Who was the Apostle referring to when in 1 Cor 3:13-15 he states:

“Each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it (the one true foundation) endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

Who was the Apostle referring to here when he spoke of some whose work (growth in the graces, character, and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ) would be burned up in the Day of the Lord, and that they would suffer loss, but nevertheless be saved as through fire?

Generally when we think about this particular text we imagine that those who are building with the proper materials, gold, silver, precious stones and etc. represent the true Church or followers of Lord, and those who are building with improper materials, viz. wood, hay, and straw represent the false Church or nominal followers of the Lord, both professing to believe in the same general faith or foundation, Christ Jesus our Lord as the savior of all men, but each building upon this faith with different materials, the nominal church with human traditions and errors, i.e., the precepts and teachings of men, and the true Church with the Word of God, the truth as revealed through the Holy Spirit.

Understand it is not merely the acquisition of knowledge whether true or false which is represented here by the materials being used, but likewise and more importantly they represent the acquisition of the graces of the spirit, with the goal of developing a character likeness to our Lord.

The before mentioned is what many generally entertain when reading these passages, however a closer examination of the context both large and small will reveal that the Apostle was not addressing all professors in general, but specifically “those sanctified in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:2) the saints, the anointed class. This is likewise further confirmed by his statement, that the brethren with whom he was addressing were not yet able to digest “solid food” that they were but “babes IN CHRIST” (1 Cor 3:1, 2).

“If any man be IN CHRIST, he is a New Creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” (2 Cor 5:17)

Likewise, we have the Apostles statement when addressing these brethren, “You (both individually and collectively) are God’s building“; the habitation of God through the spirit, you are the temple of God; though now it is but a tabernacle in the flesh. (1 Cor 3:9, 16; Eph 2:22) R1982:2

So, then it is confirmed the Apostle when speaking of some whose work would be burned up in the Day of the Lord (in the Great Time of Trouble soon approaching) was addressing specifically the consecrated brethren, those begotten of the Holy Spirit, New Creatures in Christ Jesus.

So where and in what way did these go wrong and what does it mean that their work would be burned up and that they would suffer loss, but nevertheless be saved as through fire?

Since we are admonished to grow BOTH in the graces AND in the knowledge (the truth) of our Lord Jesus Christ it would seem that this is essence where some have gone wrong, where some have come up short. What we are attempting to build within ourselves is a Christ like character, to develop the fruits of the spirit within ourselves. However, if we are attempting to build this structure out of the unstable materials, viz. errors, falsehoods, and the traditions of the past it is only natural that we should wind up developing a correspondingly unstable character.

Now personally I believed as do many brethren that there are two classes of the Great Company to be found here at the end of the age (two “armies”, “camps” or “companies” Sol 6:13), those found within Babylon and those without, the majority unfortunately within. Now the smaller group is composed of those who are acquainted with present truth, this primarily due to their close proximity and association with the true Church, the “little flock”.

These however are nevertheless “unripen wheat”, in spiritual growth mere “youths” not yet fully grown, fully developed, not yet “full of age” (Heb 5:14) mature Christians. Such are believed to be typified by Elisha who accompanied Elijah on his journeys and who ultimately will witness his departure when he (that is those with whom he represents, the feet members of the body of Christ) are taken up in the whirlwind, the Great Storm (2 Kings 2:11, 12).

Now although many of these “youths” possess knowledge of the truth what they lack is sufficient growth in the fruits of the spirit, and a character likeness similar to that of our Lord. The other group of Great Company the larger portion are mere “babes in Christ”, and although some may even appear character wise far in advance of their brethren found without Babylon what they lack is what all who reside within Babylon lack, the truth, no one can properly grow in the graces of the spirit without a corresponding growth in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the truth.

Remember it is the truth in God’s Word which sanctifies, which sets us apart, which makes us holy, not the mere words themselves, errors can never do this. Holiness is measured by one’s nearness to God. The nearer man approaches the divine presence, the divine likeness the greater the degree of holiness he will obtain, for “without holiness (purity–separation) no man shall see the Lord.”

So now then both of these classes come up short of what is required, both fell to obtain the proper character likeness of our Lord and so what they imagined to have built upon the sure foundation (the materials used) whether of character or knowledge is burned away. However, it should be noted in so far as knowledge is concern it is error which is to be burned away not truth, truth is eternal so to whatever degree they may be in possession of truth it will be retained.

But this is not the only way in which these have gone wrong, they have not only felled in their character development and in the knowledge of the truth but note the Lord’s further rebuke of such,

“And the Levites who went far from me, when Israel went astray, who strayed away from me after their idols, they shall bear their iniquity.” (Ezek 44:10)

They have neglected their covenant and felled to sacrifice chasing after idols of their own, viz. the cares and allurements of this life, and so in turn they shall suffer great lost when they come to realize they have missed out on (i.e., been disqualified from) the prize for which they were called, the divine nature, immortality, joint heirship with their Lord and Master and membership in the Temple of God. Nevertheless, the Lord in his great mercy purposes to save some of these so as by fire, that is he “purposes to pass them through a ‘great tribulation’ and to accept as ‘conquerors’ those who will stand the tests of that time of trouble loyally.” R4274:1

We will continue with this in our next post.