saved, yet so as through fire and the temple of God (emphasis and underlines of scripture are mine)

 

1 Corinthians 3:11-17 11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. 16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

1 Corinthians 3:11-15 speaks of testing, purification, rewards and loss of rewards. The purification is for believers. All these verses are speaking to believers as are verses 16 and 17. In verse 17, what happens to unbelievers is told. Only an unbeliever can be destroyed. Only an unbeliever destroys his God given opportunity for salvation in Jesus Christ, and thus himself (his soul).

Jesus is the foundation of believers, and those are the ones who go through the fire (or purification). Notice in verse 12, Paul writes, “Now if any man builds on the foundation…” Only a believer can build on the foundation which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So, when a believer’s works are burned up, he is still saved. This is someone who has done little in his life at this time but he is still a believer and therefore saved. Now, don’t get the idea that you can live like the devil because you are saved. If you want to live like that you should be concerned and repent. You have no idea what this fire is like for someone who has sinned greatly!!

In verses 16 and 17, Paul continues to then speak about how believers are the temple of God and then about the end of the wicked. In verse 17, Paul is still speaking to believers (notice the last part of that verse, ...and that is what you are) but about a person who totally rejected Christ. He is not saying that a believer can destroy the temple because that’s impossible. He is speaking to believers about an unbeliever. An unbeliever destroys the temple (his soul:  Mark 8:36) by rejecting the Life (Jesus Christ).

I believe this is shown in James 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death (King James). Without your sins being placed on Christ, death comes forth when sin is finished. So, ones sins effectively destroy the temple of God in him: the person’s soul. Then, when the person dies God destroys him. He sends him to hell. He is destroyed because he never believed on the Lord. He rejected Christ and Christ’s atonement for sin (His death on the cross in our place). Without Christ you will bear the full burden for your sins and your sins will destroy your soul, and bring death forth from you. How horrible an end to a life some people choose, when all they had to do was to repent and believe on Jesus Christ. Don’t let that person be you!!!!!! You cannot protect yourself from this death. Only Jesus can protect you (Romans 10:13).

I do not think the unbeliever even enters the fire in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, because I think it’s for believers only (but if he does, he is immediately destroyed, vs. 17). However he is destroyed, he is destroyed because he rejected Christ. Come to Jesus now, while you still hear His voice, before your heart is so hardened that you cannot hear Him.

 

As you can now see, verse 17 is not speaking about someone who commits suicide. It is only speaking about someone who totally rejected Christ, so his sin overcomes him. When sin is finished it bring forth death. It is speaking about destroying what God gave all people to trust Christ and have Life. It is about losing your soul. Don’t let that happen.

 

No one has to perish. All can repent and believe. But, if someone has lost his soul, it’s too late. If this worries you, you have not lost your soul. Repent and believe. You do not know the day or the hour: there is an evil day (Ephesians 6:13-17).

Remember and believe this! Romans 10:13 for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED."

 

Now, as Paul is writing to a body of believers, verses 16 and 17 are also speaking to a body. The “you” is also a body of believers (the man who destroys would still be someone who rejected Christ). This would be someone in a local Church, unsaved and fixing to tear it apart (but God won’t let that happen). This person’s end (if he continues in his unbelief) is to be destroyed. He is still the person who rejects Christ, as above. He is still the person who has lost his soul, or will lose it unless he repents and believes.

Come to Jesus!, Come to Jesus!