The Strand Study Bible

Written From Ephesus During Paul’s T hird Missionary Journey

I CORINTHIANS

1884

Any works that were done with a selfish motivation will perish in the fire just as wood, hay, and stubble are consumed. But those things that were done on earth with God’s glory in mind will live on. Like gold and silver, they cannot be burned. The key elements in testing these works will be their quality and the motivation behind them. 4

THE ADAGE IS TRUE: Its not what a man does that determines whether his work is sacred or secular; its why he does it 3:14 Note the words “ reward ” and “ suffer loss. ” It appears in Scripture that Christians will receive either and A ( reward ) or an F ( suffer loss ) at the JUDGMENT SEAT OF CHRIST . There appears to be no C’s given out in Heaven ( Mt 5:19a and II Cor 5:10- 11 ), and for good reason. God doesn’t grade on a curve because He’s already given us all the answers as to how to enjoy Heaven. 3:15 a Despite what some Christians might think, there will be suffering in Heaven, even if it’s but for a moment. It’s called regret . Some Christians will not only suffer the loss of rewards (Ezk 3:20, Jms 3:1 and Rev 3:11) and the loss of joy (since rewards are linked to joy - Mt 25:21,23 and II Tim 2:12), they will also suffer the possible loss of ruling and reigning with Jesus during the Millennium if they fail to: * finish the race they started the day they got saved (Lk 12:42-49, Rev 2:26 , Ezk 3:20 and II Tim 2:12 & 4:6-8) * use their God-given gifts ( Lk 19:11,17 and Mt 25:30 ) * have the right motive for why they did what they did for God ( I Sam 15: 1- 15 and I Cor 13:1-3) According to Revelation 21:4 , “tears of regret ” will not be wiped away until the end of the Millennium, when the Eternal State begins. Which means: Christians will have up to 1,000 years to weep and to suffer regret over not having served God when they could have ( II Cor 5:10-11 ). Erwin W. Lutzer in Your Eternal Reward notes:

It is not true, as some teach, that ten minutes after our personal confrontation with Christ our meeting will have little significance because all of us will essentially receive the same reward. What happens at the judgment seat can have permanent consequences. 5

Lutzer goes on to note:

Eventually, everyone will be happy in heaven because God will comfort us by wiping the tears from our eyes. Everyone will be a servant and enjoy the fellowship afforded to all who enter the presence of God through Christ. But we shall not all have the same privileges, for the way we live will have a ripple effect that will go on for an eternity. 5

3:15 b A Christian can suffer the loss of life (I Cor 5:5 & 11:28-30) and even future rewards and joy, but never the loss of salvation ( but he himself shall be saved ). The goodness of God, via the sacrifice of Jesus, assures us of that! Randy Alcorn in Heaven notes: Our works do not affect our salvation, but they do affect our reward. 6 J. Vernon McGee in Thru The Bible (I Cor. - Rev.) agrees. He notes:

You see the contrast: “If any man’s work abide” which he built on the foundation, he shall receive a reward; if any man’s work goes up in smoke, he will suffer a terrible loss, but he himself will be saved. He does not lose his salvation if he is on the foundation, which is trust in Christ, even though he receives no reward... Now if you are a carnal Christian, you cannot expect a reward because you have not been rightly related to God through the Word of God. The carnal Christian is the one who does not know the Word of God. You see, one can identify the three categories which Paul mentions by their relation to the Word of God. The natural man says it is foolishness. The spiritual man discerns the Word, and it gives him spiritual insight. The carnal Christian says, “Let’s have a banquet and not a Bible study.” Or he says, “Let’s listen to music rather than to the teaching of the Word of God.” That is the way you can identify the carnal Christian. 7

3:16a This term “ Know ye not ” is another way of saying, “Surely you know this!” Paul knew that the church at Corinth was a young church, immature and ignorant of spiritual things, but surely they understood the simple principles he was conveying (I Cor 5:6 & 6:2,3,9,15,16,19 & 9:13,24 and II Cor 13:5). 3:16b Paul reminds the Corinthian believers here that they are the Church ( ye are the temple of God ). We don’t go to church; we ARE the Church! Therefore, those who try and destroy the Church will be destroyed themselves (vs 17 and Mt 16: 13- 18e and Zech 1: 18- 21 ). 3:18 Human wisdom is worthless for spiritual purposes. Christians who place more emphasis upon human education and intellect than they do the Scriptures (Prov 2:6) “deceive themselves” (Eccl 12:12-13). Simply put, human wisdom is worthless for spiritual purposes.

1 Hanegraaff, Hank. The Bible Answer Book . Nashville, TN: Countryman. 2004. Print. 2 Capon, Robert Farrar. The Parables of Judgment , Grand Rapids, MI, Eerdmans Pub., 1989. Print. 3 Elwell, Walter A. Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. 1984. 2001. Print. 4 De Haan II, M.R. Understanding the Endtimes , Grand Rapids, MI, RBC Ministries, 2004. Print. 5 Lutzer, Erwin W. Your Eternal Reward , Chicago, ILL, Moody Press, 1998. Print. 6 Alcorn, Randy. Heaven , Carol Stream, Ill., Tyndale, 2004. Print. 7 McGee, J. Vernon. Thru the Bible (I Cor. –Rev.), Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson, 1983. Print.