The Hard Scriptures – To Whom Do They Apply?
by Frank Worthen
We find in Scripture many references to hell and the lost. We see confusing Scriptures that seem to suggest that even though we have accepted Christ, we may still be in danger of losing our precious salvation. Theologians have had many conflicts over which Scriptures are written to Christians and which are written to the unsaved. As we look at others, we cannot know if they are saved or lost, only God knows the heart and we can only be concerned with our own lives. Those who are obedient to the Lord have little concern about their salvation, it is an assured fact. Those however, who are rebellious and disobedient have much to gain or lose on the interpretation of certain Scriptures. To them, eternal security is a prime issue. Only eternity will reveal who has correctly interpreted the Scriptures. Here, we will look at a few that often bring discomfort and distress.
AS APPLIED TO THE LOST: Paul, speaking to the Thessalonians affirms their unflinching endurance and firm faith “in the midst of all the persecutions and crushing distresses and afflictions” (2 Th. 1:4) Paul goes on to say that those lost people who are bringing the troubles will “suffer the punishment of everlasting ruin and eternal banishment from the presence of the Lord” (v.9). “(They) who did not believe-who refused to adhere to the Truth, but took pleasure in unrighteousness” (2 Th. 2:12). Paul gives us lists of those who will not inherit the kingdom of God. In Galatians chapter 5, Paul mentions, among other things, immorality, impurity and indecency. He goes on to say: “…those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions…and desires” (v.24). There is a clear distinction between the Christian and the lost person. While Scripture does say that vengeance belongs to the Lord, Christ didn’t come to condemn the lost, but to save them. God is not willing that any should perish and He stands ready to receive all who will repent.
AS APPLIED TO THE CHURCH: In Revelation, Christ speaks to the seven churches. Some have not lived up to His expectations and He says: “Repent! …or else I will remove your lampstand.” Most of us just skip over this part because we have no idea what a “lampstand” signifies. The lampstand is the thing that gives light. Christ is the light of the world. To remove that light is to be cast into darkness, to have all relationship with Christ severed and, rather than have our eyes opened and to have knowledge of God, our minds become darkened and removed from God. The church then becomes “Ichabod”—the Spirit of the Lord has departed.
AS APPLIED TO THOSE WHO EQUATE BEING “GOOD” WITH BEING CHRISTIAN: There are many people who have never repented of their sins and confessed with their mouth that Jesus is their Lord, yet consider themselves Christian because they are “good” people. Although the Pharisees did not treat Jesus well, they were considered the “good” people of their day. They diligently searched the Scriptures and talked about the things of God. Yet, Jesus said: “Unless your righteousness is more than that of the …Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” As Jesus told Nicodemus, “You must be born again.” To be “born again” means to surrender your life to Christ; to place Him in first priority. If we could get to heaven through our own works, we would have no need of Christ. Faith and good works go together, but faith is all important and the works should flow out of our faith.
“Whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (John 3:18).
AS APPLIED TO THOSE WHO ARE SAVED: “Nothing that defiles or profanes or is unwashed shall ever enter it, (heaven, God’s new Jerusalem) nor anyone who commits abominations…”(Rev 21:27). We know that even though we have made a commitment to Christ, we are not perfect and it is very likely that we are at times “unwashed and defiled,” taking “pleasure in unrighteousness.” Paul has long lists of those who will not inherit the kingdom of heaven and homosexuality is mentioned twice in those lists.
What are we to think? Does our sin disqualify us even though we call Christ our Lord? Paul in Ephesians 1:4 says that we are to be “blameless in His sight, even above reproach.” John tells us that even though we say we know Him, if we “fail to keep and obey His commandments, (we are) a liar and the truth is not in (us).” John continues saying: “No one who habitually sins has either seen or known Him” (1 John 3:6). These are hard and difficult words to read and very confusing to the Christian who struggles with besetting sins. The same Jesus who says “enter into my rest,” also says “throw the good-for-nothing servant into the outer darkness (where) there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” (Matt. 25:30)
THERE HAS TO BE AN ANSWER! We know that God lovingly receives the prodigal son back into relationship with Him. God is compassionate and full of mercy. What is it that keeps us from being disqualified and returns us to a right relationship with God? It is the first word Jesus spoke in His public ministry. That word is Repentance. Jesus said: “Unless you repent you can never enter the kingdom of heaven.” It is repentance that keeps us “blameless”. But it is not repentance of the lips, but repentance of the heart. Jesus said: “(They) draw near Me with their mouth and honor Me with their lips, but their heart holds off and is far away from Me” (Matt. 15:8). True repentance means a change of mind, heart and actions. It has been defined as “sorrow that initiates action.” David sinned greatly, but David returned to a right relationship with God. In Psalms 51 he says: “My sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart.” He was in touch with true repentance. John the Baptist after baptizing the Jews said: “Bear fruits deserving and consistent with your repentance.” (Luke 3:8)
“For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief is deadly….” (2 Cor. 7:10 Amp.).
What is worldly grief? It is a sorrow that we got caught, that we have been humiliated, that our pride has been wounded. It is concerned with self and self-image. Godly sorrow is an awareness that we have grieved the Holy Spirit of God, that we have rebelled against God and have pushed Him out of our lives. In order to sin, we must turn our backs on God and shut Him out. It is through repentance that we can repair our relationship with God. The prodigal son repented. He considered his circumstances and decided that returning to his father was a smart thing to do. The rewards all lay within his father’s house, just as all our rewards lie in heaven.
What if you have repented over and over and nothing seems to change? First, this does not mean that you should not repent. It may mean that your repentance is insincere, or it may mean that you need outside help in changing your heart and your behavior. The second thing is that Scripture tells us to confess before men our faults and shortcomings. Have you done this? What this really means is accountability. When we are accountable to others, we find a power to resist temptation that we did not know before.
SO THEN TO WHOM DO THE HARD SCRIPTURES APPLY? : They apply to those who are unrepentant, those that take pride and pleasure in wickedness. “For there are many who walk and live as enemies of Christ. They are doomed and their fate is eternal misery, their god is…their sensuality and they glory in their shame” (Philippians 3:18,19).
“To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure…their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him” (Titus 1:15,16).
Even though controversy continues on whether we are eternally saved regardless of what we do, one thing can be sure. As long as we come before God in brokenness and repentance, we will remain clean before God. He forgives those who are truly repentant and remembers their sin no more. We have a gracious God!
Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and in irons, because they rebelled against the words of God…Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. (Ps. 107:10-13)