Yes — careless believers are still saved, but they can lose their reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ.
Les Feldick teaches from 1 Corinthians 3 that every believer's work will be tested by fire. Wood, hay, and stubble represent works that count for nothing and will be burned up, so the believer suffers loss — not of salvation, but of reward. The person himself is still saved 'yet so as by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:15). Careless believers will be in glory, but with nothing to show for their service.
1 Corinthians 3:15 — This is the exact verse that answers the question: a believer whose work is burned is still saved, though he suffers loss.
1 Corinthians 3:13 — This verse explains the fire that tests every man's work — the basis for why some works are burned and some remain.
Paul uses the picture of a building to describe the quality of each believer's work. In 1 Corinthians 3:12 (KJV), the materials are named: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble. Verse 13 says that 'the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.' If a man's work remains, he receives a reward (v. 14). If a man's work is burned up, he 'shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire' (v. 15). Scripture does not say that such a person is lost; it says he is saved even though his work is consumed.
Les Feldick teaches that salvation and rewards must never be confused. The moment a person believes the Gospel, salvation is complete and that believer is placed in the Body of Christ and under the blood of Christ. Later, at the bema seat of Christ, the believer appears to receive rewards for what was done after salvation — not to give an account for sin, because those sins are already paid for. Les says the loss a careless believer suffers is 'not of his salvation, but of reward.' Such a believer is saved, but has nothing to show for it, and Les says 'that's going to be far, far too many believers.'
Les teaches that the moment a person believes, salvation is complete and the believer is placed in the Body of Christ. Later, at the bema seat of Christ, that believer appears to receive rewards for what he did after salvation. Paul says the believers are laborers, showing that they are to work. Les stresses that this is not an account for sin — sins are already paid for — but it is an account for what was done as believers.
Les says the loss is specifically loss of reward, not loss of salvation. A believer whose work was wood, hay, and stubble is saved 'as by fire' — he made it to glory, but has nothing to show. Scripture says plainly: 'If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.' Les adds there will be no envy in glory because no sin nature remains there.
Les firmly rejects the idea that carelessness can cost a believer salvation. He says the verses of Romans 8 'fly in the face' of those who think you must work to hang on. Salvation was complete the moment the person believed, and the believer was placed in the Body of Christ. The bema seat is not about sin or losing salvation; it is about rewards. Even the expectation that a believer should withdraw from the world is not the qualification for salvation — believing the Gospel is.
Les uses the 'three little pigs' picture: wood and straw are easy to build with; bricks take effort. In the same way, gold, silver, and precious stones are hard to come by and require enterprise, so many Christians just put sticks and straw in their section of the wall. Such materials are burned up and count for nothing. Work that abides, however, receives a reward, and Les encourages believers to work for God's glory because rewards are piling up and waiting ahead.
The Wall Building Analogy
Les compares a believer building a section of the wall to the three little pigs: gold, silver, and precious stones take effort, while sticks and straw are the easy, careless choice. This sets up why the fire will reveal the material each believer used.
Loss of Reward, Not Salvation
Les teaches the key answer: if a believer's work is burned, he suffers loss of reward, but 'he himself shall be saved' — he makes it to glory, but has nothing to show.
Saved but No Reward
Les repeats and strengthens this: a 'multitude of Christians' will meet the Lord with nothing but sticks, yet they are saved and will be there, though without reward.
No Envy in Glory
Les explains why there will be no envy in heaven: without a sin nature, believers won't be jealous of those who gained rewards; salvation was always based on faith.
Rewards Pile Up
Les says believers' works are either worthless wood/hay/stubble or lasting gold/silver/precious stones; rewards pile up and are waiting, so believers should serve for God's glory.
Belief Is the Qualification for Salvation
Les points out that God expects a believer to withdraw from the world, but this is not the qualification for salvation — believing the Gospel is. This supports the idea that careless living doesn't undo salvation.
Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love
Les confronts the view that believers must work to hang on to salvation; he shows that nothing can separate us from God's love, contradicting the fear that carelessness loses salvation.
The Bema Seat Is About Rewards
Les distinguishes the bema seat from a sin-judgment: sins are already paid for; believers appear only to give an account of their works and receive rewards.
1 Corinthians 3:12: Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Lists the six materials Paul uses to picture believers' works.
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.
Shows that all believers' works are evaluated by fire.
1 Corinthians 3:14: If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
Promises a reward for work that survives the test.
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.
The core verse showing a believer can lose reward but still be saved.
Yes. Les Feldick teaches from 1 Corinthians 3 that a believer whose works are burned suffers loss of reward, not loss of salvation. The person himself is still saved 'yet so as by fire' (1 Corinthians 3:15).
No. Les teaches that salvation was completed at the moment of belief, and the believer was placed in the Body of Christ. Service and works are for rewards, not for keeping salvation.
Salvation is a free gift received by faith in the Gospel; no works can earn it. Rewards are gained or lost based on a believer's work at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Wood, hay, and stubble are burned, while gold, silver, and precious stones receive reward.
It means the believer barely makes it — saved but with nothing to show. He is in glory, but has lost all reward because his works were wood, hay, and stubble.
Watch the Teaching: Will Your Works Burn? The Judgment Seat of Christ