1 Cor 3 is easy to interpret. Paul does it for us. Some minister IAW God’s will, building up the church effectively. Some do not. God’s judgment will reveal which is which. Those who build well, following God’s will, are going to see a reward. Those who were Christians, but who succumbed to the temptation to build up their numbers by preaching what men WANT to hear, will find out they did nothing worthwhile to advance the kingdom of God. They will still be saved as individuals, but they enter heaven without any of the reward they were expecting.
And many pastors of small churches who labored in poverty will be rewarded, and many mega-church ‘worship leaders’ will enter heaven with a new humility.
The lesson is clear: “each man must be careful how he builds”. And for those of us who are not pastors, the lesson is also clear - many will build what looks impressive to man while doing nothing to advance the Kingdom of Heaven. We should seek pastors who labor the way God wants, relying on His power and preaching His word rather than tickling ears.
No one reading this passage with unbiased ears will conclude men are only partially cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, and need to suffer additional punishments to be able to enter heaven. That statement is utter heresy, contradicting the entire Bible. GOD has chosen who he will save - “whosoever believes”. And GOD has chosen what a man must do - “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved..”. Or, in the words of Jesus Christ Himself when asked “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”:
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
Those who repent and believe will be changed, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” (Romans 8). But there is no getting around it, thank God! It is GOD’S POWER, not ours - and God has not failed!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” - Col 2
“having forgiven us all our trespasses...nailing it to the cross.”
In the words of a hymn:
In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine
Such a wonderful beauty I see
For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died
To pardon and sanctify me.
So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down,
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it someday for a crown.
I am Catholic. I don't "interpret". That is what Protestant charlatans do. You just did. You turn the focus from purgation by burning to admonition to build carefully. Read and believe all the the Holy Scripture, not only the few parts that agree with your Protestant fantasies, and you will find plenty of friends to read the scripture with.
will conclude men are only partially cleansed by the blood of the Lamb?
Enough already with this canard.