Recently two Christians debated God's way of dealing with sinful individuals and sinful nations.
One said God punishes us to get our attention.
The other said God never punishes, only restores and redeems.
Who's right?
Regarding individuals, Scripture explains that God lovingly rebukes and disciplines His children:
Hebrews 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 the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Revelation 3:19: “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.”
Regarding nations, we have a Bible full of examples of God punishing nations who reject Him. His purposes for nations are similar to His purposes for individuals:
Jeremiah 18:7-8: "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned."
Our God punishes and rebukes individuals and nations but He does it out of love, that we might be redeemed and restored.
Well, don't hear that message much, but the Bible is clear! Amen.
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