Loss of Salvation of the Soul (Part 2)

What is the loss that is referred to in
1 Corinthians 3:14-15?:

  

¹⁴If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. ¹⁵If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

Let's start by looking at the rewards that are gained by those whose works survive the fire:^1,2

• Crown of life — for the faithful martyrs of the tribulation period (Revelation 2:10)

• Crown of glory — for church leaders who feed the flock of God with the Word of God (1 Peter 5:2-4)

• Crown of rejoicing or the soul winner’s crown — for those who will rejoice when the Lord returns because they have led others to Jesus (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20)

• Crown of righteousness — for those who love His appearing
  (2 Timothy 4:8)

• Incorruptible crown or the victor’s crown — for those who do not yield to lusts of the flesh or worldly amusements (1 Corinthians 9:25-27)

I think that the believers who earn these rewards receive salvation of the soul and are the “overcomers”  Scripture refers to.  This “overcoming” is our final victory over the battle that often wages between our spirit and our soul.  Those who do not receive salvation of the soul still have the gift of eternal life, but they will not gain any rewards.²  Many churches steadfastly believe that all Christians are overcomers, but I don't see where Scripture supports that.

Overcomers and the bride of Christ

The marriage of the Lamb occurs after the judgment seat of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9).  I think those overcomers whose works survive the fiery test, and receive salvation of their soul, will be the bride of Christ that returns with Christ Jesus to rule and reign with Him during the millennial kingdom.  Adam is a type for Christ, and Adam’s bride was taken from his body, which supports the idea that the bride of Christ will also be taken from the body of Christ (the church at large).

The book of the Revelation tells us what overcomers will gain:

• Revelation 2:11: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

• Revelation 2:17: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

• Revelation 2:26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

• Revelation 3:5: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

• Revelation 3:12: Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

• Revelation 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

• Revelation 21:7: He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

I think this inheritance that the Lord speaks of is the same thing He wanted at the beginning of the ages, which was for Adam and his bride to have dominion over the earth.  Due to Satan’s cunning, man was disqualified from this, but we have the hope of achieving this inheritance when Christ Jesus returns and establishes His millennial kingdom. 

Romans 8:17: Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Satan did not want man to rule over the earth at the beginning of the ages, and he does not want man to rule and reign with Christ during the 1,000-year period of the millennial kingdom.  He will do everything he can to prevent this!

Because Satan is doing such a good job of distracting believers from their true purpose, I think he will keep many believers from being overcomers, and they will not be able to rule and reign with Christ in His millennial kingdom (Revelation 20:1-6).  Some authors I have read feel that these believers will be able to see the kingdom, but not be able to enter it, but that’s a discussion for another time.

Reference:

1.  Larkin C.  Dispensational Truth, or God’s Plan and Purpose in the Ages.  Originally published in 1918.  
2.  Harman JT. The Kingdom.  Prophecy Countdown Publications.  Maitland FL, 2009.