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On Judgment Day- The Righteous Scarcely Be Saved ( I Peter 4:17-18) November 13, 2022

/11/13/2022


" For the time is come that judgment must begin at the House of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?" ( I Peter 4:17-18) KJV

INTRODUCTION
 A. One of the puzzling statements in the New Testament is I Peter 4:17-18.
  1. Why is this puzzling? For it implies that salvation is difficult to attain.
  2. But what does this statement really mean? Let us " know the truth and the truth shall make us free," John 8:32
  B. Our approach in this study shall be as follows:
  1.Meanings of Righteous and Righteousness
  2. Why will the Righteous be Scarcely Saved?
  3. Why Must Judgment Begin at the House of God?

DISCUSSION
 A. Meanings of Righteous and Righteousness
  1. The Bible declares that " none is righteous and that all have sinned," Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:11,23
  2. Meaning of Righteous
      -  acting in accord with divine and moral law
      -  free from the guilt of sin
      -  delights and meditates on the law of God, Psalm 1:2
      - law abiding, upright
   3. Righteousness refers to
       - a gift from God
       - attribute belonging to God
       - God -given quality imputed to man upon believing in Jesus
   4. " Justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1

 B. But Why Will the Righteous Be Scarcely Saved?
  1. Part of being righteous in God's sight is suffering and difficulty
     a." Rejoice as partakers of Christ's sufferings for when His glory shall be revealed, you shall have exceeding joy," I Peter 4:12
      b"..In this world, you will have trouble ( tribulation) but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33
      c."..All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution," 2 Timothy 3:12
   2. No such thing as " once saved, always saved" dogma
     a. " ...Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed, lest he fall," I Corinthians 10:12
     b. " But I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others, I myself shall be disqualified," I Corinthians 9:27
    c. "..Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12
    d. " Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life," Revelation 2:10
    e. " Many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another," Matthew 24:10
    f. " Take care..that there be not in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God," Hebrews 3:12
    g." If they fall away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance..." Hebrews 6:6

C. Why Must Judgment Begin at the House of God?
  1. Peter reminded his readers that the wicked will face God's judgment, I Peter 4:5
  2. But believers in Christ must hold themselves to a " higher standard" contrary to their past lives
  3. The " fiery trials" ( persecutions) that they were facing were to refine them like gold, I Peter 4:12
  4. " Judgment" for the children of God can be considered " discipline"
    a. "All discipline..later brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it," Hebrews 12:11
    b. It is designed to purge the sin from their lives and to teach them obedience
  5. " When we are judged..by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world," I Corinthians 11:32
  6. This includes " church discipline" for believers as stated by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 5:12-13 "..are you not to judge those inside?" Thus, put away from among yourselves that wicked person."
   7. " For we must all appear before the judgment of Christ, so that EACH ONE may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil." 2 Cor. 5:10
   8. " And shall come forth: they that have done GOOD, to the resurrection of life; and they that have done EVIL, to the resurrection of damnation." John 5:29 ( KJV) 
CONCLUSION
 A. But even today, when one does not believe in Jesus, he is already condemned
   1. Mark 16:16" Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." ( NAB)
    2. When Jesus returns in " blazing fire" He will inflict punishment on those who do not acknowledge God and on those who DO NOT OBEY the gospel of our Lord Jesus," 2 Thes1:8 
 B. If you are NOT YET in Christ, He is inviting you to come to Him now
   1. " Come to me, all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest."
Matthew 11:28
   2. " Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold NOW is the Day of Salvation," 2 Corinthians 6:2