Answer Request:
Is God's power to save people limited through the crucifixion of Jesus alone? If that is the case, then how can God be believed to have unlimited power?
First: Let us establish and understand that God is ALL POWERFUL and that there is nothing impossible for Him. The Word is quite clear on this fact,
Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
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:
Job 42:2 I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
Second: In order to understand the above scripture in the right context, we must also establish that God is absolutely RIGHTEOUS and JUST. This means that His word is His word. It means that His way of issuing justice and handling decisions is perfect and pure. The Oxford dictionary explains that someone or something that is "just" is "behaving according to what is morally right and fair." Therefore, for God to be just means that He is consistent, virtuous, blameless, and right. And since His justness is part of His immutable nature (meaning it cannot change), then He is always right and just in whatever He does.
Ps.89:14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Rev.16:5 And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.
Deut.32:4 4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Zep.3:5 The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.
Dan.9:7 O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, ... 14 for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Ps.116:5 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful.
2 Tim.4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Heb.1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
Now that the foundation is laid, that God is all powerful and His character is perfectly righteous and just, and that He does not go against His own judgements, let's come back to answering the question.
It is not so much that God cannot save people without the cross of Christ, but it is that God has chosen NOT to save people without the cross of Christ. You see, God set up a plan before the worlds were created, and that plan determined that Christ would die for our sins. Even in the garden, God revealed His plan to Adam,
Gen.3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. ... 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins [an animal was sacrificed, and blood was shed], and clothed them.
Since God does not go against His word (and His plan), it is set, it is a done deal! God would make the way of salvation go straight through His Son, Jesus Christ, and this was to be non-negotiable.
Acts 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Heb.9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
So, God is all powerful, but He has chosen to set salvation of humanity in His Son. This is His prerogative, and He chose to do it that way. The fact that Jesus is the ONLY way does not mean that God is limited in His power to save by other means. He simply chooses not to use other means and allows for the glory of salvation to be synonymous with the name and the sacrifice of His Son.
Does this not bring the MOST honour and glory to God! In His great wisdom, this plan was deemed the most glorious and the means to show His great love for us and His unwavering grace and mercy. Think of it! The all-powerful God chooses to sacrifice His Son to save you!!! God could have selected ANY OTHER MEANS to do this, but no other means would display His absolute love for you as to sacrifice His Son for you, and for me. I am ETERNALLY grateful for this remarkable act of love and grace.
AMEN
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