Who is Peter talking about in this Scripture?
Who is Peter talking to in this scripture? 1 Peter 4:18?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
What does it really mean to be scarcely saved?
I want to know what this scripture really means?
Answer:
The “righteous” who will “scarcely be saved” would be both the Little Flock and the Great Multitude. The Church will get an abundant entrance into the Kingdom, but the Great Company will be “saved ... so as by fire,” that is, scarcely saved, saved by the skin of their teeth, as it were (2 Pet. 1:11; 1 Cor. 3:15).
“Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” This verse is used incorrectly to prove there is no hope of salvation beyond the present life. For this interpretation, the “righteous” are said to be the Church, and the “ungodly” and the “sinner” are defined as the unsaved world of mankind. But this interpretation would contradict other Scriptures. Verse 18 is used as a basis for the church denominations to go out and try to evangelize the world.
The correct interpretation is that “if the righteous scarcely be saved” in the professed Church of Christ, “where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear” in the professed Church of Christ? The point is that the ungodly and the sinner will not appear—they will go into Second Death. Peter treats this subject in more detail in his next epistle.
This verse is not referring to the nominal Church but to all consecrated Christians living at the end of the age, wherever they may be. There will be a trial within the true Church!
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
What does it really mean to be scarcely saved?
I want to know what this scripture really means?
Answer:
The “righteous” who will “scarcely be saved” would be both the Little Flock and the Great Multitude. The Church will get an abundant entrance into the Kingdom, but the Great Company will be “saved ... so as by fire,” that is, scarcely saved, saved by the skin of their teeth, as it were (2 Pet. 1:11; 1 Cor. 3:15).
“Where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” This verse is used incorrectly to prove there is no hope of salvation beyond the present life. For this interpretation, the “righteous” are said to be the Church, and the “ungodly” and the “sinner” are defined as the unsaved world of mankind. But this interpretation would contradict other Scriptures. Verse 18 is used as a basis for the church denominations to go out and try to evangelize the world.
The correct interpretation is that “if the righteous scarcely be saved” in the professed Church of Christ, “where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear” in the professed Church of Christ? The point is that the ungodly and the sinner will not appear—they will go into Second Death. Peter treats this subject in more detail in his next epistle.
This verse is not referring to the nominal Church but to all consecrated Christians living at the end of the age, wherever they may be. There will be a trial within the true Church!
