• "God's Omnipotence vs the Current State of Affairs"
• Sermon for the Sunday after Ascension
• May 23, 2004
• The Reverend Stephen C. Scarlett

Let us briefly summarize the Ascension Day epistle lesson from Acts 1. The risen Christ appeared to his disciples for forty days after Easter and taught them "things pertaining to the kingdom of God." He told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit. Then he ascended into heaven in a cloud, while two angels promised the disciples that he would come again in the manner that he left.

Jesus ascended from earth, from the realm of space and time, into the realm of eternity, which is not bounded by space and time. He returned to heaven to receive the kingdom that he won by his defeat of sin and death on the cross. As Philippians says, Christ "became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God...has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord" (2:9-11, RSV).

Jesus is now, as Revelation says, "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (19:16). As Daniel says, "to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him" (7:14). The Ascension highlights God's omnipotence. As we say in the Creeds: I believe in "One God the Father Almighty... and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God." God is in control of all things. And he has committed power and authority over the creation to his Son, whom he has made Lord of all.

We can only trust God because he is almighty. If God were not almighty, how could we trust him to do what he says he is going to do? If God were not almighty, and if Jesus were not Lord of all, some other competing power or authority might be able to undermine our hope and salvation.

But, of course, it is not at all self-evident that God is almighty and that Jesus is Lord. There are wars in Iraq and elsewhere. There is severe persecution of Christians in many lands. Sin and unbelief are rampant. Tragedy and misfortune, sickness and death are all too common. Perhaps, as an old song complained, "The three men I admire most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost; they caught the last train for the coast."

The Bible recognizes the tension between God's omnipotence and the current state of affairs. The Bible recognizes that while the definitive victory in battle has been won on the cross, the effects of that victory are not yet recognized universally.

Psalm 8 says of the Messiah, "You have put all things in subjection under his feet." But Hebrews observes, "But, now, we do not yet see all things put under him" (Hebrews 2:8). First Corinthians also points to the unfinished nature of the conquest. It says, "He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death" (15:25-26). This is an ongoing battle.

We see the tension between God's omnipotence and the current state of affairs in the epistle lesson. The apostles said, "Will you, at this time, restore the kingdom to Israel?" That is, "Now will you finally intervene and forcefully defeat the enemies of Israel?" But Jesus said, "It is not for you to know when I will restore the kingdom to Israel, but you shall be my witnesses."

There will come a time when Jesus will appear in glory and forcefully subdue every evil and impenitent soul and spirit. But now is not that time. Now is the time of witness. Now is the time when salvation is freely offered to all. Now is the time when hearts and minds can change, or rather, can be changed by the grace of God.

The omnipotence of God is governed by the love of God. The love of God requires some continued measure of human freedom. God wants hearts to respond to his love, shown on the cross, with love. And the free response of love can only be given by souls who are also free to reject love; indeed, acts of genuine sacrifice and holiness can only be carried out by souls who are also free to do what is selfish and evil.

Still, the power of God trumps human freedom. The same divine power that brought the glory of resurrection out of the evil of Good Friday will bring glorious salvation out of all human evil. The same divine power causes "all things to work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose" (Romans 8:28). God's power is shown in this: He is able to bring the creation to the end that he has planned for it.

Jesus rules from heaven. He has sent his church out on a mission of conquest, to reconquer the world that rebelled against God at the fall of man. As the great commission in Matthew says, "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:18-20).

As we take our part in this mission of conquest, we remember what the angels promised: "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven." We remember that Jesus the Lord, who is seated at the right hand of the Father, who allows for a time that measure of human freedom that serves the preaching of the gospel, will come again in glory to judge. Then the King of Kings and Lord of Lords will put a forceful end to the human rebellion against God and complete the work of our salvation, as Philippians says, "according to the power by which He is able to subdue all things to Himself" (2:21).