What rewards and losses will there be (1 Corinthians 3:14-15)?
1 Corinthians 3:14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 1 Corinthians 3:15 says, "If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire".
Anonymous
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Mark Vestal
Supporter
The eternal reward(s) we will receive or lose at the Judgement Seat of Christ (not to be confused with the White Throne Judgement) are not specifically revealed, but will be based on the accuracy of our sharing of the gospel of God's grace during our ministry of God's reconciliation with humanity. It is all about having faith alone in Christ alone for our salvation. Christ was the perfection that we are incapable of being. His shed blood alone was the final payment for all of our sins. We are justified unto eternal life through having faith in Him for us (His death, burial, and resurrection) - (1 Cor 15:1-4). 2 Cor 5:18-19 "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." Regardless of how well we perform our ministry to others, our salvation is eternally secure through our faith in Him, His Life, His blood, and His resurrection because of His love for us all. 1 Cor 3:14-15 "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."
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
1 Corinthians 3:14-15 compares valuable materials like gold, silver, and jewels to good works that please the Lord. Ordinary materials like wood, hay, and straw are compared to work without long-term value. But see the context, 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, where we find that the "reward" is that if a believer's work (their life lived for Christ) withstands the final judgment, it will be recognized and rewarded by God; the "loss" is that if their work is not built on a strong foundation, it will be "burned up," and they will suffer loss, though they themselves will still be saved, but only "as through fire." A parallel passage is 2 Timothy 4:8, which adds a new dimension: a reward for works that survive the fire and receiving a crown of righteousness for loving Christ's appearing. Again, the loss mentioned in 1 Corinthians 3 is suffering loss for works that are burned up (i.e., no long-term value). I long for Christ's appearing, and therefore I can expect the crown of righteousness. So can you if you long for His appearing. Do you right now long for the appearance of the Lord, the righteous Judge?
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