Sunday, Nov. 23
There’s an important distinction between condemnation and rebuke. If I allow sin to block the movement of spiritual food to my soul, I’m in trouble. As a good doctor, God will do whatever it takes to find a medication the will remedy the situation. Heb. 12:5-6. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” While God will correct us, possibly using some strong medicine, he does not condemn us. Rom. 8:1. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” You might have noticed that the Hebrews passage referred to God’s sons. Those who are not sons, i.e., not in the family of God, still unbelievers, are already condemned. They are punished, too, but their punishment is eternal damnation.
