By: Robert Serreyn
Question? I know I am saved and that I cannot lose my salvation but I have truly never have fully understood the phrase “Yet So by Fire” in 1 Corinthians 3:15 can or would you help with this thank-you?
1 Corinthians 3:15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Answer:
The word FIRE represents God’s Judgement and his Word, God JUDGES EVERYTHING by His WRITTEN Word by what we know it as The Bible, or the Word of God.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books (Book of Works & the Word of God = The Bible) were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Scripture often times calls God’s Word A SWORD and in this case of 1 Corinthians 3:15 it is also called Fire BECAUSE everything is compared to it and all Judgement is based upon it.
1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
To provide a mental picture to what I mean, here are a few verses to show this…
Isaiah 66:16 For by fire (Judgement) and by his sword (his Word/ the Bible) will the LORD plead (Execute Judgement) with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
NOTE: The word PLEAD is the Hebrew word SHAPHAT and it means EXECUTE JUDGEMENT not to Beg, Request, Appeal to, or Implore as our English definition defines it.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
The Bible is the ONLY STANDARD & AUHORITY in which God USES to base ALL his Judgements with.
Psalms 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
In Conclusion:
The Word of God IS A FIRE in which ALL WILL be judged by and depending upon which Judgement Seat a person WILL BE standing at WILL DETERMINE whether it be…
“Gain or Loss of Rewards” at the Judgement Seat of Christ – (for the saved only).
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
1 Corinthians 3:11-15 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.
OR
Receive the degree or intensity of punishment in the Lake of Fire at the Great White Throne Judgement – (for the Lost / Unsaved only).
Revelation 20:11-15 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. (12) And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (13) And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged (received their degree or intensity of punishment) every man according to their works. (14) And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. (15) And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The MOST IMPORTANT thing to know IS Jesus Christ as savior, just simply believe that Jesus Christ went to the cross and DIED and shed his blood, was BURIED and three days later RESURRECTED from the dead to pay for your sins.
The moment that you do YOU HAVE (at that second and forever) Everlasting Life which WILL NEVER be taken away no matter what.
-Christ DIED for you – Romans 5:8
-Christ PAID your sins in full – 2 Corinthians 5:21,1 Peter 2:24
-BELIEVE (Trust In Completely) in Christ ALONE as the complete payment of sin for salvation – John 3:16, Acts 16:31, Ephesians 2:8,9
“For the wages(payment) of sin is death (eternal torment in hell); but the GIFT(salvation) of God is eternal life THROUGH Jesus Christ our Lord”. Romans 6:23
IT IS THAT SIMPLE – THE GOSPEL TRUTH