1 Peter 4:18
Now “if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Truth to Learn
All unbelievers will face a horrific judgment.
Behind the Words
The word translated “scarcely” is the Greek word molis. This is an adverb (it modifies the verb “is saved”) which means “with difficulty.” It carries with it the notion that it almost didn’t happen because of the difficulty.
The word translated “ungodly’” is the Greek word asebēs, which literally means “irreverent” and by extension means “ungodly.”
Meaning Explained
On the surface it may appear that today’s verse is simply a restatement of yesterday’s verse. On closer inspection, however, we can see that what Peter is talking about in today’s verse is slightly, but significantly, different. In the previous verse he referred to God’s day by day work in believers that accomplishes spiritual growth. In theological terms this is known as “progressive sanctification.” It refers to our progress in becoming more holy and more like Christ. In the current verse he calls us righteous, a reference to our legal standing in God’s book that is our “positional sanctification.” From God’s perspective, we are already sanctified (holy and set-apart) and righteous because Christ paid for our sins at the cross.
Today’s verse contains a conditional clause. As we have noted in previous verses, there are at least three (some say four) different conditional class forms in New Testament Greek. This one is the first class condition, which assumes that the protasis (the “if” clause) is true, and can be approximated by substituting “since” in place of “if.”
So, we could paraphrase this verse as: “And since the righteous one is barely saved because of the difficulty of it, where shall the one who is a sinner and is an ungodly disbeliever appear.”
Peter is talking about judgment here, so it is important to note that according to 2 Corinthians 5:10 believers will appear before the Bema (judgment) Seat of Christ where we will receive crowns as rewards for the works we have done for God. We will not appear at the Great White Throne judgment that is talked about in Revelation 20:11-15. This is where unbelievers will appear, and they will all be cast into the lake of fire.
So to answer Peter’s rhetorical question in today’s verse, “where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” the answer is “The Great White Throne Judgment.”
So, let’s all bear our suffering patiently and glorify God for it, remembering what Peter said in chapter two about Christ, our example,
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; (1Peter 2:23).
Application
Peter’s message in these last few verses is clear. We may very well suffer as Christians. If we do, we should glorify God for it because we are being judged daily in order to make us more Christ-like. The unbelievers, the ungodly, may not be getting judged on this earth like we are, but they will face a far more fearsome and horrific judgment after this life is over, when it is too late for them to make excuses.
In God’s service, for His glory,
Copyright © 2009 Will Krause. All rights reserved.
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