"Righteous SCARCELY Saved!"

"RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY SAVED!" (1PT 4:18)

What a headline! Try preaching that to "believers"! But what exactly does that word "scarcely" mean? It's used only 4 times in the New Testament, but by three different writers (thank God!):

...by Luke in Acts 14:18 "And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them."; and Acts 27:7 "And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;"; by Paul in Ro 5:7 "For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."; and by Peter in 1Pt 4:18 "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?".

The Greek word is "molis", which means with difficulty, hardly, scarce(ly), with toil & work! But the usage indicates a much stronger meaning!

Luke says it means "barely", or "by the 'skin' of their teeth!". Paul gets a bit stronger & says it means "would not dare!". And Peter places it squarely against Salvation itself, as being almost unlikely!

Do these men know what they're saying? At first glance it may not appear so, until we examine other scripture in this light! It sure puts a whole new slant on what Jesus meant when He said "few" shall be saved; and "few" (Though called) are "chosen"; and a "way that seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof is death!". And it also lends a great deal of weight to many things Paul said - such as; "lest I too be a castaway"; and "work out your own Salvation with fear and trembling"; and "I am carnal, sold unto sin", etc., etc., etc.!

The writer to the Hebrews comes back to this theme (our taking our Salvation for granted as did the Israeli "children" in the wilderness) again and again! He warns the believer about "creeping-unbelief", which he calls a "bitter root" and says it will defile many believers (that is, it is highly contagious!).

Jesus cautions every believer to take what He calls the "narrow Way"! The Greek here refers to a path strewn with many obstacles! And the central theme of The Revelation given to John is how all Eternal Things are reserved for the "overcomer"!

Paul warns those who think they "stand" to be very careful, "lest they fall!". And we know the "father of sins" may be pride! [its "Mother" surely is coveting!]

There are countless examples of the wisdom of Peter's exhortation to "think it not strange" when "fiery trials" come upon us, "as though some strange thing has happened to us"! And, if history is any teacher, we can certainly see that God has not hesitated in demonstrating His Sovereignty in His Children by vigorous trials & vexations.

Jesus was abandoned (no, Led by the Holy Spirit) to vicious temptations of the devil himself! He later tells His disciples to pray and ask the Father not to lead them into such temptations!

No, I don't pretend to fully understand such deep things; but I am exhorted by my studies of the Living Word to "apply" myself without reservation to "coming unto Him" in all these issues of my life!

After all, why should I, who still have no good reason as to why God should love & care for & Save me, find it surprising that I am "scarcely" saved? It is for this very reason I continually thank God!

I am as one who's come back from the dead - I thank God for every precious minute He has retrieved from the fires of Hell, that I might now share & spend them in company with Him!

For Paul (who "died daily!"), life WAS Jesus Christ! And for one who believes the very predicate to Christian Life-In-Christ is Col 3:3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.", I am but GLAD-TO-GOD I am... ==>"scarcely saved"!<==