A believer whose works are not valuable will suffer the loss of reward, but he himself will still be saved.
According to 1 Corinthians 3, the fire at the judgment seat of Christ will reveal what sort of work each believer has built. Wood, hay, and stubble will be burned up, and such a believer will suffer loss — not loss of salvation, but loss of reward. Les Feldick emphasizes that the person is saved, yet has nothing to show for the testing of his work.
1 Corinthians 3:15 — This is the exact verse that answers what happens when a believer's work is burned: he suffers loss but is still saved.
1 Corinthians 3:13 — Explains that every man's work is tested by fire to reveal what sort it is.
The apostle Paul describes the testing of every believer's work in 1 Corinthians 3. Paul writes: "Every 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." The outcome depends on what remains after the fire. Paul says: "If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." This plainly separates the work from the person: the work may be burned, but the person himself is saved.
Les Feldick draws a mental picture of a wall, with each believer given a section and six building materials to use: gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble. He says the gold, silver, and precious stones are hard to come by; a believer must work to obtain them. Wood, hay, and stubble count for nothing and will go up in a puff of smoke under the fiery eyes of Christ at the judgment seat. When a believer's work is burned, he suffers loss — not of salvation, but of reward. He himself shall be saved, yet so as by fire. Les says this will be far too many believers: they will be in glory, but they will have nothing to show for it and will receive no reward. He also notes that because there is no sin nature in glory, believers without rewards will not envy those who have them.
Les uses these materials symbolically. Gold, silver, and precious stones are hard to get; a believer has to go out and grub for gold and dig for silver. Wood, hay, and stubble are worthless materials that require no effort. When the fiery eyes of Christ test a believer's work, only gold, silver, and precious stone survive the fire — in fact, Les says the fire enhances them. Wood, hay, and stubble disappear like a puff of smoke.
Yes. Scripture says "he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." Les explains that such a believer has made it to glory, but he has nothing to show for it. He is saved and will be in glory, but he receives no reward. The loss is not loss of salvation, but loss of reward.
Les says no. In glory there is no sin, no sin nature, no Satan to deal with, so there will be no envy or jealousy among believers who have gained reward and those who have none. Those with no reward will still be in glory, and their salvation is not based on the quality of their works but on their faith.
Building With the Right Materials
Les describes the believer's allotted section of the wall and the six building materials, showing that gold, silver, and precious stones are harder to obtain — setting up why some works are worthless.
Loss of Reward, Not Salvation
Les teaches that when a believer's work is wood, hay, and stubble, he suffers loss of reward, but he himself is saved, yet so as by fire; many believers will fit this description.
Plain English: Saved With Nothing to Show
Les says it is plain English that a multitude of Christians will meet the Lord with nothing but wood, hay, and stubble; they are saved but receive no reward.
No Envy in Glory
Les clarifies that in glory there is no sin nature or Satan, so believers without rewards will not envy those who have them; salvation is based on faith.
Every Work Tested by Fire
Les emphasizes that no believer escapes the fiery eyes of Christ; the fire tests every work, and wood, hay, and stubble mean no reward.
Serving Now for Reward Later
Les teaches that believers should work and serve to God's glory because rewards are piling up and waiting at the judgment seat.
The Fiery Eyes of Christ
Les pictures the Lord's eyes looking through a believer's life; wood, hay, and stubble go up in a puff of smoke, leaving only gold, silver, and precious stone.
Fire Reveals What Survives
Les explains that fire manifests and tests our works; wood, hay, and stubble leave nothing, while gold, silver, and precious stone survive and are enhanced.
1 Corinthians 3:13: Every 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.
This begins the testing process that determines whether a believer's work is valuable or worthless.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Shows that lasting work — gold, silver, and precious stones — results in a reward.
1 Corinthians 3:15: If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Directly answers the question: worthless works mean loss of reward, but the person is still saved.
His work will be burned at the judgment seat of Christ; he will suffer loss of reward, but he himself will be saved. Les Feldick says such a believer is saved and will be in glory, but has nothing to show for the testing.
Les explains it means the believer made it into glory but has nothing to show for it — no reward. It does not mean he barely escaped hell; it means his works did not survive the fire.
Les teaches there will be no sin, no sin nature, no Satan in glory, so there will be no envy or jealousy between believers who have rewards and those who don't.
Watch the Teaching: Will Your Works Burn? The Judgment Seat of Christ