In a discussion with a denominational friend, the issue of God’s power arose which caused us to disagree completely. The position I believe firmly states that it is impossible for God’s saving grace to reach those who have not been baptized for the forgiveness of sins. My friend objected. “You’ve limited God,” he stated, “God is all-powerful and can do anything, including saving any sinner.” This sounded good my friend and may be “very full of comfort,” but it isn’t true.
No, God cannot do anything! Now, before you accuse me of heresy, read your Bible! In the middle of a thought, appearing to be an incidental comment, Paul says, “In hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began” (Titus 1:2). The Bible teaches that God cannot do some things. He cannot lie! It does not say He will not lie, it says He cannot; it is not in the scope of actions and not a part of His nature. If that is the case, and I do not confess His Son, Jesus, as the Christ, will He lie and confess me in Heaven? Not according to Matthew 10:32-33, which states, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Now, I ask you: If you deny God in word and deed on this earth, can God save you? Not without becoming a liar, He can’t. Therefore, He cannot save any accountable person who is unbelieving (Hebrews 11:6), unrepentant (Luke 13:3, 5), non-confessing (Matthew 10:32-33), … or has not been baptized (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21).
The reason for God’s limitations are founded in the action of acceptance or rejection by His creation. Salvation is open for all, but not all receive Him, therefore, our reception of God’s Son is vital to God’s ability to save us. After all, “He came unto his own, and his own received him not” (John 1:11). When God sets conditions that must be met before one can become a child of God, He (since He cannot lie) must abide by His own conditions or He is showing favoritism; and God doesn’t play favorites. Peter rightly observed “”In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality” (Acts 10:34).
In the Old Testament, God explained this principle in detail. Israel was disobedient, and rebellious, and all the while crying out against God’s silence in regard to their hardships. The old prophet clarified their misconception in Isaiah 59:1-2. “Behold, Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear.”
That God desires to save you is a given; He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). However, He will not, He cannot save you if you refuse to obey.
-Richard