Attributes of God – Powerful, Capable, Just, Part 3

The lecture addresses the attribute of God’s complete power, and explains how God’s power differs essentially from the powers of creatures: He is able to do everything according to His will and holiness, while human ability is limited and depends on matter, means and discoveries.

Summary points:

1. Definition of divine power: a complete (omnipotent) power means that God is able to do everything; creation from nothing, raising the dead and giving life are examples of this power unique to God alone.

2. Difference between creation and discovery: humans are discoverers and makers within the matter God created, whereas true creation belongs only to God.

3. Miracles and raising the dead: miracles and restoring life to the dead demonstrate God’s superior power, and the saints who work signs do so by God’s power not by their own inherent power.

4. The creature’s limited power: man is helpless before the forces of nature, death and diseases for which humanity has no complete cure; therefore the human need for God’s grace and intercession appears.

5. Conformity of power with God’s will and holiness: God’s power does not act apart from His will nor from His holiness — God does not commit sin, and He does not act against His will; miracles occur when they agree with His will.

6. Human freedom and moral testing: God is able to prevent evil, but He granted man free will, so permitting evil temporarily is based on divine wisdom and His view of the higher good.

7. God’s justice and measures of judgment: God’s justice assesses people according to their abilities and knowledge, taking into account will and understanding; repentance covers sins and the system of mercy and justice are applied together.

8. Earthly compensation by heaven: earthly disparities (rich and poor, talents or handicaps) are balanced before God’s justice in eternal life; the oppressed will be compensated and the wrongdoer punished according to his deeds.

Spiritual and educational dimension (from a Coptic Orthodox faith perspective):

• The lecture calls us to humility before God’s power and not to boast in human abilities; every human ability is derived from God.

• It teaches reliance on God in trials and seeking the power that surpasses nature.

• It affirms that God’s will and holiness guide the use of power: therefore we ask His mercy and live in repentance so that His merciful justice may be applied to us.

• It reminds that divine justice considers human differences and gives each his portion in eternity according to what was given to him on earth.

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