The chastening of the Lord
How does God deal with Christians who are out of fellowship?:
Hebrews 12: 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8 But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
v5 Chastening= humbled by defeat or wrongdoing with a view to doing better
rebuke=express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their behaviour or actions:
scourges= whips
v6 When the Lord brings us correction (chastening which may involve grief and pain), we need to be willing to accept it (or even welcome) since we are true sons and daughters of God.
We ought to be pleased that the Lord loves us enough to chasten and rebuke us.
v7-8 We need to come under his discipline of our Father (discipline is a family matter-see Zechariah 3:3)
v10 God only chastens (trains) his children for their benefit which should lead us into holiness.
v11 The Lord’s chastening is painful for a season but later brings peace and a more holy lifestyle.
Carnal vs Spiritual Christians
¨ Carnal = a Christian who is out of fellowship with Lord
¨ Spiritual = a Christian who is in fellowship with the Lord
1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not carnal?
A carnal Christian can behave just as badly as an unbeliever.
An unbeliever cannot receive the things of God see 1 Corinthians 3:1-3
A spiritual believer can operate through the Spirit,
1 Cor 3v3 mere men= unbelievers
Amen
In Part 3 we consider what confession and repentance means.