Chastisement

Some people claim they are NOT chastised by God because they have been reconciled to Him, no longer needing correction by the rod. Is this what the Bible teaches? If we restrict our research to New Covenant Scriptures, we will find God’s teaching intended for His redeemed, without the need to discern between shadow and fulfillment as would be needful if we brought up Old Covenant Scriptures.

Acts 9:13-16 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go! For this man is My chosen instrument to take My name to Gentiles, kings, and the Israelites. I will show him how much he must suffer for My name!”

YHWH had many things for Paul to suffer. These are not punishments but teaching points from the One Who knows all things, taking good care of His own.

Phil 1:29-30 For it has been given to you on Christ’s behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I have.

Paul understood that all who are in Christ will suffer. Again, this is not punishment.

2 Thess 1:4-5 Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God’s churches — about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure. It is a clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,

Here we see that suffering – which never happens outside the will of God – shows that we are members of God’s Kingdom and not of this present age.

Heb 12:3-11 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, so that you won’t grow weary and lose heart. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord’s discipline lightly or faint when you are reproved by Him, for the Lord disciplines the one He loves and punishes every son He receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline — which all receive — then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had natural fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn’t we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but He does it for our benefit, so that we can share His holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Here we see a comparison between Jesus and His people. In the most clear teaching possible we see that discipline (chastisement in the KJV) is a sign of God’s love; punishment is what He metes out on His enemies. The Scripture goes so far as to say that if anyone is without this discipline/chastisement he has no basis for considering himself a child of God. This discipline, which never seems pleasant at the time, yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those “trained by it”. Note that last phrase, showing God’s intention: that we be trained by the things suffered so we yield peace and righteousness; just as was the case with the Son of Man.

Peter gives us three more clear examples of what chastisement by God is intended for.

1 Pet 2:18-20 Household slaves, submit with all fear to your masters, not only to the good and gentle but also to the cruel. For it brings favor if, mindful of God’s will, someone endures grief from suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if you sin and are punished, and you endure it? But when you do what is good and suffer, if you endure it, this brings favor with God.

1 Pet 4:12-19 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory. If you are ridiculed for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. None of you, however, should suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or a meddler. But if anyone suffers as a “Christian,” he should not be ashamed but should glorify God in having that name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with God’s household, and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God? And if a righteous person is saved with difficulty, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So those who suffer according to God’s will should, while doing what is good, entrust themselves to a faithful Creator.

1 Pet 5:6-10 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you. Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.

And the final word is from the Lord Himself, to the suffering people in Smyrna:

Rev 2:9-10 I know your affliction and poverty, yet you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. Look, the Devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will have affliction for 10 days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

May the Word of God dwell richly in our souls and sink down deep into our minds, to keep us from thinking either that all suffering is a sign of God’s displeasure or neglect OR that we have no need of it.