The Omniscience of God

Grace Bible Church of Conway's Podcast

James Fetterly's sermon "The Omniscience of God" focuses on two key practical implications of God's all-knowing nature: invoking awe and worship, and providing comfort in God's infinite knowledge. He elaborates on these points by referencing several biblical passages.
1. **Awe and Worship**: Fetterly begins by emphasizing that understanding God's omniscience should inspire a deep sense of awe and worship. He cites Romans 11:33-36, where Paul praises the unsearchable wisdom and knowledge of God. This passage highlights God's all-encompassing understanding, which surpasses human comprehension, and should lead believers to worship.
2. **Incomparability of God**: Moving to Isaiah 40:13-14, 28, Fetterly underscores that God's wisdom is unmatched and independent of any external counsel or knowledge. This further reinforces the call to worship God for His unique and boundless understanding.
3. **Infinite Knowledge**: Psalm 147:5 states that God's understanding is infinite, likened to the concept of infinity in mathematics. This attribute of God, knowing all things to the smallest and greatest details, should inspire believers to worship.
4. **Personal and Intimate Knowledge**: Psalm 139 illustrates how God's omniscience is both infinite and intimate. He knows every aspect of our lives, from our actions to our innermost thoughts. This comprehensive knowledge of God should bring comfort and lead to worship.
5. **Comprehensive Attributes**: Fetterly points out that Psalm 139 also reveals God's omnipresence, omnipotence, and holiness, all intertwined with His omniscience. Understanding these attributes together enhances the awe and reverence believers should have for God.
6. **Comfort in God's Knowledge**: God's omniscience means He understands all our struggles and is in control of every situation. Fetterly encourages believers to find comfort in God's all-encompassing knowledge and His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ.
7. **Ed Welch's Perspective**: Quoting Ed Welch, Fetterly highlights that God's omniscience, while initially intimidating, is ultimately comforting because it assures us of His holy patience and forgiveness. This should lead us to embrace Him rather than hide from Him.
8. **Call to Unbelievers**: For those who do not believe, Fetterly warns that God's omniscience includes a judgment of all actions, urging them to repent and seek salvation in Christ.
9. **Characteristics of God's Omniscience**:
- **Perfect Self-Knowledge**: In the Trinity, each Person knows the others perfectly.
- **Perfect General Knowledge**: God knows everything external to Himself.
- **Eternal Knowledge**: God’s knowledge spans from eternity past to eternity future.
- **Immediate and Simultaneous Knowledge**: God knows everything all at once, without progression or forgetting.
- **Exhaustive Knowledge**: God’s knowledge covers all people, all stars, and all events.
- **Penetrating Knowledge**: God sees beyond outward appearances into the heart.
- **Future Knowledge**: God knows all future events and possibilities.
- **Possible Knowledge**: God knows all potential outcomes of any given situation.
Fetterly concludes by stressing that God's omniscience should lead believers to worship and trust Him, knowing He works all things for good for those who love Him.