In First Corinthians 3:10-15, Paul
writes: "Now if anyone is building on this foundation (Christ) gold and silver,
precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day
will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing
each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on
it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he
shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire."
The apostle is not speaking of salvation here, for the foundation is
already laid: Christ. As this section concerns teachers and their teaching (Paul is
speaking of himself and Apollos), I take this building to be teaching and doctrine, not
conduct.
I believe that the gold, silver and precious stones correspond with the
three great themes of Romans: Gold: the sovereignty of God (Rom. 8:31-9:29), Silver: the
conciliation of the world (Rom. 5:1-8:30), precious stones: justification (Rom.
3:21-4:25).
Those who continue to embrace and teach the man-made doctrines that man
has a will stronger than God's, that man can ultimately refuse the blood of Christ, that
God is not the Savior of all mankind, that the love of God fails, that Satan will
have an eternal kingdom, that grace is contingent upon human belief, that Christ does not
take away the sin of the world, that sin is eternal, that death is eternal, that evil is
eternal, that Adam is stronger than Christ, that Adam lost more humans than Christ gained,
will be presenting to God a building of wood, grass and straw, and will endure loss at the
bema of Christ. They will be saved, 
but their building (teaching) will be consumed and
they will forfeit a wage. All these teachings are wood, grass and straw, and will
not abide the fire.
Won't you put aside man-made creeds and look into Scripture? You will
be glad that you did.
