Admonish and Correct Each Other
God's correction is a sign of His love and a means of growth, restoration, and deliverance.
Clement of Rome emphasizes the importance of praying for those who have fallen into sin, urging for meekness and humility so they may submit to the will of God. He encourages receiving correction with gratitude, as it leads to unity with God's will. Clement highlights that God's chastisement is a sign of His love, bringing restoration and protection to those who accept His discipline.
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Let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin, that meekness and humility may be given to them, so that they may submit, not to us, but to the will of God. For in this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us, with sympathy for them, both in our prayers to God, and our mention of them to the saints. Let us receive correction, beloved, on account of which no one should feel displeased. Those exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good [in themselves] and highly profitable, for they tend to unite us to the will of God. For thus says the holy Word: "The Lord has severely chastened me, yet has not given me over to death." "For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." "The righteous," it says, "shall chasten me in mercy, and reprove me; but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head." And again he says, "Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproves, and reject not the warning of the Almighty.
For He causes sorrow, and again restores [to gladness]; He wounds, and His hands make whole. He shall deliver you in six troubles, yea, in the seventh no evil shall touch you. In famine He shall rescue you from death, and in war He shall free you from the power of the sword. From the scourge of the tongue will He hide you, and you shall not fear when evil comes. you shall hugh at the unrighteous and the wicked, and shall not be afraid of the beasts of the field. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with you: then shall you know that your house shall be in peace, and the habitation of your tabernacle shall not fail?
You shall know also that your seed shall be great, and your children like the grass of the field. And you shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season, or like a heap of the threshing-floor which is gathered together at the proper time." You see, beloved, that protection is afforded to those who are chastened of the Lord; for since God is good, He corrects us, that we may be admonished by His holy chastisement.
Sermon Outline
- Importance of Correction
- Benefits of Admonition
- God's Chastisement
- A sign of God's love
- Leading to restoration and deliverance
Key Quotes
“The Lord has severely chastened me, yet has not given me over to death.” — Clement of Rome
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” — Clement of Rome
“Blessed is the man whom the Lord reproves, and reject not the warning of the Almighty.” — Clement of Rome
Application Points
- We should receive correction with humility and meekness, recognizing it as a sign of God's love.
- Being chastened by God leads to restoration, deliverance, and protection from harm.
- We should not reject the warning of the Almighty, but rather be blessed by it.