The world continues to believe that God is a harsh God, and that Jesus is so much more understanding.  Aside from the fact that the world is all mixed up about the nature of God, they forget that God the Father and Jesus Christ see eye to eye on absolutely everything.  Sadly, some in the Church of God have adopted that ruthless approach which is commensurate with the wrong understanding that God is cruel and brutal.  They forget His perfect benevolence.  I heard an example this week of how this heavy handed approach is still embraced by some.

The conversation centered around the millennial Scripture, Isaiah 30:21, where it says, And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

The person who misunderstands God’s mercy and compassion responded to this discussion like this:  “In the millennium I’ll forcefully hammer it home on those people – the way they should walk – and I’ll be using my rod of iron to enforce it.”  Somehow he still believes that the people of the millennium will have to be crushed into submission.

Brethren, that is not how we wish to be handled by God, and I do not believe that is the intent of God’s words, because God is not like that.  “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort.”  (2 Corinthians 1:3)  I’d rather deduce that God would prefer we let our light shine and lead by example.  God is gentle and compassionate and He resorts to sternness only in the case of persistent transgression.  His correction is always entirely appropriate to the wrongdoing.

“You have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him.”  (Hebrews 12:5)

Paul asks, ‘Have you forgotten,’ because it was a well known Proverb (3:11)  Son, despise not the chastening of the Lord.  The Greek words translated as “chasten or chastening” refer to all of the upbringing, education, training and discipline properly incorporated in developing a child in every aspect of his budding life.  The word “chastening” does not carry the connotation of “beating us into submission,” or as I supposed most of my life, very heavy corrective measures. Chastening is not always a good hard whacking, smacking or whipping as some have surmised.

Chastening may refer to the mildest training and nurturing on one end of the scale – to reproof and warning – to rebuke and severe discipline on the other end of the scale.  God is merciful and He knows just how to deal with each of us in perfect moderation.  First, God in His compassion will pique our conscience to get out attention and awaken us.  But after repeated admonitions the severity of God’s chastening could lead to illness and even death. “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”  (1 Corinthians 11:30)  God certainly knows how to precisely mete out His correction.

“For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and scourges every son whom he receives.”  (Hebrews 12:6)

This verse reveals that not everyone is included in this process.  God deals differently in separate situations.  The latter part of verse 6 does, however, apply to a recalcitrant person who has an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline.  The Greek word translated as “scourges” is a much stronger term, meaning to thrash, flog, or beat severely with a belt.

“If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?”  (Hebrews 12:7)

To ‘endure chastening,’ means that we have responded to God’s corrective action, and gotten our life back in order.  Discipline or chastisement is a proof of God’s love and involvement in our spiritual life.  God is a loving father who not only blesses us, but also chastens us when we go wrong.

As a loving father, God monitors our every thought, action, and intent.  When we are disobedient to Him we are placing ourselves in jeopardy.  That is when God the Father steps in and chastises and disciplines us to return to Him. God deals with us that way.  When a converted Christian lets down in obedience to God, our Heavenly Father brings chastening upon him to restore his spiritual integrity.

“But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye illegitimate, and not sons.”  (Hebrews 12:8)

When someone is living a lifestyle of unrepentant sin and begins to think that God is somehow approving of his misconduct, then that person is not a legitimate child of God – but an imposter.  If God is not chastening us when we miss the mark and sin – we have fallen into the separate category that does not include true sons.  This is a really scary verse.  When someone engages in wrongful behavior – and God does not discipline him for it – he is in big trouble.

If we are letting down and God does not bring His chastisement down upon us – it does not mean that God is okay with what we are doing – but that He has cut us loose so that we are no longer His children.

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Sermon:

"God Sends Correction"