Is God omnificent? What does it mean to be omnificent?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The term omnificent refers to the quality of having the creative capacity to create all things. While the word itself is rare in theological discussions, the doctrine is foundational to Scripture: God is the uncreated Creator, the One who made the heavens, the earth, and everything in them (Genesis 1:1; Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:11). God’s omnificence is seen in the scope, detail, and order of creation. He spoke the universe into existence from nothing (Hebrews 11:3), shaped humanity in His own image (Genesis 1:27), and even forms the heart and soul of every individual (Psalm 139:13). Nothing is made apart from His creative will.

God being omnificent also reveals His wisdom. He does not create aimlessly or chaotically. His works are purposeful and precise. From the placement of stars to the design of cells, creation proclaims His glory, testifying not only to His power but to His beauty and intelligence (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20). Omnificence reminds us that God alone is worthy of worship. No created thing—whether angel, man, or beast—can create from nothing. When we marvel at nature, human gifts, or works of art, we are ultimately marveling at the One who gave us the power to create.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• The word “omnificent” means “unlimited in creative power.” Genesis opens by saying that God created everything. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). “In the beginning” refers to the start of creation. Prior to this, nothing existed. Therefore, God is the source of all that exists. He alone has the power to bring something out of nothing, and all of the variety and complexity we find in nature is a testament to His unlimited creativity.
• God also is not restricted in what He can create. Everything that was created came about simply by Him speaking (Psalm 33:6). God’s creative acts require no tools—only His word. His speech carries creative force; He has the innate ability to speak anything into existence.
• Isaiah urges, “Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name” (Isaiah 40:26). God’s omnificence is not just about raw power—it is personal and intentional. He does not merely populate the universe; He knows His creation intimately, naming even the stars.
• Infinite creativity demands infinite wisdom to design diverse yet interconnected systems. As Jeremiah says that God made the earth by His power and stretched out the heavens by His understanding (Jeremiah 10:12–13). With divine ease, He orchestrates all things, and the world’s complexity reflects the brilliance of its Creator.
• Psalm 104 is an extended meditation on God’s creative and sustaining work. After talking about Gods varied creation, the author suddenly exclaims, “O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures” (Psalm 104:24). The entire psalm displays God’s intimate role in creation, showing that omnificence is not brute creation, but wise, detailed, good, and personal.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The New Testament also declares God’s creative power, though with a focus on the Son of God. John opened his gospel by stating that “the Word" (Jesus) is God before saying, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:3). Jesus, as the eternal Word, is the divine Creator. Nothing exists apart from His creative will.
• Paul reiterates Jesus’s omnificence: “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). However, even more than that, we read, “in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17b). Not only did Christ create all things, but He keeps them operating even now. His creative power is ongoing and purposeful.
• Confirming what the Old Testament mentioned—God created from nothing but His voice—the author of Hebrews taught, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). This means that God did not assemble creation out of existing matter. Instead, He made it ex nihilo, a Latin word meaning “from nothing.” There was nothing, then He spoke, and everything came into being.
• When we look at creation and see its order, beauty, and function, we are seeing God’s creativity. We learn that “since the creation of the world [God’s] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made” (Romans 1:20a [NASB 1995]). Though we cannot see God, we see what He has created. In creation, we learn about His power, creativity, and divine nature.
• John witnessed a heavenly scene where 24 elders worshiped God, declaring Him worthy because He created all things (Revelation 4:5–8). They praised His creative power as the foundation of His worthiness, reflecting His infinite power, majesty, and wisdom.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The omnificence of God is not a dry theological concept—it is the foundation of how we understand the world, ourselves, and God’s worth. Nothing exists by chance. Everything was created by the will and power of God, and everything has purpose because it comes from Him.

Let this truth bring humility. We are not self-made. Every breath, every gift, and every opportunity we have is grounded in God’s creative generosity. You are, by design, dignified. Being made by an omnificent God means that He created you to live a life that has value, meaning, and direction (Genesis 1:26–27).

This should also drive us to worship God. When we see beauty in the world or admire human creativity, let that remind us that all creativity flows from God. Art, music, nature, science, and even technology is possible only because our limited creativity reflects God’s infinite creativity.

Finally, remember the hope this truth offers. The same God who created the world recreates hearts, restores broken lives, and will renew all creation. Ultimately, the gospel is the work of the omnificent God bringing into being a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Let us praise Him—not only for what He has made but for the glory, wisdom, and purpose behind every work of His hands.

UNDERSTAND

• God’s omnificence means He has unlimited creative power, creating all things from nothing with wisdom and purpose.
• Both the Father and Jesus actively created and sustain everything in existence.
• God’s creative power reveals His glory, calling us to worship and trust His ongoing work of renewal.

REFLECT

• How does knowing God is the unlimited Creator of all things shape your view of your own life and purpose?
• How do you see God’s wisdom and creativity reflected in the world around you, and how does that inspire your worship?
• How can you better recognize and trust God’s ongoing work of sustaining and renewing in your life?

ENGAGE

• How does the truth of God creating everything “from nothing” challenge or deepen your understanding of His power and sovereignty?
• How can acknowledging God’s omnificence change how we view human creativity and our responsibility as stewards of creation?
• How can we reconcile the majesty of God’s infinite creativity with His personal care and intimate knowledge of creation, as shown in Scripture?