And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved…
Summary: Paul offers us a challenging thought. Righteousness is not an easy path, it is hard road. For the Christian, this offers us an opportunity to think about what it means to be saved.
Peter’s theme at this point in his letter is suffering. Not suffering for being cruel or lazy but unjust suffering because we serve Jesus. Suddenly, he quotes these words:
“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”
Where is this quote from and what does it mean?
The answer to both questions is that we can’t be sure. Like so many passages in Scripture, this one makes us think.
Some people think Peter was referring to Proverbs 11:31,
“If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!”
Others lean towards Luke 23:31,
“For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Still, others see a link to Jeremiah 25:29,
“See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares the Lord Almighty.”
What was Peter thinking? Can we know for certain?
Since Peter is no longer on earth but in heaven, we are not able to ask him. So the answer is no, we cannot know for certain. However, if the purpose of the passage is to make us think, we can do that.
Why is it hard for the righteous to be saved? If we define “righteous” as doing what is right in God’s eyes, a person would have to be totally focused on God all the time to be considered righteous. Only one man ever accomplished that feat, a man named Jesus.
Is there another kind of righteousness that we could use for a definition? Yes, there is. In Jesus’ day and before, there was a set of laws referred to as “Mosaic Laws,” which purported to define righteous behavior. If you could comply with all these laws all the time, you would be considered righteous. Not righteous in the sense of pleasing God, but righteous before the law.
And that was the problem. To be righteous before the law was a measure of one’s actions. It was not a measure of their heart’s intent. Compared to God’s heart, our hearts tend not to measure up too well.
So who is “righteous” in the age of Jesus? Isn’t it the one who depends on Jesus for righteousness? (1 Peter 3:18) If this is the kind of righteous that Peter is thinking of, why does he say it is “hard?” Isn’t it hard because we take part in the sufferings of Christ? (1 Peter 4:12-16)
Putting all of this together:
We know that we cannot get to heaven on our own righteousness. (Romans 3:23) So that kind of righteousness is not only hard to follow but impossible.
We know that we cannot get to heaven by righteousness under the law. Keeping the law perfectly is so hard that it is impossible.
The only way to rejoin God in heaven, as we were originally intended to be, is through the righteousness of Jesus. What he did was very hard indeed.
We also know that even though we rely on the righteousness of Christ, we still suffer in the flesh because we are bound to the “body of death” as Paul describes it. (Romans 7:24)
So it seems that salvation is hard work, even for the righteous. Even though Jesus has paid the price for our sins.
Application: Spend a little time today thanking Jesus for his work on the cross.
Food for Thought: Do you think faith in Jesus is easy or hard? Why?
Extremely hard for some who haven’t grown up knowing Jesus. Living in sin for so long thinking that it is ok, habits, way of life. Being able to just care about yourself and being self centered. Not knowing, seeing, feeling, hearing straight to believing is something most can’t do. It is not easy for some to be a servant. So many things people don’t want to stop doing. So many temptations. Some things just seem too impossible.
Tim,
Knowing you personally, I am deeply touched by your words today. One man cannot know what is in another man’s heart, but your words and actions speak volumes. As far as the impossible goes, my mind wanders back to Jesus talking with the father of a boy who is ill. The father asks “if” anything can be done. Jesus responds with, “Everything is possible for one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
Then there is the story of the rich young ruler. A man who is surrounded by comfort and ease. Jesus points him to the hard road and he leaves disheartened. Realizing what this means for anyone who owns anything in this life Jesus’ disciples ask him, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” (Luke 18:26-27)
Finally, there is the verse that is one of my personal favorites. Paul writes, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
God is working in your life and all things are possible for God. Ergo, you are in good hands.
Thank you Jeff. I also have to remind myself that my timing isnt that great but his timing has purpose.
I made the foolish mistake in thinking that once I became a Christian, faith would be easier, more natural, but that was obviously incorrect. It’s easy to have faith in Jesus when everything is going well. When you feel near to Him and all is right in the world. It’s difficult maintaining that steadfast faith in the midst of the trials and tribulations, when He seems distant or it seems as though the trials keep coming and you can’t catch a break, and our world tells us, it’s every man for himself so take care of yourself above others.
I’ve shared in the past that when I first became a Christian, I thought going to church was enough. I didn’t realize or understand the necessity of being in the Word. As I’ve learned to read the bible, it has given me comfort and provided me with reminders (verses) that others suffered and He is close to the brokenhearted. His yolk is easy. Cast my burdens to Him. Trust in the Lord with all my heart. You get the picture.
I remember the first time I heard a pastor comment that Jesus suffered the ultimate hardship (dying for sinners) and His Father lost His only Son on the Cross so that we might have eternal life. If Jesus suffered, why should I think I’m any different or more special and expect not to have difficulties or sufferings? Jesus was prone to suffering and so are we. Through growth and maturity, I have come to learn that faith, though sometimes difficult to have, becomes deeper and my relationship with Him grows more during the difficult times.
Darla,
Thank you for sharing with us today. Your words are inspirational.
I am reminded of the passage in Luke where Jesus is talking about the pending destruction of the temple and the coming struggles in this life. He explains that believers will be seized, persecuted, put in prison, betrayed, and even put to death. Sounds horrible, doesn’t it?
And then he says something remarkable. Something that is only obvious if one understands the dual nature of our existence; that we are both flesh and spirit. He says,
“But not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18) I love the assurance I find in that passage. I hope it encourages you, too.
Placing our faith and trust in Jesus is simple, but it is not easy. Giving up control and not trusting in our own power, manipulation, strength or works is simple, but it is not easy.
Five year old Mary can understand the basics of the gospel and receive salvation. It is that simple. But it is not easy. In fact, it might be easier for five year old Mary than forty five year old Mary.
Proverbs 3: 5 – 6 is a popular verse and simple. It seems at times almost impossible to do. Thus, we rely on the Lord for even the ability to exercise faith.
Rich,
What a great passage!
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.“
Great stuff you guy’s and gal.
Do you think faith in Jesus is easy or hard? Why?
Faith is a free gift from God to all those who will accept His gift.
God has made His gift available to the world through His Son Jesus Christ, and makes the world aware of sin, righteousness and judgement, “Our need for salvation” through His Holy Spirit.
We exist in a physical world ruled by Satan, spiritually asleep and God wants us to wake up. This is where it gets hard, our sinful human nature does not surrender easily, and God is persistent.
In my case I had one uncle who was a Christian, I just thought he was really weird. God brought a Pastor in contact with a bunch of us street kids, had us over to his house for dinner, took us to his church, but we were sold out to rebellion.
As time passed God kept working, I had encounters with christian girlfriends, fellow Marines in the Corps, and coworkers at various companies. They all talked about Jesus and offered me books to read, I listened and threw the books away.
My life went deeper and deeper into sin, into a world filled with many distractions and loud music, drugs which would drown out the convicting truths of the Holy Spirit.
One afternoon I came home to our bachelor pad from work to find it completely empty and for the first time, quiet. God had called a meeting, possibly my final opportunity to accept His gift. The Holy Spirit opened my heart for me to see what I was doing as well as where I was going and it was the most frightening experience of my life. He calmed me down and set me on a path that led to my studying and accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
I have been set free from the power of all sin and empowered by The Holy Spirit to walk in God through obedience to His word. This has not always been easy but God has never abandoned me to my old life. Instead He has always picked me up and pointed me to the way back to the narrow path of obedience.
So in my life, the hard part has been the result of me getting in the way of our God cleaning me up and using me to minister to others on this earth. I had to learn to keep out of His way, allow Him to do His work. I live in peace today, I have my moments, not perfect yet, but I have peace with God and my purpose is clear. Stay in His word, Keep my eyes on Him, He will mold me as He knows is best.
Matthew 16:15-17, John 3:16, John 16:8, Ephesians 2:8-9
Ron,
Your story is a great reminder that our Lord does not give up on us. The part of the story where God ‘calls you to a meeting’ is powerful. I also appreciate your summation and noting the importance of staying in the Word and keeping our eyes on Him.
Faith is the evidence of things unseen,..I have never seen Christ physically,..He lives in my heart,..faith with out work is dead,..we all have to work out our own salvation,..it is constant for sure,..just as He tells us to be ceaseless in our prayers and praise. I often pray with my eyes wide open,..
Faith in Christ to me is what we make it,..it can be an easy faith because you know God has got your back in everything or you can put up a wall of rejection to the truth,..the beautiful thing here is that we all have a choice to make it easy or hard to have faith in Christ,..
After reading and studying the letters from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John,..my faith has grown in depth, width and it is pressed down, shaken and overflowing. Jesus has been there, is there and will never leave, I have strengthened my faith in that He is here with me where ever I go,..it took time for this to happen but happened it has. The work of God is that we might believe in the One He sent,..there is only one name that came to save under heaven given to us,..
So kinda like the saying life is what we make it,..faith is what we make it,..make is easy,..believe in the One God sent to save us from our bad sinful selves.
John,
You are a gifted encourager. Thank you for sharing your thoughts this evening. “Faith is what we make it.” Your words make a great quote! You remind me of an old saying I heard when I was a kid. “Push hard and it goes easy.” Kind of the same thing. 🙂