Who are the ones that will get in heaven by the skin of their teeth?

1Peter 4:18
What type of Christian is this?

Our passage in question reads:

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:16-19)

We have the beginnings of persecutions against Christians in view along with an encouragement for believers coupled with a warning for the rebellious. Depending on the actual timing of the writings, we had the Imperial Cult, non-believing Jewish persecutions through the birkat ha minim and other measures and a general hatred of believers. These persecutions may be viewed as discipline from the Lord. Judgment begins at God's house. (See Ezekiel 9:5, 6) If the believers are subject to all the terrible goings on at the hands of persecutors, what will be the finality of those that obey not the Gospel? The question is not drawing attention to the difficulty for God to save a sinner, but to cause a sinner and saint to realize by contrast what's going to happen to the wicked. Where will the sinner and ungodly appear? We have this awesome answer in the Revelation 20:11, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

1Co 3:8-15
(8) Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
(9) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
(10) According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
(11) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(12) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
(13) Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
(14) If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
(15) If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Though not the scripture you were referring to, this passage applies to the topic very well I think. There are those who are born again, but whose lives are, to a large degree, self governed and whose works are works of the flesh. These men and women do a lot of good things o0f their own devising for God, but may not do God's things. I hope to have many crowns to lay at His feet, but I must be aware that crowns of my own making will be as wood, hay, and stubble, even though they may bear some good fruit for the kingdom of God. However the works done out of obedience to His prompting and done in His power and anointing will be gold, silver, and precious stones.

twayneb wrote:
I hope to have many crowns to lay at His feet, but I must be aware that crowns of my own making will be as wood, hay, and stubble, even though they may bear some good fruit for the kingdom of God.

Have you heard the sermon? I would love to hear it again. I don't know if there is a real furnace room but the wood, hay and stubble has to be burnt up somewhere!!

God bless you,
Lisa