YES GOD CHASTISES HIS PEOPLE TODAY

By Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

April 21, 2010

Why is chastisement a dirty word to some Christians? Why do they despise the word chastisement today? Because of the false doctrines they have been led to believe about sin and forgiveness of sins. Many people are deceived into believing that because God has forgiven all their sins that God no longer sees their sins and if God does not see them he cannot punish them. They say; how can God punish us for sins he has forgiven and cannot see? That is why they shut their ears to the thought of chastisement. It’s a dirty word to them.

Recently, in a conversation with a man on the phone I asked him if God had ever chastised him for his sins since he was saved and he said no. He has been deceived by two lies; the lie that God did not see his sins and that forgiveness exempts us from chastisement.
Many Christians today do not really understand forgiveness or chastisement. Forgiveness of sins frees us from eternal condemnation (Rom.8:1) but not temporal condemnation (1 Cor. 11:29).

Why does God chastise his people? The answer is by comparing Hebrews 12:6 with Proverbs 3:12. Hebrews 12:6 says that whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, but Proverbs 3:12 says whom the Lord loveth he correcteth. One verse says chasteneth and the other correcteth. The purpose of chastisement is correction. Do you correct your children? So does God. That’s the purpose of chastisement. Many times the only way a child can be corrected and turned around is by chastisement. When words don’t work, the rod will. The Lord chastens his people because he loves them and he chastens every one of his sons. He also says that if you are without chastisement you are not a son of God. (Heb.12:6-10). It makes me wonder about these so called Christians who insist that God does not chastise them.

Many Christians reject what is said in Proverbs because it’s “Old Testament” and reject what is said in Hebrews because it’s “Jewish”. But what about 1 Corinthians 11:30-32 which says; For this cause (perverting the Lord’s Supper) many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, WE ARE CHASTENED OF THE LORD, that we should not be condemned with the world.

Many believers in the body of Christ at Corinth were weak and sick because of sin and some had even lost their lives because of their sins. In 1 Cor. 5:1-5 a man who committed fornication in the church was turned over to the devil for the destruction of the flesh.

Dear friend, don’t fall for the lie that God does not chastise his people for their sins today. Believing that lie will invite a lot of grief and pain into your life. That is one of many reasons why I warn people to stay away from hyper dispensationalism. Quite clearly, in this regard, it is a proponent of false doctrine.