1Corinthians 3:15 – to forfeit

If anyone’s work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus as through fire.

This still concerns the type of education with which the ecclesia is being built. If that is with “gold, silver and precious stones”, then that will remain standing after the fire of GOD’s judgement. However, if there are constructions built with wood, grass and straw, the fire will make short work of it. What is the point if all seems a lot before the fire, when nothing remains after the fire. It is better to have a little left after the fire, than a lot before.

The fate of the believer is not the issue here. His salvation has been secured. The issue is the value of the construction materials used on “GOD’s building”, the ecclesia. That will come to light on “that day” (3:13). Then we might have done our very best. Or made use of the ideas of clever scholars. But it will not last. Then we are saved ourselves, but we see the value of the existence we look back on, go up in smoke. That is what is called “to forfeit”. Only that which is lasting, counts!

Delen: