Do you ever get confused between discipline and punishment? Does God discipline or punish Christians?
I pray this settles the dust.
Discipline is “a biblical concept that involves God’s guidance, training, and correction of His people”.[1]
Punishment is “any pain, suffering, or loss inflicted on a person because of a crime or offense”.[2]
Although discipline can feel like punishment, it is not.
Both Moses and Zechariah walked with God. And because they walked with God, they were disciplined when they disobeyed – not punished. Jesus was punished for their sins because they were looking forward to the promised Savior – Jesus Christ.
Moses disobeyed God by getting angry and striking the rock twice in order to get water to flow for the complaining Israelites. God had specifically instructed Moses to “tell the rock” what to do. Moses’s discipline was not being allowed to enter the promise land.
Zechariah disobeyed God by not trusting God when the angel announced that he was going to be a father and his wife, Elizabeth, was going to be a mother in their “advanced years”. Zechariah’s discipline was not being able to speak for a period of time – until his promised son was eight days old.
How did these God fearing men respond to their discipline? They humbled themselves and submitted to God – receiving the discipline. They expressed no if, ands or buts about their consequence. They trusted in God’s holiness and that He chose the suitable chastisement for their particular iniquity.
Jesus never sinned. Jesus always obeyed His Father perfectly. Yet, Jesus was punished for repentant sinners like Moses, Zechariah, you, and me. Jesus willingly died and rose in our place as well as in Moses and Zechariah’s place. Both these men were looking to the promised Messiah, whereas we look back to the risen Christ. We will meet these saints in heaven when the Lord calls us home.
As God’s children, when we are disobedient, we will be disciplined – but not punished. Jesus was punished – once and for all. Discipline is for our good – to conform us more into the image of Christ. God’s discipline proves we are His children. Our response ought to be like Moses and Zechariah when we are disciplined – submit to God, receive the discipline and rejoice that we are being trained by our King.
May we stand in awe and thankfulness to God that Jesus was punished for our sins so that we don’t have to be. But like a Good Father, God disciplines those He loves.
May we never get punishment and discipline confused. Our God doesn’t.
(Scripture references: Isaiah 9:6-7, 53:5, Numbers 20:2-13, Luke 1:5-25, 57-64, Hebrews 12:5-11, Romans 8:29)