What Happens When Christians Stand Before Jesus? 1 Corinthians 3 Explained
Les Feldick Bible Study
bible study
July 3, 2026
B26L10
📖 What will happen when every believer stands before Jesus Christ to have their life's work tested by fire? In this verse-by-verse study of 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, discover why your salvation is secure — but your eternal reward is not automatic. Paul reveals that Jesus Christ is the only foundation, and every Christian builds on that foundation using one of six materials: gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or stubble. The fire of Christ's eyes will test it all.
This study begins with Paul's declaration that no other foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ — a direct challenge to cults and religions that claim later revelations. Les then takes you to Luke 18:31-34 to prove that Jesus and the twelve disciples could not have preached the gospel of death, burial, and resurrection before it happened. The disciples scattered at the crucifixion and hid on resurrection morning — they didn't even understand it. Paul, not Jesus, was the founder of Christianity as we know it, building on the finished work of the cross.
From there, the teaching moves into the building analogy of 1 Corinthians 3:12-13, where believers are compared to builders constructing a wall on Christ's foundation. The six building materials are explained in detail — gold, silver, and precious stones require hard work and effort to obtain, while wood, hay, and stubble are everywhere and represent lazy Christianity. Using 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, the Olympic race analogy shows that believers are to run to win — not for salvation, but for an incorruptible crown of reward. The concept of being "temperate in all things" is unpacked with practical examples from parenting, business, and daily Christian living.
🔑 Key Topics Covered:
What is the foundation Paul laid in 1 Corinthians 3:11?
Why Jesus and the twelve disciples did not preach the gospel of the cross
Luke 18:31-34 explained — the disciples' blindness to Christ's death
Gold, silver, precious stones vs. wood, hay, stubble — what they really mean
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 — running the race for an incorruptible crown
What does it mean to be "temperate in all things" as a Christian?
Abraham and rewards — Genesis 15:7-8 and the promise of inheritance
The Bema Seat judgment — 2 Corinthians 5:8-10 explained
Will Christians with wood, hay, and stubble still be saved? (1 Corinthians 3:15)
This verse-by-verse Bible study covers 1 Corinthians 3:11-15, the judgment seat of Christ, the Bema Seat explained, Christian rewards and inheritance, gold silver precious stones meaning, wood hay stubble Bible study, Paul the founder of Christianity, Luke 18:31-34 the disciples didn't understand the cross, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 running the race, 2 Corinthians 5:10 judgment seat of Christ, Genesis 15 Abraham's reward, and the difference between salvation by grace and working for eternal reward.
Les Feldick Bible Study brings you verse-by-verse Bible teaching that makes the scriptures come alive.
📖 Visit our website: www.lesfeldickbiblestudy.com
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00:00 — Introduction: Welcome to an Informal Bible Study Without Denominational Labels
00:36 — 1 Corinthians 3:11 — No Other Foundation Can Be Laid Except Jesus Christ
03:16 — Why Cults and False Religions Cannot Add to the Finished Work of the Cross
04:47 — Paul the Founder of Christianity — Not Jesus, and Why That Matters
05:40 — Luke 18:31-34 — Proof the Disciples Did Not Understand Christ's Death and Resurrection
07:12 — The Disciples Scattered at the Cross and Hid on Resurrection Morning
08:03 — The Gospel of Death, Burial, and Resurrection — Why the Twelve Couldn't Preach It
08:56 — 1 Corinthians 3:12 — The Building Process: Six Materials for Every Believer
10:00 — Gold, Silver, and Precious Stones Require Hard Work — Wood, Hay, and Stubble Are Everywhere
11:23 — 1 Corinthians 3:13 — Every Man's Work Shall Be Made Manifest by Fire
11:56 — Salvation Is Free, But Rewards Must Be Earned — The Graphic Difference
12:51 — 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 — Running the Race to Win an Incorruptible Crown
14:31 — What It Means to Be "Temperate in All Things" — Balance in the Christian Life
16:33 — The Corruptible Crown vs. the Incorruptible Crown — Eternity Changes Everything
18:17 — Genesis 15:7-8 — Abraham's Reward and the Promise of Inheriting the Land
19:56 — The Parable of the Talents — Rewards as Levels of Responsibility in Christ's Kingdom
20:49 — 2 Corinthians 5:8-10 — The Bema Seat Judgment Explained
22:31 — The Bema Seat Is Not About Salvation — It Determines Your Eternal Reward
23:47 — Dallas Cowboy Quarterback Analogy — Why You Want to Be in the Game, Not the Stands
24:43 — 1 Corinthians 3:13 Revisited — Our Works Put in the Spotlight Before Christ's Fiery Eyes
26:20 — The Fiery Eyes of Jesus from Revelation — Testing Every Man's Work
27:12 — 1 Corinthians 3:14-15 — Reward for Gold, Silver, Precious Stones — Saved Yet Suffering Loss
Scripture
1 Corinthians1 Corinthians 31 Corinthians 3:111 Corinthians 3:11-15LukeLuke 18:31Luke 18:31-341 Corinthians 3:121 Corinthians 3:12-131 Corinthians 91 Corinthians 9:241 Corinthians 9:24-27GenesisGenesis 15:7Genesis 15:7-82 Corinthians2 Corinthians 5:82 Corinthians 5:8-101 Corinthians 3:152 Corinthians 5:101 Corinthians 3:131 Corinthians 3:141 Corinthians 3:14-15
Topics
1 corinthians 3:11-15 explained1 corinthians 3 bible studyjudgment seat of christbema seat judgmentchristian rewards in heaven2 corinthians 5:10 explainedrunning the race 1 corinthians 9:24-27paul founder of christianityluke 18:31-34 explainedsalvation by grace not works












