Now the unwieldy mass has been split into groups. But quite a few have decided that the trial was already worse than the sentence could be, and have paid their fine, in order to be relieved of further annoyance. Few of the Lord's servants are sufficiently illuminated to forestall the flames. Indeed, the most enlightened would refuse to claim infallibility, and insist that their earlier groping among the fogs of orthodoxies made it impossible for them to build with fire-resistant materials, no matter how clear their conscience may be as to the present. And, indeed, it is not wise to be overly concerned as to the past, but attend to the present, that we do not continue to build for the fire in the future.
Fire is the finest purifier.
Let us be clear that it will not be a lake of fire for the saints. Yet even if we were cast into fire at the dais, that would not harm us. Being immortal, with spiritual bodies, we would not feel it and it would not affect us. However, the figure of fire is not used of the saints , but of their work as servants of Christ in building up the saints. Paul and Apollos were teachers .