Does God punish believers?
I once had a conversation with a friend who was going through a really tough time, and I remember her crying her eyes out as she was experiencing some painful circumstances following some decisions she had made. She said to me, “I guess this is God punishing me.” And wanting to comfort my friend, I felt stuck. Could God be punishing her for her sin? It felt wrong to say that while she stood there completely broken. But is she not a child of God and therefore forgiven for all sin since it was punished in Jesus? How could God punish her? I am grateful for these questions that were invoked in my own mind as they brought to light a truth that I had never paid much attention to as a child of God. And much like all of God’s truth, the more we learn, the more we discover life-giving treasures that grow, strengthen and comfort us.
Yes, if you are following Jesus, then your sins have been dealt with and you will never be condemned for them. It is vital to note that there is a difference between experiencing the Lord’s discipline and being condemned. Everyone who turns to Jesus and puts their faith in him will be forgiven their sin and made a child of God, while those who reject Jesus remain condemned.
“Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” (John 3:18)
However, if you are a child of God it is precisely because of this wonderful fact that you will experience God’s discipline.
“My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly, or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives” (Hebrews 12:5-6)
The discipline of the Lord may take place in different ways; however, Hebrews 12 lets us know that we should endure hardship as discipline. This means that it does not always have to be the consequences of our sins that result in the Lord disciplining us. In fact, the term “discipline” suggests that we are trained and corrected; being shaped into sharing his likeness as we undergo hardship. Not all hardship results from sin, but all hardship can be taken and endured as discipline. However, we do see that the Lord’s discipline can occur as a way to correct us when we go astray:
“So, then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sin against the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself; in this way let him eat the bread and drink from the cup. For whoever eats and drinks without recognizing the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep. If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:27-32)
“Do not rejoice over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. Because I have sinned against him, I must endure the Lord’s fury until he champions my cause and establishes justice for me. He will bring me into the light; I will see his salvation.” (Micah 7:8-9)
There are more examples of this in the Bible (Psalm 32, Psalm 38, 2 Samuel 12:13-18).
Looking back, while acknowledging her pain, perhaps the truth of the Lord’s discipline could have worked to encourage and assure my friend. The Lord disciplines us because he loves us and wants us to share in his holiness. This is why we are encouraged to not lose heart because it is meant to fill us with hope and assurance. We are loved and accepted as part of the family. The Lord will continue to work in us as long as we live.
