Posts Tagged ‘ Punishment ’
But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds.
Isaiah 53:5, CSB
God is faithful, and His faithfulness grows from His justice. To perform His divine justice, He took the penalty we deserve, faithfully fulfilling the need out of His love for His creation: us.
The people did not turn to him who struck them, nor inquire of the Lord of hosts.
Isaiah 9:13, ESV
At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.
We do horrible things to each other and against God.
We don’t like to believe that God punishes people, either. However, the Old Testament shows how often Israel disobeyed God, and God allowed and even sent disasters and armies to correct them and draw them back to Himself.
But we like to think we know better, so we refuse to go to Him or even blame Him for everything wrong in this life.
How could He allow such bad things to happen? How could a good God let evil happen to good people?
But He has told us that none of us are truly good, that we don’t seek our Maker.
He sends and allows because He has given us the choice to ignore, hate, and refuse Him.
Yes, God sends things that hurt but it to draw us in, and He also sends Himself to hold us.
May we seek the Lord who draws us in.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:5, ESV
We deserved punishment and death for our rebellion against God, but Jesus took our penalty, as prophesied 700 years earlier.
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23, ESV
We deserve death for our rebellion against God, but Jesus took our penalty on the cross. Now we hope in eternity with our risen Lord.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18, ESV
Do we fear God? If we are still sinning intentionally, yes, because we may still be under His wrath. But by grace through faith, we are saved from His wrath because of His love, so we no longer have reason to fear His wrath or anything else in this world.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18, ESV
We should come to Christ because of the fear of our sin falling under God’s wrath. Yet, that fear is washed away with our sin by the blood of Jesus!
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
1 John 4:18, ESV
When found in Christ, we are no longer condemned. The fear of punishment is gone.
We should still tremble before a mighty God, but our fear should transform into not wanting to disappoint our loving God who first loved us.
For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:11 ESV
“Discipline” has gained a negative reputation in recent decades, intoning punishment. However, when we think of it in terms of sports or finances we tend to realize its important good qualities.
May we see the need for discipline in every aspect of our lives, realizing that circumstances are not God punishing us but teaching us godliness and self-control.
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”
John 5:24 ESV
When John later said “There is no fear in love” (1 John 4:18), he was reminding us that faith in Christ means we no longer need fear punishment and harsh judgment. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus Christ literally saves us.
a simple man of God 