God's Purpose in Chastising
God chastises us to teach us to hate sin and love righteousness, making us partakers of His holiness.
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.
Text
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).
Sermon Outline
- I. God's Purpose in Chastising
- A. To teach us to hate sin
- B. To teach us to love righteousness
- C. To make us partakers of His holiness
- II. The Nature of Sin and Righteousness
- A. Sin is always sin, and righteousness is always righteousness
- B. No blending of sin and righteousness is possible
- III. God's Standard of Righteousness
- A. God cannot forgive us at the expense of lowering His standard
- IV. The Consequences of Chastening
- A. To teach us to hate sin by its bitter consequences
- B. To make us zealous and repentant
Key Quotes
“God fixed a gulf between sin and righteousness. This must be maintained.” — Theodore Epp
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” — Theodore Epp
“God chastens us as He pleases 'for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness'.” — Theodore Epp
Application Points
- We must hate sin and love righteousness in order to be partakers of God's holiness.
- God chastens us to teach us to hate sin and make us zealous and repentant.
- We should strive to see abundant spiritual fruit in our lives and service.