God punishes and disciplines

September 16, 2020

Devotions, Blog

God doesn't punish Christians. True. God disciplines Christians. Also true.

How can both of those statements be true?

God does not punish

Consider this: God doesn't punishment Christians because he no longer has a reason to punish Christians. There is nothing for which God should condemn us because he has thoroughly punished Jesus in our place. Isn’t that what the Scriptures say?

There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1:).
Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.… For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly… God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:1,6,8).

God disciplines

But God does discipline Christians. Discipline is different than punishment. Punishment's purpose is to bring justice by exacting a penalty for wrongdoing. Jesus has endured our punishment – all of it. Discipline, however, is prompted by God’s love. It’s intended to train us to live up to the eternally-blessed status Jesus has won for us.

The writer to the Hebrews explains, "Endure suffering as discipline. God is dealing with you as sons.… God disciplines us for our good, so that we may have a share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant when it is happening, but painful, yet later it yields a peaceful harvest of righteousness for those who have been trained by it" (12:7,10-11).

David, forgiven for adultery and murder, suffered the consequence of his sins through the death of his infant son. The Apostle Peter felt discipline when he took his eyes off Jesus and ended up neck deep in the Sea of Galilee. The Christian who smokes may end up with cancer. The Christian who speeds may receive a ticket and higher insurance rates.

But in none of those cases is God punishing. He is calling to repentance; he is teaching his child to flee sin rather than embrace it; he is pruning unproductive branches. He harbors no anger toward us when he disciplines. Rather, in love for us, he is seeking to position us to gain a "harvest of righteousness." Our loving Father “is dealing with [us] as sons.”

There’s no contradiction. God doesn't punish Christians. God disciplines Christians.