All in All

All in All.  The limitation of language meets the greatness of God in the study of systemic theology. God reveals his nature with inspired words, yet he exists essentially beyond the true words he uses to describe himself. His revelation is accurate but not comprehensive because God is categorically unfathomable (Rom. 11:33). To capture the infinite beyond-ness of God theologians have resorted to using words such as omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent to explain God’s perfect attributes. God is all powerful. God is all knowing. God is everywhere present. Yet, these omni— words, too, are finite expressions of infinite attributes.

In addition to the omni— words, the Lord is also … all good (Psa. 86:5), all glorious (Psa. 99:2), all faithful (Psa. 100:5), all kind and just (Psa. 145:9), all sovereign (Psa. 145:13), all righteous (Psa. 145:17), all wise (Rom. 16:27), all gracious (2 Cor. 9:8), “who gives life to all things” (1 Tim. 6:13). “Christ who is God over all, [is] blessed forever” (Rom. 9:5). He “who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23) is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:21). He is “in everything … preeminent, for in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col. 1:18-19). “Jesus Christ is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).

And, in addition to all the all statements, the Lord is also called “a man of war” (Exo. 15:3). “The Lord is a God of knowledge” (1 Sam. 2:3). “God is a consuming fire” (Deut. 4:24; Heb. 12:29). “God is a merciful God” (Deut. 4:31). “God is a righteous judge” (Psa. 7:11). “The Lord is a stronghold” (Psa. 9:9). “God is a refuge” (Psa. 62:8; Joel 3:16). “God is a God of salvation” (Psa. 68:20). “God is a sun and shield” (Psa. 84:11). “The Lord is a great God” (Psa. 95:3). “The Lord is a God of justice” (Isa. 30:18). “The Lord is a God of recompense” (Jer. 51:56). “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God” (Nah. 1:2).

Our Lord is all of that, and more, all the time. “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20).