I have the sense that when we stand before Him at “the judgment seat of Christ,” soon after the Rapture, our soul’s erroneous thoughts and words to explain our ‘works of the flesh’ will simply melt away being cleansed at His presence.īut, how will the “fire” of Christ’s “eyes” and “word of truth” “save” the Christian (1Cor 3:15)? Once again, it is important that we present more clarifications before we delve back into this verse. We need to note that “God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29, Deut. 23:29 says: “ Is not my ‘ word’ (truth) like as a fire ? saith the LORD…?” Christ’s “eyes” and His “word” which is “ truth” are as “fire.” In Revelation 19:12, we read of the Lord Jesus returning at His Second Coming: “ His (Christ’s) Eyes Were as A Flame of Fire…” (cf. Whenever we come across puzzling passages, we need to find other verses for further insight.

Here are two helpful verses that interpret this passage for us. 3:13-15? Religious tradition aside, we will let Scripture explain itself.

It is plain enough to see that which is “ burnt” is the “ work” … not the believer or his soul! So, if it’s not purgatory, then what is the “fire” of 1 Cor. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved yet so as by fire.” (1 Cor. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. “… if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble 13Every 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. Note the words “work” and “burned” here below. No! The Holy Writ says the persons “work” passes through the “fire.” Moreover, it is the “ work,” not the soul, that is consumed or burned. 3:13-15 that a person’s soul passes through a fire at all. While on the point of purgatory, there’s yet another misconception to be cleared up here. If the blood of Jesus Christ can’t cleanse a soul of sins, what could we as weak fallen souls possibly do in a fictitious ‘purgatory’ to accomplish what Christ failed to do on Calvary? The idea of Purgatory is a heresy of the first order. Either Jesus’ shed blood cleanses us of ALL sins… ( apart from our works) … or it’s not enough to cleanse us at all.

The fact is that the sacrifice of the shed blood of Jesus Christ is All-Sufficient, and nothing can be added to His cross-work, for one to gain salvation and every blessing of God.

Gold at judgment seat of christ