It must always be remembered that, although Christ as borne the punishment of sin, and although God has forgiven the saints for their sins, yet God may God-fatherly correct His people for sin. Christ endured the great shower of wrath, the black and dismal hours of displeasure for sin. That which falls upon us is a sunshine shower, warmth with wet, wet with the warmth of His love to make us fruitful and humble. Christ drank the dregs of that bitter cup, so much of it as would damn us, and left only so much for us to drink as would humble us for our sin. That which the believer suffers for sin is not penal, arising from vindictive justice, but medicinal, arising from a fatherly love. It is his medicine, not his punishment; his chastisement, not his sentence; his correction, not his condemnation.
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom, Samuel Bolton, Banner of Truth Trust, 2001 (originally published 1645), pgs 122-123.
Great excerpt! I need to get this book.
ReplyDeletePersis,
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful! So glad you shared from this book. I need to read this one. As a Mom I love this reminder about the purpose of chastening and consequences of sin...it should always be medicinal and not vindictive. I was telling my children the other day that one day they will grow in grace to a point that they can thank God for His every correction (and Mom and Dad for theirs) because they know the love behind it.
A very timely post, Persis. I needed to be reminded of that.
ReplyDeleteCraig
Amen. I know some of the rod of God.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing. God bless.