Finis Dake’s Denial of God’s Omnipotence

Part 1: Dake’s Direct Denial of God’s Absolute Power

The Shocking Admission

In perhaps his most brazen departure from orthodox Christianity, Dake explicitly states in “God’s Plan for Man” (Chapter: God is Omnipotent, pages 372-373):

“Within God’s own realm He is omnipotent, but there are certain spheres in which He does not and cannot operate; and there are certain things He cannot do. We must therefore be sensible when we consider omnipotence—unlimited and universal power and authority within a certain sphere, or of a certain kind. God is Almighty and omnipotent in His own right of creation and redemption, and in His plan for man and all creations; but He has limited Himself in His dealings with free moral agents.”

This statement alone should alarm any Bible-believing Christian. Dake is explicitly saying that God “cannot” do certain things and that there are spheres where He “cannot operate.” This is a direct denial of what Scripture teaches about God’s absolute sovereignty and power.

Conservative Christian Response

The orthodox Christian position, held consistently for two millennia, is that God is absolutely omnipotent. The Westminster Confession of Faith states: “God hath all life, glory, goodness, blessedness, in and of himself; and is alone in and unto himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creatures which he hath made… he is most absolute.” This reflects the biblical teaching found in passages like:

• Jeremiah 32:17 – “Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.”
• Luke 1:37 – “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
• Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

When Scripture speaks of things God “cannot” do (like lie or deny Himself), it refers to actions contrary to His perfect nature, not limitations on His power. God cannot sin because He is perfectly holy, not because He lacks power. Dake confuses moral perfection with powerlessness.

Part 2: Dake’s Teaching That God Must Limit Himself

The False Doctrine of Necessary Divine Limitation

Throughout his writings, Dake repeatedly insists that God “must” limit Himself. In “God’s Plan for Man” (Chapter: God Works According to a Revealed Plan), he writes:

“God also acts within definite limits. He made man a free moral agent. As a matter of power God might predetermine certain volitions that would necessitate certain acts of man, but then He would be forcing men to act like a mere machine without freedom of action of his own accord. The question is therefore not what God can do, but what God does do in carrying out His own plan—a plan which was made to deal with free moral agents instead of machines. Therefore, we see that God must of necessity limit Himself in His actions in dealing with free moral agents and finite creatures.”

Notice the dangerous phrase: “God must of necessity limit Himself.” This teaching suggests that something outside of God (human free will) necessitates or forces God to limit His power. This is completely contrary to biblical teaching.

The Biblical Truth About God’s Sovereignty

Scripture consistently teaches that God is absolutely sovereign and that nothing necessitates or forces Him to do anything:

• Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
• Daniel 4:35 – “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
• Ephesians 1:11 – “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”

God is never under necessity. If God chooses to work in certain ways with His creation, it is because He freely wills to do so, not because He “must” do so. The Reformed tradition has always maintained that God’s sovereignty and human responsibility are both true, without requiring God to diminish His power.

Part 3: Dake’s Denial of God’s Exhaustive Foreknowledge

Limiting God’s Omniscience

Closely related to his denial of omnipotence, Dake also denies God’s complete foreknowledge. In “God’s Plan for Man” (Chapter: God is Omniscient, page 621), he states:

“The question of the omniscience of God is also much misunderstood. The Bible makes many simple statements that limit God’s knowledge. There would be no sense to such passages if we do not believe them literally. There is no meaning to them if we take them figuratively. There was no object in God saying such things about Himself if they were untrue. God gets to know things concerning the free moral actions of men as others do.”

This is an explicit denial of God’s exhaustive foreknowledge. Dake goes on to cite passages where God “tests” people or “finds out” things, interpreting these anthropomorphic expressions literally rather than understanding them as God’s accommodation to human understanding.

Scripture abundantly testifies to God’s exhaustive knowledge:

• Isaiah 46:9-10 – “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done.”
• Psalm 139:4 – “For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.”
• 1 John 3:20 – “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”

Part 4: Dake’s Teaching That God Cannot Control Free Will

The Elevation of Human Will Above Divine Sovereignty

One of the most troubling aspects of Dake’s theology is his elevation of human free will to a status that limits God’s power. In his discussion of providence (Chapter: Freedom from Poverty and Want), he writes:

“The free will of man is the only barrier that will ever stand in the way of his best interests. Divine providence, then, is limited and conditioned by a sinful free will. The only way God could prevent free moral agents from sin, accidents, rebellions, and other free acts of the will is by not creating them. For God to place one free will under irresistible divine restraint and compulsion would destroy free moral agency.”

This teaching makes human will sovereign over God’s will, suggesting that God is helpless before human choice. This contradicts the biblical teaching of God’s absolute sovereignty.

Biblical Examples of God’s Sovereignty Over Human Will

Scripture provides numerous examples of God sovereignly working through human will without destroying human responsibility:

• Proverbs 21:1 – “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.”
• Philippians 2:13 – “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”
• Ezra 1:1 – “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.”

These passages clearly show that God can and does work sovereignly through human decisions without destroying human responsibility. The mystery of divine sovereignty and human responsibility has been acknowledged by orthodox Christianity for centuries, but we must never resolve this tension by limiting God’s power.

Part 5: Dake’s List of Things God “Cannot” Do

The Dangerous Catalogue of Divine Limitations

In “God’s Plan for Man,” Dake provides an extensive list of things he claims God cannot do (Chapter: God is Omnipotent, page 372):

“God cannot: lie (Heb. 6:17-19); deny Himself, or act contrary to His own eternal truth (2 Tim. 2:13); have respect of persons (Rom. 2:11; Col. 3:25; 2 Pet. 1:17); save a soul apart from faith and grace in Christ (Rom. 3:25; Jn. 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9); bless men contrary to faith in His Word (Heb. 11:6; Jas. 1:5-8, 17); curse men who meet His conditions (Mk. 11:15; 16:16; Lk. 13:1-5; 1 Jn. 1:9); change His eternal plan (Act 15:18; Eph. 2:7; 3:11); save rebels who persist in rebellion, refusing to meet His terms (Pr. 1:22-33; 29:1); be tempted to do evil or tempt man with evil (Jas. 1:13-15); forgive unconfessed sin (Lk. 13:1-5; 1 Jn. 1:9); and keep one saved who turns back to sin and lives in rebellion (Gen. 2:17; Ezek. 3:17-21; 18:4-24; 33:7-16; Mk. 7:19-21; Rom. 1:21-32; 6:16-23; 8:12-13; Gal. 5:19-21; 6:7-8; Col. 3:5-10).”

While some of these statements contain truth when properly understood, Dake’s framing suggests external limitations on God’s power rather than the self-consistency of God’s perfect nature.

The Proper Understanding of Divine “Inability”

When Scripture speaks of things God “cannot” do, it refers to the impossibility of God acting contrary to His perfect nature, not a limitation of power. For example:

• God cannot lie because He is Truth itself (John 14:6)
• God cannot deny Himself because He is eternally self-consistent (2 Timothy 2:13)
• God cannot be tempted with evil because He is perfectly holy (James 1:13)

These are not weaknesses or limitations but perfections. As Thomas Aquinas explained, “God’s power is not diminished by the fact that He cannot do what is contradictory to His nature. Rather, it would be a defect if He could do such things.”

Part 6: The Dangerous Implications of Dake’s Teaching

Theological Consequences

Dake’s denial of God’s omnipotence has serious theological implications that undermine core Christian doctrines:

Practical Consequences for Believers

Dake’s teachings have practical implications that can damage a believer’s spiritual life:

• Weakened Prayer Life: If God’s power is limited, why pray for difficult things? Prayer becomes less confident when we doubt God’s ability to act.
• Increased Anxiety: If God cannot control all circumstances, believers lose the comfort of knowing that their omnipotent Father is in complete control.
• Diminished Faith: Faith requires believing that God is able to do what He promises. If His power is limited, our faith foundation crumbles.
• Compromised Evangelism: How can we confidently proclaim a God who saves if He is limited in His ability to draw sinners to Himself?

Part 7: The Historical Orthodox Position

Two Thousand Years of Consistent Teaching

Throughout church history, Christian theologians have consistently affirmed God’s absolute omnipotence. This doctrine is not a recent innovation but has been the bedrock of Christian theology since the apostolic age.

Early Church Fathers

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) wrote: “We call Him omnipotent because He can do whatever He wills, and the effect of His omnipotent will cannot be obstructed by the will of any creature.”

John Chrysostom (349-407 AD) declared: “When God wills, the order of nature is overcome… for He is the Creator and Master of nature itself.”

Medieval Theologians

Anselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) argued: “God is that than which nothing greater can be conceived. If God lacked omnipotence, we could conceive of a greater being—one with unlimited power.”

Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) systematically defended divine omnipotence: “God is called omnipotent because He can do all things that are possible absolutely.”

Protestant Reformers

Martin Luther (1483-1546) emphasized: “God is almighty, that He does whatsoever He wills in heaven and earth, and none can resist His will.”

John Calvin (1509-1564) taught: “We hold God to be the disposer and ruler of all things, who from the remotest eternity decreed what He was to do, and now by His power executes what He decreed.”

Modern Evangelical Affirmations

The Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy affirms: “God, who is Himself Truth and speaks truth only, has inspired Holy Scripture in order thereby to reveal Himself to lost mankind through Jesus Christ as Creator and Lord, Redeemer and Judge. Holy Scripture is God’s witness to Himself.”

The Evangelical Theological Society requires members to affirm: “The Bible alone, and the Bible in its entirety, is the Word of God written and is therefore inerrant in the autographs. God is a Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each an uncreated person, one in essence, equal in power and glory.”

Part 8: Biblical Refutation of Dake’s Errors

Scripture’s Clear Teaching on Divine Omnipotence

The Bible provides overwhelming evidence for God’s absolute omnipotence. Let us examine key passages that directly contradict Dake’s teachings:

Old Testament Testimony

Genesis 18:14 – “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

This rhetorical question expects a resounding “No!” Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He is not limited by natural impossibilities (Sarah’s barrenness and old age) or human will.

Job 42:2 – “I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.”

Job’s confession after encountering God directly affirms both God’s omnipotence (“thou canst do every thing”) and omniscience (“no thought can be withholden from thee”).

Psalm 115:3 – “But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.”

God’s will is never frustrated. He accomplishes whatever He pleases, without limitation or restriction.

Isaiah 14:27 – “For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?”

No one can thwart God’s purposes or turn back His hand. This includes human free will, which cannot ultimately frustrate God’s plans.

New Testament Testimony

Matthew 19:26 – “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Jesus explicitly states that “all things are possible” with God. This leaves no room for Dake’s limitations.

Mark 14:36 – “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”

Even in Gethsemane, Jesus affirms the Father’s omnipotence while submitting to His will.

Ephesians 3:20 – “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

God’s power exceeds even our ability to imagine. How then can Dake limit it?

Revelation 19:6 – “And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

The heavenly chorus explicitly declares God “omnipotent”—all-powerful, without limitation.

Part 9: The Proper Understanding of Divine Self-Limitation

Voluntary Condescension vs. Necessary Limitation

Orthodox Christianity does speak of God’s voluntary self-limitation, but this is fundamentally different from Dake’s teaching. The key distinction is between:

• Voluntary Condescension: God freely chooses to work in certain ways consistent with His purposes and character
• Necessary Limitation: God is forced or required to limit Himself due to external factors

When God chooses to work through means, respect human agency, or limit His immediate intervention, He does so freely and could choose otherwise. This is vastly different from saying God “must” limit Himself or “cannot” do certain things.

Biblical Examples of Voluntary Divine Restraint

The Incarnation: In Philippians 2:5-8, we read of Christ “who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant.” This was voluntary humiliation, not necessary limitation.

The Hardening of Pharaoh: In Exodus, God both hardens Pharaoh’s heart and Pharaoh hardens his own heart. God sovereignly works through human decisions without eliminating human responsibility.

The Use of Means: God could feed the hungry directly but chooses to work through human charity. This is not because He lacks power but because He has purposes in using means.

Part 10: Addressing Dake’s Misuse of Scripture

Anthropomorphic Language

Dake frequently misinterprets anthropomorphic language in Scripture—passages where God is described in human terms to help us understand Him. For example, when Genesis 6:6 says God “repented” that He made man, or when Genesis 22:12 says “now I know” regarding Abraham’s faith, these are not indications that God lacks foreknowledge.

These passages use phenomenological language—describing things as they appear from a human perspective. They are divine accommodations to human understanding, not literal descriptions of divine limitations.

Proper Hermeneutical Principles

Sound biblical interpretation requires:

• Interpreting unclear passages in light of clear ones: When Scripture clearly teaches God’s omnipotence and omniscience in dozens of passages, we should not overturn this based on misinterpretation of anthropomorphic language.
• Recognizing literary devices: The Bible uses metaphor, anthropomorphism, and phenomenological language. Not recognizing these leads to errors like Dake’s.
• Maintaining theological consistency: Our interpretation of individual passages must be consistent with the whole counsel of Scripture.
• Respecting historical interpretation: When our interpretation contradicts two thousand years of Christian understanding, we should be extremely cautious.

Part 11: The Connection to Other Theological Errors

The Slippery Slope of Limiting God

Dake’s denial of omnipotence doesn’t exist in isolation. It connects to and produces other theological errors:

Open Theism

Dake’s teachings prefigure the modern error of Open Theism, which explicitly denies God’s exhaustive foreknowledge and argues that God takes risks and learns from human choices. This heresy has been condemned by evangelical denominations and institutions.

Process Theology

The idea that God is limited and must work within constraints echoes Process Theology, which sees God as evolving and growing along with creation. This is completely contrary to the biblical God who declares, “I am the LORD, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

Moral Government Theology

Dake’s emphasis on free will over divine sovereignty aligns with Moral Government Theology, which makes human free will ultimate and reduces God to a mere moral governor who must respect human autonomy above all else.

Impact on Other Doctrines

Denying God’s omnipotence affects numerous other doctrines:

• Creation: If God is limited, how could He create ex nihilo (out of nothing)?
• Miracles: If God must respect natural laws and human will, how can He perform miracles?
• Prophecy: If God doesn’t have exhaustive foreknowledge, how can He make infallible predictions?
• Salvation: If God cannot overcome human resistance, how can He save anyone?
• Sanctification: If God cannot work effectively in human hearts, how can believers grow in holiness?
• Glorification: If God’s power is limited, how can He resurrect the dead and transform our bodies?

Part 12: Pastoral Concerns and Practical Application

Why This Matters for Every Believer

The doctrine of God’s omnipotence is not merely an abstract theological concept. It has profound implications for daily Christian living:

Warning Against False Teaching

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith” (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

We must be vigilant against teachings that diminish God’s character and attributes. When teachers like Dake limit God’s power, they are not merely offering alternative interpretations—they are attacking the very nature of God as revealed in Scripture.

Part 13: Responding to Potential Objections

Objection 1: “But What About Human Free Will?”

Some might argue that affirming God’s absolute omnipotence destroys human free will and responsibility. This is a false dilemma. The Bible clearly teaches both divine sovereignty and human responsibility:

• Joseph’s Brothers: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20). The brothers were responsible for their evil, yet God was sovereign over it.
• The Crucifixion: “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” (Acts 2:23). God predetermined the crucifixion, yet the human actors were responsible.

The compatibility of divine sovereignty and human responsibility is a mystery, but we must not resolve it by denying either truth. As Charles Spurgeon said, “I never try to reconcile friends.”

Objection 2: “Doesn’t God Limit Himself in Scripture?”

Yes, Scripture speaks of God limiting His actions, but always voluntarily and never out of necessity. Consider:

• God limits His wrath: “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Psalm 103:8)
• God restrains His power: “What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction” (Romans 9:22)

These are voluntary restraints flowing from God’s character, not limitations imposed upon Him by external forces.

Objection 3: “But God Can’t Make a Square Circle”

This common objection misunderstands omnipotence. Omnipotence means God can do all things that are logically possible and consistent with His nature. A “square circle” is not a thing—it’s a logical contradiction, a non-entity. Saying God cannot create logical contradictions doesn’t limit His power any more than saying He cannot create a “nothing something.”

Part 14: The Testimony of Christian Creeds and Confessions

Historic Affirmations of Divine Omnipotence

Throughout church history, Christian creeds and confessions have unanimously affirmed God’s absolute omnipotence:

The Apostles’ Creed (2nd Century)

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.”

The Nicene Creed (325 AD)

“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.”

The Augsburg Confession (1530)

“There is one Divine Essence which is called and which is God: eternal, without body, without parts, of infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith (1646)

“There is but one only, living, and true God, who is infinite in being and perfection, a most pure spirit, invisible, without body, parts, or passions; immutable, immense, eternal, incomprehensible, almighty.”

The Baptist Faith and Message (2000)

“There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing.”

The unanimous testimony of orthodox Christianity throughout history stands against Dake’s innovations.

Part 15: Conclusion and Call to Biblical Fidelity

Summary of Dake’s Errors

Through careful examination of Finis Dake’s writings, we have documented his serious theological errors regarding God’s omnipotence:

1. He explicitly states that God “cannot” do certain things and that there are spheres where He “cannot operate”
2. He teaches that God “must of necessity limit Himself” when dealing with free moral agents
3. He denies God’s exhaustive foreknowledge, claiming the Bible “limits God’s knowledge”
4. He elevates human free will above divine sovereignty, making God’s providence “limited and conditioned”
5. He misinterprets anthropomorphic language as literal divine limitations
6. He contradicts two thousand years of orthodox Christian teaching

The Danger to the Church

These are not minor disagreements about secondary issues. Dake’s teachings strike at the very heart of who God is. When we diminish God’s attributes, we worship a false god of our own making. As A.W. Tozer warned, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

The influence of Dake’s Annotated Reference Bible continues to spread these errors. Many sincere believers, unaware of these serious theological problems, are being led astray. It is the responsibility of pastors, teachers, and mature believers to warn against such false teaching.

A Call to Return to Biblical Truth

We must return to the biblical revelation of God in all His glory and power. The God of Scripture is not limited, bound, or constrained by anything outside Himself. He is the sovereign Lord who:

• Created all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 11:3)
• Upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3)
• Works all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11)
• Does whatever He pleases in heaven and earth (Psalm 135:6)
• Has all power in heaven and earth (Matthew 28:18)

Final Exhortation

Closing Scripture

Let us close with the doxology of Jude, which perfectly captures the biblical view of God’s power:

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25)

Our God is able—fully able, completely able, absolutely able. He is not limited, constrained, or bound. He is the Almighty God, and in Him we trust completely. May we never exchange the glory of the omnipotent God for the diminished deity of human imagination.

Soli Deo Gloria – To God Alone Be Glory!

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Note: All quotations from Finis Dake’s works are taken directly from “God’s Plan for Man” and his other published materials. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version unless otherwise noted. This analysis represents a conservative, biblical critique based on historic Christian orthodoxy as expressed in the great creeds, confessions, and theological works of the church throughout history.

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