Justice, Discipline and Punishment

 September 22, 2024

Sunday

We play with a lot of words and it sometimes causes needless arguments. Let's look at a few words and then their definitions. Let's take the words "punishment, discipline and justice." When we consider these three words we find that those outside our faith do not know what they mean. These words have a different meaning in this world than they do with God. The world interchanges these words and we must be careful that we don't.

Justice is exacting a price that equals a transgression. That is clearly outside this world. No one can pay the price for their own sins because the price of sin is death. It is impossible because the sinner is imperfect and cannot offer a perfect payment. Justice was met when Jesus died on the cross for us. The perfect must make the payment for the imperfect. The infinite God must pay the price for the finite man. The justice extracted was more than enough.

Punishment is often used with justice in this world. When it is used in God's relationship with His children, it more resembles discipline. Discipline is changing the behavior of someone. It depends upon the individual accepting the discipline to change the individual. Experiencing a crisis does not necessarily mean that we have sinned. God never lets a crisis go to waste but He also doesn't give them to us as punishment that would pay for our sins. That was what Jesus did. God disciplines us when we do right and when we do wrong. This is why James said that we should rejoice in our crises.

James 1:2-4 (NASB) ²  Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³  knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

God is producing something in us that could not happen without the trials we face. We may not have done anything wrong. However, God knew we were ready for more. A rocking chair never made a great athlete. Trials make us stronger and bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord. So, sometimes a crisis is a good thing brought on us to bring us to better things.

On the other hand, God may put us in a situation where we must turn from our wickedness. Our sins have undeniable consequences. We become estranged from God when there is unconfessed sin. We can't walk with Him in our sins. We know the discipline of being on our own. Our faith falters. God will let us go our own way. He will allow things in our lives that will bring us back to Him. Some people are more determined to live outside God's will than others. Some people don't realize that they do not have His face turned toward them. Sin blinds them from their own sin. Sin blinds them from the relationship that they could have with the Lord.

Hebrews 12:5-7 (NASB) ⁵  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; ⁶  FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES." ⁷  It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

Discipline feels the same regardless of the reason. Whether it is making the strong stronger or bringing the wayward home, the crisis may be the same. 

Let's sum this up. If you know Jesus in such a way that your faith changes who you are, you will never experience justice. Praise God. If you are a believer, you may experience punishment that will bring you back to an intimate relationship with the Lord. If you are a believer, you are assured to have trials that are intended to make you stronger in the Lord.

If you know that you are estranged from God so that you feel all alone, remember the words of John:

1 John 1:9 (NASB) ⁹  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Just come home.