Bible Questions Answered:
In 1 Corinthians 3:15 clearly we see that one who falls short of perfection in this life, is saved by fire in the next. Why is not this proof of purgatory known?
Selena/ Pelotas, Brazil South America
Bible Answer:
Possibly because, in no way, is it ever taught in the Word of God.
Bible Text:
I Corinthians 3:4-15 NLT
4 When one of you says, “I am a follower of Paul,” and another says, “I follow Apollos,” aren’t you acting just like people of the world?
5 After all, who is Apollos? Who is Paul? We are only God’s servants through whom you believed the Good News. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us.
6 I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.
7 It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.
8 The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work.
9 For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.
10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward.
15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
As you and I read these verses, we realize that the Apostle is speaking about “builders.”
In verse 10, Apostle Paul, calls himself a builder, that is, he has been busy, building up the Kingdom of God on earth. As a Christian, he plants the seed, the word of God, another (in this case Apollos), comes along and waters that seed, helps it to grow and mature in the hearts of Christian believers.
Apostle Paul also says in verse 10, that others besides himself (other builders, other followers of Christ) are building up the kingdom of God, but how careful they must be, he states, that they build upon the one, and only one true foundation, which is Jesus Christ the Lord (verse 11).
Is there any rational being that would dare to think that the beloved Apostle, would ever dare to call a practicing sinner, a builder in God's kingdom?
Now, knowing this, who are we talking about then in verse 15?
Apostle Paul is talking about “workers of the kingdom", Christians who are doing the call of God in their lives, building up God's church.
And by the way, all Christians, are called to be workers in Gods kingdom!
Mark 13:32-37 KJV
32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
34 For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the Master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cock crowing, or in the morning:
36 Lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping.
37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
John 6:28,29 KJV
28 Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.
John 9:4 KJV (Christ)
I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
I Corinthians 15:58 KJV
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
II Corinthians 9:8 KJV
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Colossians 1:10-14 KJV
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
II Timothy 4:5 KJV
But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Hebrews 6:9-11 KJV
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.
10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
I Peter 1:15-19 KJV
15 But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Revelation 22:10-15 KJV
10 And He saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
14 Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
I Corinthians 3:11-13 KJV
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.
12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw.
13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value.
Whenever a Christian solely resorts to reliance upon human talents, human wisdom, and human resources, and does not seek the blessing and anointing of God, his works become so much wood for the fire.
Clearly the words of the Apostle teach us one thing, certainly “not,” all the works of Christians, have or do meet the test of being spiritually valuable, in God's sight!
Now concerning the subject of purgatory see the following blog posting Purgatory
And for the subject of Second-Chance-Salvation see Second Chance Salvation
