Is the Believer’s Disobedience Also Punished on This Earth?

Is the Believer’s Disobedience Also Punished on This Earth?

After he had given the church many exhortations concerning their conduct toward each other, the apostle Paul says, “But he who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong which he has done, and there is no partiality.” Col. 3:18-25.

He says this in order to awaken the individual to the seriousness we face in the church. As a rule, this is not the case outside the church. There they preach that no one can live fully according to God’s Word, that no one can be perfect. This means that you must of necessity do wrong and then of course you will be repaid for the wrong you have done, but they absolve the listeners from the latter, contrary to God’s Word. But everyone who is enlightened must be on guard and flee from such impertinence and contempt for God’s Word. God’s Word is a guideline for everything, and if you do not have the Word and are not obedient to it you are hanging over the abyss and will fall into it in the fullness of time no matter what you think or what you call it.

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Gal. 6:7. Is there any doubt as to what God means? These are very unambiguous words. In verse 4 Paul speaks about examining your own work, and then you will rejoice in yourself alone and not in another. Everyone must examine his own work, for God is not mocked. You mock God if what you do is not according to the Word. From this we understand that there is a lot of mocking going on among those who call themselves Christian. God, who is righteous, forgives them their sins—those who regret and confess them; but they must reap what they have sown.

“And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.” Luke 12:47. The Lord is righteous and just, and everything He does, He does according to just laws. He is a merciful God who does not reject his servant right away; but He forgives and has pity on the one who acknowledges his unrighteousness. Nevertheless, the Word stands fast: “He who does wrong will be repaid for the wrong which he has done,” and “That he will also reap,” and “Shall be beaten with many stripes.” The Word stands in order to help and to save, and so that we shall be on guard. But it is written in vain for the person who does not believe it.

It is obvious that the Word speaks about the present time, because it is now that it can be helpful to get a taste of the harvest of the injustice we have committed, and it is now that the “stripes” are painful and frightening, so that we fear and are on guard.

God is good, but people are obstinate and unbelieving, therefore various treatments are necessary so the Master can finish His work. But the Master’s work is not finished as soon as He has His way with a person. Those who are patient in faith and thankful for God’s treatment go from light to light and from strength to strength; they are formed and attain the promises.

It is part of a righteous life to accept with a good heart the harvest which our folly or unrighteousness has produced, as well as the “stripes” that the individual suffers because of what he has neglected in his ministry. To accept it all with joy, produces correspondingly good fruits and even greater purity of mind.

It is necessary to examine ourselves and our own work so we are not deceived and do not go beyond our area of responsibility. All of us have to learn to live in godly fear and be on guard. Then the living God, who rules over everything, will know how to free the God-fearing from temptations and save them from all deception.

Everyone in the church has a great responsibility because we have been placed there to help each other. All those who serve in the church, and the elders, have an even greater responsibility; this is made clear in Revelation 2:12-16.

The overseer of the church in Pergamos did not have the power to keep the church pure from the harlot’s spirit powers; therefore he was admonished to repent, or the Lord would come to him quickly.

Glory to God who has given us elders who keep the church pure.