What happens to a believer whose works are burned at the judgment?
When a believer’s works are burned, he suffers loss of reward, not loss of salvation. He himself shall be saved, yet with no reward. Salvation is based on faith; works determine reward. Such a believer will still be in glory, where there is no sin, envy, or jealousy over rewards.
Les teaches that if a believer’s work is burned, that one suffers loss—not of salvation, but of reward. He will have no reward, and there will be many like that, yet they will be in glory. In glory there is no sin, no sin nature, and no Satan to deal with, so there will be no envy or jealousy of those who gained reward from those who have none. The book says they suffer loss of reward, but the person himself shall be saved. Salvation was based on faith. Works result in reward, and that is what should drive the believer to live a fruitful life, because a reward is laid up waiting and will be enjoyed for all eternity. Compared to eternity, 70 or 80 years in this life is nothing. The whole concept of Scripture is: accept salvation by faith, then as that salvation becomes reality with God’s leading and the Holy Spirit indwelling, we work, serve, and have reward waiting. Paul often uses the analogy of Olympic athletes, who trained and strove to win because of a wreath.