What is the difference between bearing fruit in John 15:6 and works burned up in 1 Corinthians 3:15?

Chuck Smith, Answers for Today, chapter 11: In John’s Gospel, Jesus was talking about the necessity of abiding in Him. If you don’t abide in Him, you cannot be saved, and you cannot bear fruit. Such people who don’t bear fruit will be gathered and burned, because they’re not saved. The passage in 1 Corinthians talks about the works I do as a child of God with the wrong motivation. I may be motivated with the desire to glorify myself or receive praise from men. Such works performed by a Christian will be burned up, though he will be saved, even as by fire. Scripture, King James Version: John 15:6, "If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned."; 1 Corinthians 3:15, "If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.". From Chuck Smith's books, used by permission of The Word For Today.

Verified. Every scripture quotation on this page has been checked word-for-word against the King James text. Last reviewed 2026-10-16.

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