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QUESTION BOX 2

“What is your position on chastisement? Do you feel the Lord chastens believers today?”

We believe chastisement is a transdispensational truth. For example, David was a mighty man of war; consequently, God charged his son, Solomon, with the task of building the temple. Although the house of David had found favor in the eyes of God, the Lord added: “I will be his [Solomon’s] father, and he shall be My son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men” (II Samuel 7:14).

In the Book of Hebrews we learn, “For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” (Hebrews 12:6,7). Here again the principle is set forth. Just as a father chastens his son for unruly behavior to keep him out of harm’s way, so God the Father chastens those He loves. This may take on many forms: The Lord can rebuke us through His Word, He may use the disciplinary actions of men, and some have even been turned over to Satan. One thing is certain, when the Lord gets your attention—it’s undivided!

Perhaps if we ask three timely questions here it will help shed some additional light upon the matter: Is God our Father today? Indeed! (See Ephesians 1:2,3). Are we the sons of God, as members of the Body of Christ? Yes! (See Galatians 4:6,7). Does God love us? By all means! (See Romans 8:35-39). I rest my case.

Of course, the chastening hand of the Lord can be avoided by merely heeding Titus 2:12, where we learn the grace of God teaches us that, “denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” So then, we thus conclude that God does indeed chasten those He loves today. For examples of chastisement during the dispensation of Grace, please see: I Corinthians 5:1-7; 11:31,32; II Corinthians 6:9; I Timothy 1:18-20.

—Pastor Sadler