Correspondence: 1 Peter 4:18; Acts 2:5

From: Correspondence

From: Young Christian: Volume 4, 1914

• 2 min. read • grade level: 5

Ques. 97. "If the righteous scarcely be saved," does this mean that the righteous may be lost? 1 Peter 4:18¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18) J. W.

Ans. We have salvation presented in three aspects in Scripture. We need always to examine the context, to tell which way the Word applies it.

1st. We have salvation as a present possession, and this can never be altered. (See Eph. 2:8 7 2 Tim. 1:9⁹Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9).)

2nd. We are looking on to the Lord's coming, when our bodies will be changed; then full salvation is reached. It is called the day of redemption. (Rom. 8:23²³And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. (Romans 8:23); Eph. 4:30³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30); Rom. 13:11¹¹And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11); Phil. 3:20, 21²⁰For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ²¹Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21); 1 Thess. 5:9, 10⁹For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. (1 Thessalonians 5:9‑10); 1 Peter 1:5⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5).)

3rd. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Phil. 2:12, 13¹²Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. ¹³For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12‑13).) It is to this class 1 Peter 4:18¹⁸And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18) belongs. It means saved through difficulties along the path, under the government of God. Our failures do not affect our eternal salvation, for it is secured by Christ. (John 14:19¹⁹Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19).) The Jews looked for temperal deliverances; we look for soul salvation in our trials. Not kept from them but kept during them. Receiving the end of our faith, soul salvation. (1 Peter 1:9⁹Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:9), Luke 21:19¹⁹In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19).) We can count on the Lord to keep our souls in peace and victory for Him. (Phil. 1:19, 20¹⁹For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, ²⁰According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. (Philippians 1:19‑20).)

Nothing, can touch the life that is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3; also Phil. 1:6⁶Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6)); but we need daily help and guidance, and carefulness not to hinder or grieve the Holy Spirit. This is the fear and trembling lest we should hinder God's work in us.

Ques. 98. In Acts 2:5⁵And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. (Acts 2:5), are the nations and Jews different? W. I.

Ans. Yes, Nations, Gentiles and Heathen are the same. Israel or the Jews are not reckoned with the Nations. (Num. 23:9⁹For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. (Numbers 23:9); Deut. 32:8⁸When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:8).)

But at this time (Acts 2) there were Jews scattered among the nations. Many of these pious Jews had come up to Jerusalem to worship and were present to hear the gospel preached for the first time.

We could not call the Eunuch of Ethiopia a Gentile, but a Jewish proselite, who also came to Jerusalem to worship. (Acts 8:27²⁷And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, (Acts 8:27).) Those who received Christ, were henceforth Christians.

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