The Day 02/09/2021

[Picture by LA khai-way on Unsplash.]

In the last Day Share entitled Building Materials we were looking at the metaphor Paul uses to describe activity in the church at Corinth. He made the point that we can be building with materials that will last and we considered that this must involve the Word of God and focusing on the same material as the foundation of the church - Jesus Christ. Paul compared this to the materials such as gold, silver and precious stones. Sadly, Paul also made a very sombre point that it is possible to build with materials which will not stand the test of time. We considered what sort of 'materials' was Paul thinking about.

What happens if we have spent a whole life building and all our efforts are completely futile? They do not survive the rigours of time. They are proved to be just like wood, hay and stubble which did not survive the fires which ravaged the city of Corinth. This may be because we have lost sight of Jesus and have substituted him for something which is frivolous or worthless. Or it may be that we have engaged in service only acting in a fleshly way - we have been more concerned about us and our reputation than really serving Christ.

Today we are going to focus on what happens to those whose work is proved to be worthless. Will this mean that we lose our salvation? Will this mean punishment for us? The answer to this is a definite "No." Paul says that the person's work will not survive but the servant will be saved - but only just. In the fire that ravaged the city of Corinth, there were some people whose homes and belongings were totally destroyed - but they survived. They had lost everything - but their lives were spared. This is a picture of the believer in Christ whose service has been done for all the wrong reasons or who has neglected the importance of promoting the cause of the Lord Jesus and has focussed instead on a poor substitute. The whole life has been a waste of time - but they have still been saved.

Firstly, I want to point to some Bible passages which teach us that we will not face judgement or condemnation because we are justified (declared righteous) in Christ.

These are the words of Jesus speaking about those who have believed on him.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. [John 5:24 NIV]

And now we are looking at what Paul teaches on this subject.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, [Romans 8:1 NIV]

In the same chapter Paul talks about those whom God has chosen - his elect and he says this

Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.

[Romans 8:33 NIV]

This tells us that our salvation does not depend on us. It is a work of God in our lives. God has justified us or declared us to be righteous in his sight and no one can bring a charge against us.

Secondly, we want to look at what Paul is teaching in chapter 3 of 1st Corinthians. Paul is speaking of us having to give an account for what we have done. This seems to contradict these other verses. In the first letter to the Corinthians, Paul talks about a future day when things will be brought to light. In chapter 3 of Corinthians Paul talks about this as the Day.

If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. [1 Corinthians 3: 12-15 NIV]

Notice some of the points Paul is making.

• There is a future day of revelation for believers when our service for Christ will be examined for motives and content.

• Some servants of Christ will receive reward for their service.

• Others will have nothing to show for all their efforts

• But even those whose life work is burned up, will still be saved.

• They will suffer loss - in the sense that they will not be rewarded and will have nothing to show for all their activity on earth.

What do we make of the fire mentioned here? The Roman Catholics use this verse to justify their teaching on purgatory. But this would seem to contradict the other passages we have referred to where there is no condemnation for the believer in Jesus and no accusation will be levelled against them. My view is that we need to be aware of the metaphor which Paul is using. He is comparing this to the recent history of Corinth when many residents had all their life's work destroyed but they survived - with nothing.

This passage would make us think about our service for the Lord. It is a solemn fact that we can be doing something that is commendable for all the wrong reasons. We might be trying to impress other people or to build up our own reputation. If this is true, all of this activity will be pointless and futile and we will suffer loss at the day of revelation when it will be shown that we have achieved nothing despite all the work we have done in the church.