PART 9

We will continue considering misunderstood passages that some people use in an attempt to prove that we cannot lose our salvation. Let’s look at a quote I found on a website titled “Once Save Always Saved”… as well as I’ve heard some others use the passages this site refers to in an attempt to support this false doctrine. Here is how it reads…

"What about the 'backslider' or somebody that forsakes the Lord? The Bible says he will suffer loss (rewards, etc.) — but he himself shall be saved!" Then the writer quotes 1 Corinthians 3:11-15 as the scriptural proof for his statement. However, if we keep verses 11-15 in context with what Paul wrote earlier in the chapter we can clearly understand what Paul is teaching. Let’s look at a few of those passages…

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 Brothers, I couldn't talk to you as spiritual people but as worldly people, as mere infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, because you weren't ready for it. Why, you're still not ready for it!

Paul begins by addressing Christian brothers, explaining that when he had visited them previously he could not talk to them as mature Christians because they could not understand what he was saying. We learn later in his letter, chapter 16:8-9,16, that since his visit he had received information back from some other Christian brothers that caused him concern, which was the purpose for sending this letter to them. From these first few verses we learn they were still not ready. The first fact that we can establish is that these are brothers who Paul converted when he was in Corinth and there are still problems with the brothers in Corinth. Now let's look at more of the letter…

1 Corinthians 3:7-11 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is significant, but God, who keeps everything growing, is the one who matters. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and each will receive a reward for his own work. For we are God's co-workers. You are God's farmland and God's building. As an expert builder using the grace that God gave me, I laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each person must be careful how he builds on it. After all, no one can lay any other foundation than the one that is already laid, and that is Jesus Christ.

Paul explains in this part of his letter that it is not the one who does the planting or watering that matters, but instead it is God. The one who plants and the one who waters have the same goal, and will receive a reward for their work. Paul wrote that he was an expert builder and he laid the foundation while someone else is building on it. However, each person must be careful how he builds on the foundation, because the foundation that is laid is Jesus Christ. We build on the foundation of Christ. In summary, we can understand that Paul is explaining that he laid the foundation of Christ with these Corinthian brothers and those teaching must be careful of how they build on the foundation he laid. In the same way we may share the Word of God and His plan of salvation through Jesus Christ with others. While building on this foundation we must be careful that we build it strong... while teaching these others, we must be careful to teach the truth, because we are building up Christ's body, the church. The second fact we can establish is those who were suppose to be helping build others up in Corinth were not doing a very good job. Now let's look at the rest of the passage that the writer of the web site takes out of context…

1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Whether a person builds on this foundation with gold, silver, expensive stones, wood, hay, or straw, the workmanship of each person will become evident, for the day will show what it is, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If his work is burned up, he will suffer loss. However, he himself will be saved, but it will be like going through fire.

Paul explains what happens with both persons based on what the foundation was built with. Paul is using the analogy of building up the church... if the material used is precious and imperishable, such as gold and silver, then all is good. The gold and silver are paralleled to the doctrines of Christ and men molded into the image of Christ. On the other hand... if the materials are wood, hay, and straw... paralleled to erroneous doctrines and unstable men, then the building will be weak. Paul explains that the workmanship will be evident when the day comes that it will be tested to see if it can hold up. He uses the analogy of fire to show how it will be tested. The next verse is crucial to understanding what Paul is explaining. He wrote, "If what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward." This means that if we have used good doctrines, the truth, and teach our Christian brothers properly, and they survive the test, WE will receive a reward. Once we plant the seed (share the gospel), we must water it, (help it grow). If we build up this person with gold, silver, and precious stones, the person will turn out strong and mature in Christ. This person will survive the test of fire and the builder will receive a reward. However, if we do a poor job and use wood, hay, and straw... the fire burns it up. If the person we are teaching does not make it, then he will be lost, and therefore we suffer a loss. Then Paul wrote, "However, he himself will be saved". Paul is not claiming that the person we were building up will be saved… that person is the loss we suffer. Paul is declaring that we will be saved. This is how we can understand verse 15... if what a person has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. BUT, just because our work burns up in the fire and does not survive, and we suffer a loss, does not mean that WE will be lost as well... WE will still be saved... but it will be like going through fire.

Now... finally we establish the ultimate fact... this passage does not teach us that the backslider (or the person who has forsaken the Lord), will be saved. It clearly teaches us that the person who is teaching the backslider will be saved (provided he/she remains faithful and perseveres), even though the teacher suffered the loss of the backslider.

__________________
In Christ,
brother Sonnie

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'