Bible Studies

---

No one wants to think of oneself, or to be labeled by others, as being a “loser.” But sad to say, this will be the 1Cor. 3: 15 outcome for many born-again believers of the Church Age.

‭“If anyone’s (Church Age Believer’s) work (record of deeds) is burned up, he will suffer loss (of reward); but he himself will be saved…(1Corinthians‬ ‭3: 15‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬) parentheses mine.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ This teaching came from Paul in his letter to (and about) the born again believers in ancient Corinth. As in the case of other epistles, this letter was written to address spiritual issues taking place WITHIN the CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY at that time, and for the edification and direction of future generations of the Church Age to come.

In order to become a loser, one must have lost or will lose something. What is lost at the 1Cor. 3: 12-15 event, is a partial, or in some cases, the full REWARD that the same born again believer could have, and would have, otherwise received and enjoyed in eternity future (1) 2John 1: 8).

First, allow me to make it clear that the loss spoken of in 1Cor. 3: 15 has got nothing to do with losing one’s salvation (2), citizenship (3), or place (4), in Heaven. ALL born again believers are “in Christ,” and are therefore eternally secure (5). All born again believers will enjoy the undiminished general amenities of Heaven.

Here on Earth, advancing disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ do not serve Him in order to be recognized by Man or rewarded by God. For the advancing disciple, it is a privilege to serve the One who gave up so much to save him or her (6), and would serve Him if there were no additional rewards at all.

In fact, for some believers, there will be little (if any) tangible rewards this side of Heaven (7).

For every disciple, there will be persecution (8). The more active an advancing disciple becomes in the realm of spiritual combat, the more intense and frequent the satanic counterattacks will become.

Never the less, God has made it clear that He intends to reward and privilege born again believers who identify and execute the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship (9).

The post salvation spiritual life of discipleship involves the daily intake, and the moment to moment application, of the Word of God to all that one thinks, says, and does, placing God and the things of God, at the top of our list of priorities. Such a lifestyle goes way beyond simply attending (or otherwise connecting with) a worship service for one hour out of the 168 hours that each one of us is given each week.

Discipleship BEGINS with the edification and spiritual growth of oneself, but with the long-term objective of participating in the Great Commission (10).

Discipleship calls for identifying and developing the specific spiritual gift (11) and accompanying ministry (service) that God has in mind for each one of us.
. . .

To the surprise of many, our sin, evil, and bad deeds will not be brought up when the 1Cor. 3: 12-15 event takes place. Such things were already addressed. If the sin issue had not already been resolved, that individual would not be in attendance, let alone be rewarded.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, HAS eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of (spiritual) death into (eternal) life (John 8: 24 NASB2020 parentheses mine).”

The purpose of the 1Cor. 3: 12-15 event is to reveal who, among all the born again believers of the Church Age, are going to be rewarded for their discipleship. All Christians are born again believers, but not all born again believers enter into discipleship, or remain there.

‭‭”And others are the ones sown with seed among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. And those are the ones sown with seed on the good soil; and they hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, and a hundred times as much (Mark 4: 18-20 NASB2020).”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

It is the advancing disciples, whose GOOD deeds GLORIFIED God here on Earth, that are rewarded and privileged in Heaven. These rewards and privileges are in addition to the general amenities of Heaven that all born again believers will enjoy.

Many people do all kinds of good deeds for many different reasons, but leave God, and the glory that He deserves, out of the picture. Some go as far as attributing His glory to some thing, or someone, else.

“I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another (person or thing), Nor My praise to idols (Isa. 42: 8 NASB2020 parenthesis mine).”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

----------

(1) 2John 1: 8 (2) Romans 8: 1 (3) Phil. 3:20 (4) John 14: 2 (5) Romans 8: 1 (6) Phil. 2: 6-8 (7) Heb. 11: 36-40 (8) 2Tim. 3: 12 (9) 1Cor. 3: 14 /Rev. 2: 2-Rev. 3: 21 (10) Matt. 28: 19, 20 (11) 1Cor. 12: 11

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE