infinity applies specifically to God’s personal attributes of power, wisdom, and goodness. The omnipotence (all-powerfulness) of God is evident in his works of creation and providence. John Miley highlights that the creation of the universe required an omnipotent personal will – and only God’s infinite power is sufficient for such a feat. This same omnipotence governs the ongoing providence, or divine guidance, of the physical and moral realms of existence. God’s infinite power, wisdom, and goodness encompass all his other attributes. Summers and Tigert note that these perfections are intertwined, with all natural attributes of God (like omnipotence and omniscience) falling under his infinite power and wisdom, and all moral attributes (like love and justice) under his infinite goodness. Wisdom, uniquely, bridges both the natural and moral characteristics of God, demonstrating his all-encompassing and perfect nature.
Key Principles
1. God’s Infinite Power and Sovereignty: God possesses limitless power and authority, affirming that nothing is beyond his capability or control.
2. God’s Boundless Wisdom and Knowledge: God’s wisdom and understanding surpass all human comprehension, guiding us by his divine counsel.
3. God’s Unfailing Justice, Goodness, and Love: God’s character is rooted in perfect justice, enduring goodness, and unwavering love, offering us assurance, comfort, and hope.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Job 42:2 affirm God’s almighty nature?
2. What do Jeremiah 32:17 and Matthew 19:26 teach us about God’s power over creation?
3. How does Psalm 89:14 describe the foundation of God’s throne, and what does it imply about his character?
4. In what ways does Psalm 107:1 reveal God’s enduring goodness?
5. How does Isaiah 55:9 challenge our understanding of God’s wisdom?
6. What insights do Job 12:13 and Romans 11:33-36 offer about God’s wisdom and knowledge?
7. How does Luke 1:37 demonstrate the power of God’s word?
8. What does Luke 18:7 teach us about God’s justice for his chosen ones?
9. How is God’s love demonstrated according to Romans 5:8?
10. What do Romans 16:27 and 1 John 4:7-16 reveal about God’s eternal wisdom and love?
11. How does the unity of the Godhead reflect in God’s attributes as described in the Articles of Religion: Article 1?
12. What assurance, comfort, and hope can we gain from understanding God’s almighty nature in our daily lives? (1 John 4:7-16)
Questions for Discussion and Personal Reflection
1. How have you personally experienced God’s power in your life recently?
2. In what situations do you struggle to trust in God’s wisdom and understanding? Why do you think that is?
3. How can reflecting on God’s justice and goodness influence your response to injustice? What are some differences between God’s justice and human justice, in all its manifestations?
4. How does knowing God’s love for you personally impact your relationship with others? (Or – how should it?)
5. What areas of your life do you need to surrender to God’s sovereignty? Perhaps another way of asking this question would be: In what areas are you still trying to do all the work, solve all the problems, etc., all by yourself?
6. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God’s plans when you begin to understand they differ from your own?
7. What steps can you take to align your thoughts, desires, and actions with Gods “higher” ways?
8. How does understanding the nature of God’s infinite attributes shape your worship and prayer life?
9. How can you encourage others, such as family members and friends, to rely on God’s almighty nature during hard times?
Action Steps
1. Daily Prayer and Meditation: Spend time each day this week meditating on the previous Scriptures that highlight God’s almighty attributes. Pray for his power, wisdom, justice, goodness, and love to transform your heart and mind.
2. Surrender and Trust: Identify areas of your life where you need to trust God’s sovereignty more fully. Surrender these areas to him in prayer, asking for his grace to enable you to rely on his infinite wisdom and power.
3. Reflect God’s Character: We are all “works in progress” as we strive to become more Christlike, but prayerfully, intentionally, yet dependently, work to embody God’s justice, goodness, and love in your interactions with others. Let his attributes guide your actions.
4. Share Your Testimony: Share with others how understanding God’s almighty nature has impacted your faith and life. Encourage them with stories from the Bible as well as your own personal experiences of God’s faithfulness and invite them to experience his power and love for themselves.