God is a scary God: The Wrath and Discipline of God

Posted by Seth Fuller on Oct 20, 2010 in Uncategorized

Introduction

There are a number of views among Christians these days regarding the connection between God and unfortunate or tragic circumstances. A view that has long been held is that one’s misfortune is often the result of his own disobedience or immorality before God. This belief is evidenced several times throughout biblical history, notably during the story of Job in the Old Testament, where Job’s friends relentlessly interrogate him about heinous offenses he must have committed before God to experience such excruciating events. The reader, however, knows that Job’s circumstances were not the result of immorality, and by the end of the book we know that God is greatly pleased with Job.

In the New Testament, this belief shows up a number of times as well, including John 9 where the disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” to which Jesus replied, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.” In this case the man’s blindness was caused not by anyone’s sin, but by God for the sake of displaying His works.

By contrast, there is another common view that states that Christians are not punished for their sins because Christ has already suffered that punishment through His death, and therefore God would not punish us for our sins again. Thus, the consequences of sin may be characterized as chastisement through which God allows us to learn from our sins, in order that we will become closer to Him in obedience. Notice that in this view, God only allows these unfortunate circumstances to occur and is not directly orchestrating the events of misfortune.

A third proposed view is that while God’s punishment or wrath toward our sin has been satisfied in Christ, he may also directly display at His discretion acts of disciplinary wrath when we disobey Him through our sin. While God’s bond of love with His people is unbroken by their future acts of sin, no matter how severe, He will by His own authority exercise His divine displeasure as a result of that sin in any way He sees fit.

This third view is the most biblical, and will be discussed in more detail below.

Understanding the difference between Christ’s salvation from sin and God’s nature towards present acts of sin.

Part of the difficulty with this subject is that one can easily become confused about the relationship between the wrath from which Christians are saved and the salvation in Christ which reconciles us with God. It must be understood that while our salvation from sin reconciles us to God, that salvation does not void God’s present disciplinary wrath toward His children when they sin. Moreover, the Christian should understand that the wrath of God cannot be narrowly defined as only one type. God displays his wrath in a number of ways throughout Scripture. By careful examination of the biblical contexts in which God’s wrath is portrayed, one can realize a number of ways by which God displays wrath. Two of those types of wrath will be highlighted below:

1) God’s future wrath toward unrepentant sinners separated from His presence.

This type of wrath is well defined in Romans 2:5-8, “. . . because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed . . . for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.” (also 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12) This kind of wrath is designated for the future. The word “storing” here is “θησαυρίζω,” which means literally “to store up” or “to accumulate.” It is the same verb used in Matthew 6:19 when Jesus gives his famous message about not “lay[ing] up for yourselves treasures on earth . . .” Those separated by God in their sin are literally stockpiling acts of wrath for themselves that will be unleashed against them for eternity if they do not turn away from their sin and put their faith in Christ. Their future is incalculably doomed forever and ever.

For those who are trusting in Christ by fighting to obey His commandments and turn away from sin, wrath has also accumulated against them because of their sin. However, the sin which makes them debtors and enemies to God (Romans 5:10) has been paid through the work of Christ. Christ perfectly endured the suffering of this wrath; therefore all past, present, and future sins will not result in the unleashing of God’s just eternal punishment towards them in the future. This accumulated wrath that was once designated for the believer has been satisfied in Christ. Theirs is not a future of wrath, but of salvation. As 1 Thessalonians 5:9 says, “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

To be sure, unrepentant sinners also experience the heavy hand of God’s wrath in the present. Romans 1:18 says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” So there is a also a present reality of God’s wrath toward the unrepentant, but the type of wrath in focus within the framework of salvation in Christ relates to the future and eternal wrath of God. So the wrath from which Christians are saved is future wrath that will be revealed toward unrepentant sinners after their life on earth.

2) God’s present disciplinary wrath toward repentant sinners inseparable from His grace.

In distinction from future wrath reserved for unrepentant sinners, there is also a present disciplinary wrath that repentant sinners will experience from God. One place this type of wrath is defined in Psalm 38:1-3 where David says, “LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!” This kind of wrath happens in the present, and is characterized as a disciplinary act of God’s anger. Notice here the interchangeable use of the words “wrath” and “discipline.” In David’s mind there is no difference between the two terms. This whole Psalm is David’s cry to God for help as he realizes that His sin has brought upon the dreadful weight of God’s anger. As one who is loved by God, David begs for this unbearable wrath to cease. In describing his experience David says, “There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.” Here he connects the resulting wrath with the causation of his own sin. His own sin, says David, is the reason for his heavy burden.

This concept of discipline is carried into the New Testament as well. For example Hebrews 12:5-6 reads, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.”

An important thing to remember about this kind of wrath is that while it is a fatherly corrective wrath, it is still punishment and can be quite severe. Remember in Numbers 20:10-13 when Moses dishonored God before the people when he disobeyed God by striking (instead of speaking to) the rock for water, he was forbidden to enter the promised land and sentenced to die within viewing distance of the land he had so longed to experience—a truly horrific sentence. Then again in Deuteronomy 3:23-29 Moses “pleaded” with God to allow him to go into the land. Then God responded in anger, “Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again.” Moses begged with God to change his mind, but God remained steadfast in carrying out the consequences for Moses’ sin.

So in this type of wrath one learns that while Christians are saved from the future wrath of eternal separation from God, they will still experience acts of indignation from God due to their sin. The sin of God’s children is very serious in a present-time sense and can result in some frightening and unrelenting consequences.

The purpose of discipline

The idea that God disciplines his children is not contested in orthodox Christianity. This teaching is made clear in the Old Testament, “Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.” (Job 5:17-18) And the New Testament also leaves no room for doubt, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:5-6, cf. Proverbs 3:11) Lines began to separate, however, when words like “wrath” and “punishment” are biblically defined in various ways. But as mentioned previously, the biblical context in which God’s wrath is discussed provides the proper definition.

Regardless of these different views, there are several purposes of God’s discipline that should be agreed upon:

1) God’s discipline is an act of love.

God only disciplines those He loves and are His own. Any wrath that is suffered by an unrepentant sinner springs from judgment and condemnation. In 1 Peter 2:9 it is written how God “keep[s] the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment.” So those who are not loved by God are constantly under the punishment of God and will continue to be after the day of judgment and for all of eternity. This is not the case for the repentant sinner. The final judgment for the believer’s sin is already decided in Christ. They are no longer guilty, and thus they are no longer under the constant punishing hand of God. Acts of God’s wrath toward believers are never in judgment of their sin in a judicious sense, but are always acts of love meant for their happiness in God.

2) God’s discipline confirms the believer as a child of God.

Hebrews 12:7-8 says, “It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.” A person suffering the wrath of God without growing in his relationship to God should be very concerned about his spiritual state. The discipline of God legitimizes the believer as a child of God. The fruit of this discipline is holiness, as written in verse 10 of the same chapter where the author writes, “he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.” The result of God’s discipline is growth in holiness. Lack of growth reveals the unrepentant sinner to be an illegitimate son in God’s eyes, but discipline resulting in the growth of the believer’s holiness testifies of his adoption as a son of God.

3) God’s discipline produces repentance and zeal for God

Revelation 3:19 says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.” The word for “zealous” here is “ζηλόω” and is used in the sense of “boiling with envy.” “Repent” means to turn away. So then the believer will be envious of  a relationship with God characterized by the constant repenting of sin. This is key. Anything that stands in the way of that envy should be rejected in favor of whatever is necessary to bring him closer to God. This is why zeal and repentance are used together. To be zealous is to boil with envy for a love of God, and one cannot be zealous in this way without turning away from trusting in his own life. This is the same idea taught by Jesus in John 12:25, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” To be zealous for God one must be devoted to Him, while losing all desires to please himself during this life. True zeal for God is to envy a life close to God. True repentance from sin happens only when there is true zeal. So zealousness and repentance spring from one another. These things are brought about through God’s discipline of His children.

The scary consequences of discipline

Dramatic acts of discipline by God are a stark and daunting reality. The notion that the degree of discipline is lessened for God’s children does not correspond with the testimony of Scripture. Therefore an accurate understanding of this matter provides significant exhortation for believers to seek holy living before God. In this section two biblical examples of God’s discipline will be reviewed.

1) David and Bathsheba

When God made a binding agreement (covenant) with David in 2 Samuel 7, He was clear with David about the consequences of sin, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him.” Along with the assurance of his binding relationship with God, David was also reminded that when there is sin, there will be discipline.

Following this covenant, David had many victories in battle, the land of Israel thrived, and David became an increasingly successful king. David was experiencing tremendous blessing from God. But shortly after David’s success he fell to temptation, committing heinous sins of covetousness, adultery, and murder. God was very displeased with David because of these sins, so much so that He spoke through Nathan the prophet saying, “Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.’”

It is important to note that while David was immediately devastated by the fuller realization of his sins, and while God had already even “put away” David’s sins, God did not relent in His terrifying chastisement of David. Even while David displayed true and passionate sorrow, throwing himself at the mercy of God, God followed through with what He promised, taking the life of his child and bringing violence into David’s house for years to come. The example of David teaches the believer that sometimes God’s discipline cannot be undone, no matter how humbly and contrite we come before Him. This fact is powerfully sobering.

2) Partaking of communion unworthily

1 Corinthians 11:27-34 reads, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.”

In this interesting passage several things can be learned. The Lord’s Supper is not to be taken lightly. It applies only to believers, as does this passage. In this particular situation some members of the church were hoarding the food for themselves and others were even getting drunk during an event that was meant to reflectively proclaim and remember the death of Christ. In doing so, they made a mockery of Christ and drank judgment on themselves, incurring the discipline of God. Some were stricken with disease and others even died as a result of their disregard and flippancy. From this passage we learn that New Testament believers can also experience harsh consequences for their sin. The nature of God’s discipline toward His people is the same throughout all of biblical history.

The application of discipline

In light of these examples, the discipline of God can seem truly overwhelming. The believer could be led into a mindset of despair and hopelessness, but this must not be the case. Rather, the believer should apply the realization of God’s discipline in a way that amplifies his perception of God’s weighty person, causing him to bow in deep humility and reverence while increasing his worship and holy service to God. When we do come under the discipline of God, we would do well to remember Hebrews 12:11-17, “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. Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint) but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no ‘root of bitterness’ springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.”

In this passage we see several ideal goals of discipline:

1. Discipline is meant to make us righteous, because in righteousness is true peace and happiness.
2. Discipline is meant to make us spiritually strong, whereby we become more mature in the Lord. We can savor Christ more deeply because we better understand the nature of sin and its dichotomous contrast to the character of God. We better realize how immeasurably valuable is our salvation in Christ.
3. Discipline is meant to make us holy. Holy means “set apart.” We must fight to set ourselves apart from the world to know and enjoy God more fully.

Concluding Thoughts

Even with a firm realization of God’s discipline and what it means for the believer, application of this realization in our every thought and practice is a difficult fight. It can be difficult for the believer to accurately realize the potential of God’s discipline when popular culture demands tolerance for wrongdoing. In fact, tolerance has intruded so much of our thought that the lines of morality can sometimes be hard to recognize. The world seeks to comfort its own kind with reassurance that bad things are not that bad, while belittling morality and emphasizing self-proclaimed good deeds. The world warmly hugs those in their ungodly sorrow with whispers that everything will be alright—consequences do not exist.

But in a world where morality is being constantly reinvented, God still remains the same, and He has spoken through His word so that we are left without a doubt. There are consequences for sinful actions. His people must see through and reject the lies of the world regarding morality. In doing so they avoid the heavy hand of God’s discipline which is brought down hard against many who defy him. Believers would do well to remember the accounts of David, the Corinthian church, and many other examples before they fall into sin and bring themselves under potentially dramatic consequences against them. Remember what God said to David, “When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him,” and seek the “holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”