Discipline and Punishment

Someone asked me about this that was on page 52 of the old book, 47 new book:

"Once I was asked, "If commit adultery if God would still love me?"

My answer was, "Of course He will! In fact He will love you so much He will probably discipline you harshly for it.""

This reminded me of something Mike says in one of the audio's:

"Sin and punishment are one and the same. We don't need Jesus to condemn us- sinful behavior already does that. The fruit of sin is either green or rotten, it is never ripe, juicy or satisfying. Sin simply does not fit a believer any more than the clothes or behaviors of the opposite sex do."

Both of Mike's statements made me realize something. There is a big difference between discipline and punishment. If we sin, yes- God will probably discipline us.

Hebrews 12:8-10
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

Discipline is teaching and training so one will reach maturity- and from God. Do you know what the Scriptures tell us a mature Christian is like?

Hebrews 5
12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

The mature believer is one who is "accustomed to the word of righteousness". The mature believer is one who, to put it basically, is one who has a right concept of Who God is and who they are because of Him.

This is the word of righteousness:
2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

The believer who chooses sin- simply chooses to DO something he/she is not. "Sin simply does not fit a believer." And we know it. But there are many Christians who don't understand that if they have a wrong concept of God- they also have a wrong concept who they are and they live in the defeat cycle always running to idols that try to meet their needs. Most believers are simply doing what they have always done.

Discipline leads us to understand Who God is and who we are because of Him- and we can live from the Truth. Be who He created us anew to be. Sin won't be our focus or meet our needs. Jesus is our focus and only He can meet the needs He created us with.

Punishment is different. Punishment is torment. Our sinful behavior is torment, is it not? We are tormented on the inside. Some say that is being convicted of our sin. I say, it is that we-believers- are convicted of OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. It is the Holy Spirit say, "This is NOT who you are." (Discipline). Sin punishes, condemns, torments. When we choose sin- along with it comes it's own punishment, condemnation and torment.

Where is God in all of this?
Romans 8:1, 38-39
1 Corinthians 13

And what about this?-

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

Perfect Love loves you. He wants what's best for you. He wants you to live in the freedom He created for you through His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

You can choose to sin but you cannot choose the consequences of sin.

You can choose to believe- and receive the fruit (ripe, juicy and satisfying), the riches, the LIFE of the One in whom you believe.