THE FIRE OF JUDGMENT THAT WILL TRY THE BELIEVER’S WORKS.

by

1 Corinthians 3:11-23 (NKJV) 11  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12  Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13  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. 14  If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15  If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16  Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17  If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18  Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; 20  and again, “The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” 21  Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22  whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come–all are yours. 23  And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.

  • This second fire is the fire of judgment, testing our works at the judgment seat of Christ.
  • Now you notice the judgment here is not the judgment regarding our salvation.
  • These are saved people whose works are burnt up.
  • All the work we do for Christ is to be put to the test, is to be put to the severest kind of test, the fire test;

There is a great deal the Church of Christ is doing professedly for Christ, and a great deal individual Christians are doing, that will never stand the fire test. You may be saved, but you will lose your reward. You will be saved so as by fire. A great deal of work that is good, but that is done not to God’s glory but for personal ambition. Anything that is done not that God may be glorified in the salvation of sinners, but that the doer may be applauded.

The Test of Fire

Do you think that will stand the fire test?

2 Corinthians 13:5 (NKJV)  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you are disqualified.

In the Jules Verne novel The Mysterious Island, the author tells the story about five men who escape from a prison by hijacking a hot air balloon. As the balloon rises into the air, the wind blows it toward the ocean. As the hours pass, the surface of the ocean draws closer and closer. Soon the men realize that if they don’t get rid of some of the weight, they won’t make it to land.

So all the nonessentials like shoes, overcoats, and weapons are thrown overboard. The balloon rises slightly, but only temporarily, and soon they’re once again close to the ocean surface. So this time they toss over their food. They figure, “Better to be in the air and hungry than drown with a full stomach.” But that solution is only temporary as well, and soon they’re once again sinking perilously close to the ocean.

Then one the escapees gets an idea: They can tie the ropes that hold the passenger car and sit on these ropes. That way they can cut away the basket beneath them. As they sever the very thing they’re standing on, it drops into the ocean, and once again the balloon rises. Not a minute too soon they spot land, and they land on the island.

When I read that story, it occurred to me that the escapees’ balloon voyage is a powerful word picture about the need to get our priorities right.

  • So long as we’re safe and secure, the things we surround ourselves with seem important and essential.
  • But when life seems to be sinking toward catastrophe, those things we thought we couldn’t live without seem trivial.

Hebrews 9:27 (NKJV)  And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,

Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.

Matthew 16:27 (NKJV)  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.

Our Lord Jesus makes it clear that there are degrees of reward in heaven based on what they did here on earth:

Romans 2:5-6 (NKJV) 5  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6  who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

James 2:17 (NKJV)  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Romans 14:23 (NKJV)  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

  • Even good work, work done for a good purpose, but done in our own strength and not done in the power of the Holy Ghost, will not stand the fire test.
  • Even if it is a sermon preached to glorify God, but preached with the enticing words of man’s wisdom and not in demonstration of the spirit and power of God, will never stand the fire test!
  • Our work is to be tried regarding its character, regarding its motive, regarding its power in which it is done. It is indeed a matter of motives
  • Will your work stand the fire?

The Nature of the Believer’s Reward

1. He Shall Receive a Crown – The Scriptures speak of a number of crowns:

  1. The Crown of Life (James 1:12; Rev. 2:10, compare context which speaks of death);
    1. James 1:12 (NKJV)  Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
    2. Revelation 2:10 (NKJV)  Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
  2. of Glory (1 Pet. 5:4; cf. John 17:22; Heb. 2:9);
    1. 1 Peter 5:4 (NKJV)  and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
    2. John 17:22 (NKJV)  And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:
    3. Hebrews 2:9 (NKJV)  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.
  3. of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8), the full realization of the imputed and inwrought righteousness of Christ;
    1. 2 Timothy 4:8 (NKJV)  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
  4. of Rejoicing (1 Thess. 2:19), at the sight of converts that have been won by one’s ministry for Christ;
    1. 1 Thessalonians 2:19 (NKJV)  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
  5. of Gold (Rev. 4:4); Incorruptible (1 Cor. 9:25), as compared with the perishable crowns of the Greek games; Thy crown (Rev. 3:11), that which is laid up for you, and which should not be lost by unfaithfulness; the summing up of all the previous expressions—all are characteristic of “thy” crown.
    1. Revelation 4:4 (NKJV)  Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
    2. 1 Corinthians 9:25 (NKJV)  And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

2. The Seven “Overcomers” in Revelation (Chapter. 2, 3.)

  1. 2:7—”Eat of the Tree of Life, Which is in the Midst of the Paradise of God.”
  2. 2:11—”Shall Not be Hurt of the Second Death.”
  3. 2:17—He shall Receive a “Stone with a New Name Written” Thereon; To the Believer also will be Given to Eat of the “Hidden Manna.”
  4. 2:26, 27—Authority Over the Nations
  5. 3:4, 5—He Shall Be “Arrayed in White Garments,” and His Name Shall in No Wise be Blotted Out of the Book of Life
  6. 3:12—The Believer Will Be a Pillar in the Temple of God; He Shall Go Out No More; God Will Write Upon Him His Own New Name
  7. 3:21, R. V.—”I Will Give to Him to Sit Down With Me in My Throne.”

Leave a Comment