“Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?'”
Now ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved
This verse is an allusion to the Old Testament Greek rendering of Proverbs 11:31.
The “if” assumes reality in Greek: it is true that Christians have difficulty in being saved because they have a tough time coming to grips with grace. The gospel itself is not difficult, but it is challenging to come to grips with salvation by grace, and not by self-effort. Faith in Christ is non-meritorious, and most people have a tough time dropping their works orientation to salvation.
The “righteous one” is not a particular class of spiritual Christians. The “righteous one” here is the one who has received imputed righteousness from God; the idea is a justified one, that is, one who has been declared righteous in God’s eyes. Our eternal standing before God does not rest in the righteousness of our own. We stand in righteousness given to us by Christ (1 Co 1:30; 2 Co 5:21). Saved people are right with God.
“Scarcely” means with difficulty, hardly. “Righteous one” is a term for Christians. It is challenging for people to become Christians. Saving sinners is no mean task, and the difficulty is that it took Jesus to the cross; we had no part in saving our souls. The reason Jesus went to the cross is that men are totally depraved. There is no way we can come to Christ by our own merit. On a scale of extent, we barely became Christians. It takes the act of God to save us, that is, an act of grace.
The word “saved” means to receive salvation. We cannot earn salvation; it must be given to us.
PRINCIPLE:
Christians go to heaven only by the work of God himself by sending Christ to die for our sins.
APPLICATION:
It takes the work of God to save us. We go to heaven solely by the work of Christ. We cannot save ourselves. No merit or human effort makes any impression upon God. Not one of us has any righteousness before God.
Ro 3:10-12, “As it is written:
‘There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one.'”
To become a Christian, we have to stop working for salvation and accept the work of Christ for our salvation.
Ro 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.”
Have you come to the place where you reject your own merit for salvation and rest solely on the payment Jesus made on the cross for your sins? Why not make that decision today? How to Become a Christian
Thank you, this was very helpful.
Thanks Sandra
Dr. What you have written sounds very good. What is confusing to me are the scriptures I have found in Titus 1:16, Titus 2:14, Titus 3:8, Hebrews 10:24, James 2:17-26. Please help me reconciliate these scriptures with what you have said. I truly want to understand what the whole point of this big picture is here.
Will, one is cause and the other is effect. In other words, God does something to the soul and then the soul responds to God. See my study of James 2:17-26 in this regard.
The interpretation of first Peter have helped me God bless you
What a convoluted argument. From a simple truth to complex explanations of grace and works. Typical of well-meaning academics.
Jeff, the argument is only as convoluted as Scripture is complex. The entire argument of James is faith produces works as seen in my commentary there.
Are you aware that the verb sozo is in the present passive indicative, meaning “continually being saved”. One is not saved simply by becoming a Christian and trusting in Christ’s work on the cross (which you explain well), but a believer is daily undergoing sozo as he is sanctified, delivered, healed and protected. This sozo is accomplished with the hard work of fully trusting God and not one’s own efforts (again, I like your reference to grace). Thus we shine as stars in this dark world, but where will the wicked ‘shine’ ?
Marilyn,
Thanks for your comment. However, your view of the Koine Present tense is inadequate. To read notions of continuance or the ongoing nature of belief into the present tense is inconsistent with the distinction between aspect and Aktionsart and reads a meaning into the present tense that is not part of its semantics.
Note this article from The Bulletin of Biblical Research on “The Abused Present.” “In conclusion, it is time that we abandon notions such as “continuous,” “durative,” “ongoing,” or “habitual” in our descriptions and interpretations of the present tense. Instead, the modern-day interpreter of the NT should interpret the present tense along the lines of verbal aspect, or how the author chooses to view the action: the present portrays the action as developing or unfolding, as though the author were viewing the action from its “insides.” Any notion of continuation or ongoing action can only be included if there are clear clues within the context that these meanings are in fact present. But these notions do not belong to the present tense form itself. In addition, the interpreter should ask whether the present tense functions to highlight or add discourse prominence, particularly in contrast with the aorist tense form. Outside of this, it would be better if the interpreter avoided making any specific exegetical and theological claims based on the present tense. And when looking for grammatical help for understanding the present tense, we should rely on the most recent grammatical tools.”
God Bless You Doctor.
Dear Brother Grant,
If a back-sliding Christian suddenly dies, what happens to his soul?
Muthu, he goes momentarily and instantaneously into the presence of God (2 Co 5:8). However, he may be disciplined in time on earth (He 12:6,7) and lose his reward in eternity (2 Co 5:10). The idea of “scarcely” in 1 Peter 4:18 means he barely gets into heaven but only by the grace of God. If the believer is scarcely saved, it is clear that the unbeliever will not make it. An early death may imply that God brought him to physical death because of his rebellion against God (James 5:20).
Who are you? You really should read the whole Bible. To say the cross and Jesus dying for our sin is the only way to heaven is so sad.
What about living for God. Being in his blessing calling on his name bringing in others to his love. The joy the gladness of answered prayers it goes on and on.
Please let others know there is much more to making it to heaven.
If I just relied on the cross for my salvation. I would soon fall away.
Velesta, what you state is heresy. The Bible warns everywhere against attempting salvation by works. Read all of Galatians, and Romans, among many books that speak to this issue. Look at Romans 4:5 in particular.
Well we don’t get saved because we deserve it. We are saved from imperfections to perfection. Once saved is not forever saved. The measure of how we live for God here in Earth will determine our eternal Destiny. The believer is scarcely saved is obvious that it’s not all Christians or believers that’ll make it but those who love totally for God.
This is the truth and nothing but the truth.
When we’re saved, we freed from the power of satan. We’re given a higher power to live above sin (which is one of the numerous powers of darkness). Before we received salvation, we couldn’t live above sin cos in our strength we’re weak. But when we received salvation, salvation came with Grace and in Grace there are numerous enablements and powers, e.g; power to heal the sick, power to pray ourselves into financial breakthroughs; but of those who believe”once saved is forever saved” forget that there’s also power to overcome temptations to sin. Salvation is simply empowering us to do what we couldn’t do.
Now we’re saved from the punishment of sin cos as a believer when/if we fall into sin and are repentant and ask for forgiveness we are Forgiven and punishment is removed.
THERE’S NO SIN GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE— HE’S GOING TO FORGIVE ANY SIN— BUT THERE’S NO FORGIVENESS WITHOUT REPENTANCE.
If a believer dies in sin he won’t see the kingdom of heaven.
“Without Holiness no man shall see God”
Selah.
Israel, see my study in First Peter on “scarcely saved.” Also, see this study: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/terms-of-salvation/ and this: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security-2/security-of-the-believer-3/ and this: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/eternal-security-2/eternal-security/
People please study God’s word for yourself because this is not sound doctrine. Grace brought us to the cross but holiness and righteous living being transformed by the renewing of our minds… Keep us there!
Jennifer, where did you get the idea that I do not believe in holiness, spirituality, or spiritual growth? I have written extensively on these things on this site. If your point is that you are kept saved by good works, then that is heresy.