Why Does God Chasten His Children?

The context, in my opinion, goes back to verse 9. Paul was merely interjecting a side thought in verses 10-15.

The "defiling" and "destroying" are the same exact Greek words. How would you define our "defiling" of the temple and God's "destroying" of those who do?

 

It's "dia"; as through fire, not by fire.

However, you are quite correct that a man can live completely through the flesh and serve God either through fear only or to receive glory himself. However, he is still serving God.

What about the saved person who does not serve God at all?

 

No need to apologize. Here are the questions that I asked so I could get an understanding of where you are coming from.

Here is your quote.

My question to you is . . . Is the "As will most" statement your way of saying all Christians die disobedient and unfaithful? Or is your "As will most" a statement that most Christians will die disobedient and unfaithful, but there are some that will die faithful and obedient?

Do you consider yourself to be among the faithful and obedient? Or do you consider yourself to be among the disobdient and unfaithful?

 

Thank you for clarifying. I believe nothing more than I am just a sinner saved by the grace of God. By myself, I am now, and always will be unfaithful and disobedient. Only by the grace and mercy of God can I attain heaven, and only then will I be perfectly faithful and obedient.

 

But Pastor Bob spiritual salvation is not based on our obedience and/or faithfulness. Spiritual salvation is not something that we "attain," but is something that is given to us.

The Bible teaches us that we can be faithful, obedient and overcoming in this life. And not only can we, but it is a must if we are to inherit the coming kingdom of Christ.

And as you have said our obedience and faithfulness is not based on us (except for dying to self), but the grace of God.

I love the definition that a friend of mine's dad came up with for grace. It is God doing for us what He requires of us and then giving us credit as if we did it ourselves.

This not only happens at the moment of salvation, but we are to grow in grace throughout our wilderness journey. And it is that grace that allows us to be found faithful, obedient, overcomers at the point of death.

If we continue to walk in the flesh and in disobedience and rebellion God is not going to give us a rule over anything, and the question is why should He?

If we can't even be found faithful in this life, why should He trust us just because we died?

 

He wasn't speaking of REMAINING in bondage, but with regard to absolute righteousness (as you stated).

None of us in these imperfect bodies will ever be FREE from sin until we have our glorified bodies.

Yes, we have been set free from the bondage of that which controled us - our sin nature. And now we have a new nature that wars with the other for dominance and control that we may be pleasing to God our Father.
We being set free can put under submission the old nature, but will never be able to completely subdue that old nature until God does His final work of glorifying our natural bodies into supernatural bodies without sin. - AMEN to that!!

 

This shows me that either God is in the discipline aspect of their walk, or they are just about to get there. God disciplines us to bring us back into a right fellowship with Him.

 

For the same reason it is IMPORTANT for a child to be in a right relationship with his Father (Mother, Parent, Gaurdian, or overlord)

 

God desires fellowship,
not a trophy!