Question:
What does Paul mean by saying of works being burned, but the man himself saved, “yet so as by fire”? How does the fire save the one that suffers loss?
Answer:
“According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 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. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:10–15).
Read the context of the scripture. First, Paul tells us that as a wise master builder, he had laid the foundation, which was Christ Jesus. The foundation was good, but caution was needed in building upon it. If any man built gold, silver, or costly stones on it, they would endure the fire. If any man built upon it wood, hay, and stubble, the building would be burned, for “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.”
That fire will be kindled by the transcendent glory of Christ when He shall come the second time. A multitude of scriptures teach this. Everything that is identified with sin will be burned. Everything identified with Christ will be preserved. One minister may do faithful work and build on the foundation of Christ Jesus characters likened to gold, silver, and precious stones. They will endure. The fires of the last day will not touch them. Like the three Hebrew children, they will pass through the fire untouched. But a minister may also gather souls that are worthless characters, unestablished, those who make a profession of religion but do not know its inward power to cleanse and transmute. Such are likened to wood, hay, and stubble, and being identified with sin when Christ comes will be burned.
Now “if any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” Not that the fire saves him, but he will be tested to the uttermost. The clause itself, “yet so as by fire,” may apply not simply to the man’s work that shall be burned but to the man’s work that shall be saved, for the great testing shall be by fire. Let the servant of God labor to the end of building on that Foundation material joined in life and character to Christ Jesus.
