1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble, 13 Then everyone’s work will be clearly seen, for the day will expose it because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test every one’s work, what quality it is. 14 If anyone’s work, which he has built on [the foundation], remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work will be burned down, he will suffer loss, yet he will be saved but as if through fire.
V12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble…
The Lord Jesus began the church and is the standard for everything concerning the church. Builders are evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. It also applies to each and every believer for service; bearing fruit to glorify God. Our faithfulness, loyalty, and obedience will be judged. Not only our actions and words be examined but also our motives.
Proverbs 20:27 NLT – The LORD’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
V13 …Then everyone’s work will be clearly seen, for the day will expose it because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test every one’s work, what quality it is.
What God wants is faithfulness to His worldview, lifestyle, rules, and doctrine. Fire refers to judgment, testing, and examination. It is not the fire of punishment or carrying out of justice. The day is the Bema Seat Judgment. The Lord Jesus is the Judge. It is a judgment for service, not salvation.
Bible crowns are given by Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat judgment, which is for rewards, not salvation. See Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3:10–4:5, and 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
The Five Crowns
- The Crown of Victory: Like Paul, we run the race even to our death and use self-discipline to continue living the Christian faith regardless of life’s challenges—1 Corinthians 9:24-27.
- The Crown of Rejoicing: sharing the Gospel—1 Thessalonians 2:19.
- The Crown of Life: persevering through afflictions, torture, difficulties, mockery, hate, and abuse—James 1:12 and Revelation 2:10.
- The Crown of Righteousness: for those who eagerly wait, long for, love, and pray for the Rapture and the coming of the Lord—2 Timothy 4:8.
- The Crown of Glory: for those in ministry, whether great or little, persevering and not deserting in difficult times and circumstances—1 Peter 5:1-4.
The Lord is the Lord Jesus who judges us for rewards at the Bema Seat judgment. The Lord is righteous. Paul will receive crowns, too, and so all those who love Christ’s return.
These crowns are for our life service to God and our desiring and obeying God’s ways and rules. They are not works for salvation and sanctification. We will lay these crowns at Jesus’s feet because of His mercy and grace, not works for salvation—Revelation 4:10.
V14 If anyone’s work, which he has built on [the foundation], remains, he will receive a reward.
The standard for all truth for the church (believers) is the New Testament. If our life examination with its fruit and service is pleasing to God, we will get a crown. If not, then loss. Loss does not mean purgatory (it doesn’t even exist) or hell.
V15 If anyone’s work will be burned down, he will suffer loss, yet he will be saved but as if through fire.
Loss would be no rewards or few rewards. Nevertheless, this type of believer is saved and will spend eternity in heaven serving Jesus. This should be a motivation for faithful service, growing in the faith, and living the truth.
We learn:
- The importance of serving Jesus.
- The testing of our thoughts and life.
Questions:
- Are you serving Jesus?
- Are you faithful to the plain, normal sense of Scripture?