Punishment? Or Worship?
If you believe that God punishes for the sake of punishing or in order to protect himself and his holiness, then you believe in an imperfect God or a God who is threatened by you!
Punishment that is not intended for restoration is not the act of a loving Father.
Punishment that does not protect others from their own wrongdoing is not the act of a caring God.
For ages, Christendom has suffered and lost many lives, followers and reputation because of this twisted image of God.
We see the true image of God in His fullness on the cross where He forgave those who crucified Him, those who cursed Him, mocked Him and spat at Him.
We see the kindness and grace of God poured out on those who killed Him.
His holiness is in His brave act of salvation. The apostle Paul says that we see in Christ the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 1:19). That means there is no other side of God or plan of God that is kept secret. In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul says that God revealed it all! All of His treasure. (Ephesians 1:9)
Many are fooled by a false image of God.In fact that is the very scheme of the enemy. Paul puts it this way:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Allow me to put it in other words. If you have an image of God that is in any way different than what you see in Christ, then you are blinded by the devil.
Now concerning punishment, let us be clear that God has taken upon Himself all punishment or consequence of sin when He deserved none, in order to grant us this immeasurable gift of righteousness.
Having been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, we resist evil in this world by the grace of God. The difficulties we face are no punishment at all, but our worship unto God, whom we adore not by our lips alone but by the entirety of our lives. That my dear friends is a sweet aroma of worship and a testimony of the grace we are given. It is the evidence of whose children we are, and what kind of a Father we have. It is no punishment at all, as some might assume. Paul calls himself a bond servant, which is a servant who was set free but decided to keep on serving his master out of his own free choice, and because he has found it to be better to dwell in the house of the Lord than a thousand days elsewhere. (Psalm 84:10)
So let it be clear to those who blame God because of a false image they have of Him, that that is not the God of the cross. And let it be clear to those who think their struggle against sin is punishment, that that is not the will of God. God is a Father who wills his children to come out victorious and conquering over all hardship. Sharing in His sufferings is the way to share in His glory. His will is glory! His way is the cross. His heart is poured out for all mankind! We worship a passionate God, a God who is fierce in the tender way He loves His children. He is a zealous God.
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." (Hebrews 12:7-13)
Punishment that is not intended for restoration is not the act of a loving Father.
Punishment that does not protect others from their own wrongdoing is not the act of a caring God.
For ages, Christendom has suffered and lost many lives, followers and reputation because of this twisted image of God.
We see the true image of God in His fullness on the cross where He forgave those who crucified Him, those who cursed Him, mocked Him and spat at Him.
We see the kindness and grace of God poured out on those who killed Him.
His holiness is in His brave act of salvation. The apostle Paul says that we see in Christ the fullness of the Godhead (Colossians 1:19). That means there is no other side of God or plan of God that is kept secret. In the epistle to the Ephesians, Paul says that God revealed it all! All of His treasure. (Ephesians 1:9)
Many are fooled by a false image of God.In fact that is the very scheme of the enemy. Paul puts it this way:
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Allow me to put it in other words. If you have an image of God that is in any way different than what you see in Christ, then you are blinded by the devil.
Now concerning punishment, let us be clear that God has taken upon Himself all punishment or consequence of sin when He deserved none, in order to grant us this immeasurable gift of righteousness.
Having been made righteous by the blood of Jesus, we resist evil in this world by the grace of God. The difficulties we face are no punishment at all, but our worship unto God, whom we adore not by our lips alone but by the entirety of our lives. That my dear friends is a sweet aroma of worship and a testimony of the grace we are given. It is the evidence of whose children we are, and what kind of a Father we have. It is no punishment at all, as some might assume. Paul calls himself a bond servant, which is a servant who was set free but decided to keep on serving his master out of his own free choice, and because he has found it to be better to dwell in the house of the Lord than a thousand days elsewhere. (Psalm 84:10)
So let it be clear to those who blame God because of a false image they have of Him, that that is not the God of the cross. And let it be clear to those who think their struggle against sin is punishment, that that is not the will of God. God is a Father who wills his children to come out victorious and conquering over all hardship. Sharing in His sufferings is the way to share in His glory. His will is glory! His way is the cross. His heart is poured out for all mankind! We worship a passionate God, a God who is fierce in the tender way He loves His children. He is a zealous God.
"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,”so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed." (Hebrews 12:7-13)
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