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  GOD'S PURPOSE IN CHASTISING
  by Theodore Epp
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Summary: God chastises us to teach us to hate sin and love
righteousness, making us partakers of His holiness.

Topics: "Righteousness vs. Sin", "God's Discipline"
Scripture References: Hebrews 12:1

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DESCRIPTION
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Theodore Epp emphasizes that God's purpose in chastising us is to teach
us to turn away from sin and embrace righteousness. He explains that
God's holiness cannot be compromised, and that sin must be recognized as
sin without blending it with righteousness. Chastening serves as a
reminder of the bitter consequences of sin, encouraging believers to
love holiness and produce spiritual fruit. Epp highlights that God's
discipline is for our benefit, aiming for us to partake in His holiness
and not to approach heaven empty-handed.

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CONTENT
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Hebrews 12:1-13

God's purpose in chastening us is so that we might learn not to sin. We
cannot expect forgiveness and then be turned loose to go on living in
the sin that brought God's displeasure.

God fixed a gulf between sin and righteousness. This must be maintained.
Absolutely no compromise is possible. No attempt should ever be made by
us to reduce or detract from the absolute holiness and purity of God.

Sin is always sin, and righteousness is always righteousness. There can
be no blending of them in any way, shape or form. God cannot forgive us
at the expense of lowering His standard of righteousness.

In order to teach us to hate sin, God chastens us. If He did not, we
would be crawling to Him every five minutes for more pardon because of
our continuing to live in sin.

God's people are taught by Him to hate sin by its bitter consequences
and are also taught to love righteousness, or holiness. God chastens us
as He pleases "for our profit, that we might be partakers of his
holiness" (Heb. 12:10).

God does not want us to come to heaven with nothing to show for our
spiritual lives and service. He wants to see abundant spiritual fruit.

"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent" (Rev. 3:19).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/theodore-epp/gods-purpose-in-chastising/
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