“For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.”
Romans 5:7
Why is this so?…
The world today is made up of three basic types of people: the good, the bad and the righteous. The good and the bad are both headed in the same direction though they appear on the surface to be different and choose to live in different ways. The righteous, however, are headed in a completely different direction.
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
Matthew 7:13+14
The two roads are the wide road (which leads to destruction) and the narrow road (which leads to life eternal).
Now to most people, it only makes sense that a bad person would end up in a bad place; however as unfortunate as it may seem, the good man will end up there as well, if he does not recognize his need for saving. The reason for this is because, no matter how good a person tries to live he still offends the greater good, even if just a few times. There is a consequence to everything we do and this all adds up. There is no amount of good deeds that will cancel out our bad deeds. We all have a sin nature and therefor are corrupt from birth. Thus there really is no difference between a good man and a bad man on God’s scales until the sin nature is dealt with and the bad deeds are cancelled. Thus the good man and the bad man walk the wide road together, granted the good man may walk more orderly than the bad but they are both on the same road none the less.
This brings us to the righteous man:
“And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness”
Genesis 15:5
“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”
Romans 4:3
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the friend of God.”
James 2:23
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:”
Romans 3:21+22
You see a righteous man is considered righteous in the same manner in which Abraham was considered righteous. Abraham believed God and he gained righteousness. When we believe Christ, then His faith becomes our righteousness. Notice, in verse 22 of Romans 3, By faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe… the key word is “by faith of Jesus”, and “them that believe”.
So, there really is no difference between a good man and a bad man in terms of eternal destination. In order to be saved you must find the narrow road and this is through the cross. There is no other way.
A Vessel Unto Honour 
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