Category Archives: Punishment

Forgiveness is an act of worship

Posted on January 16, 2014 by

When hurt by others, we often only see the horizontal significance of what occurred. “This is about me and the one who hurt me!” we argue. Yet those who worship God are called to view forgiveness as an act of worship. This is primarily about God and secondarily about me or my offender. When we forgive, we “let go of” instead of “holding on to” or “holding against.”

Forgiveness is an act of releasing to God the hurtful actions and consequences of the wrong done to us. Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Attitude, Bitterness, Burnout, Christian Counselor, Christian life, Christian worldview, Christianity, Confession, Counseling, Defeat?, Depression, Difficult people, Divorce, Divorce and Remarriage, Emotions, Faith, Forgiveness, God, God as Potter, God's control, God's Love, God's power, Gospel, Gospel-centered, Grace, Love, Pain, Problem of evil, Punishment, Questioning God, Radical love, Relationships, Repentance, Revenge, Wisdom, Worship | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Top 5 Arguments against eternal punishment

Posted on December 27, 2013 by

Most people know that the Bible doesn’t describe a pleasant end for those who reject God’s offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. But what type of judgment falls on them? Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Afraid to die, Bible, Christian worldview, Death, Discernment, Doctrine, End Times, Eschatology, Eternal life, Eternal security, Fear, Fear of death, Fear of God, Future events, God's control, God's Love, God's power, God's Will, Hell, Hope?, Jesus Christ, Love Wins, Problem of evil, Punishment, Questioning God, Rob Bell, Salvation, Second coming, Security of salvation, Theodicy, Truth | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Teach this truth to new believers

Posted on February 10, 2013 by

Discipline is an unavoidable part of God’s plan for spiritual transformation. Christian discipleship should teaching about the fact that, “The Lord disciplines those he loves.” Some Christians are not experiencing spiritual growth because they don’t understand this truth.  ___ A failure to … Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Call to ministry, Christian Counselor, Christian life, Christian Schools, Christian worldview, Christianity, Church Leadership, Counseling, Disciple-making, Discipline, Discouragement, Doctrine, Encouragement, Fathers, God's Patience, God's control, God's Heart, God's Protection, God's Will, Joel Osteen, Mad at God, New Christian, Pain, Persecuted, Punishment, Questioning God, Salvation, Sanctification, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual disciplines, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Study of God, Suffering, Trials, Walking with God | Leave a comment

The history of evil

Posted on September 21, 2012 by

The ambition of an angel led to the suspicion of Eden (that the best life is outside of the will of God not within it). This led to the delusion of self-rule (which only resulted in bondage to sin and death). The cycle continues — ambition, suspicion, delusion, death.

Creation took its first turn toward disaster when the ambition of angles incited a revolt against the Creator. It was a delusional and arrogant bid for autonomy.

How irrational for a created being to think of autonomy as a possibility! The only real option for created beings is dependence. It’s a delusional and dangerous fantasy for creatures to make a bid for self-rule and self-determination. Continue reading →

Posted in Accountability, Afraid to die, Afterlife, Anthropology, Atheism, Atheists, Christian worldview, Christianity, Creation, Death, Death of Christ, Depravity, Despair, Devil, Evil in the world, Evil One, Fear of death, Forgiveness, Freedom, God, God's Patience, God's Heart, God's Will, Gospel, Grace, Hamartiology, History, Imago Dei, In Christ, Jesus Christ, Loss, Mercy, Origin of Sin, Problem of evil, Punishment, Radical love, Reconciliation, Repentance, Resurrection, Salvation, Self-deception, Sin, Suffering, Theodicy, True Christianity?, Violence, Wisdom, Worldview | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Is capital punishment mandated by God?

Posted on August 2, 2012 by

Occasionally I am asked how I reconcile my pro-life position with my support of capital punishment. I answer by showing how both positions (pro-life and pro-capital punishment) endorse…. Continue reading →

Posted in Capital Punishment, Death penalty, Government, Murder, Punishment, Sanctity of life, Violence, Wisdom | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Misunderstanding the ways of God

Posted on January 29, 2012 by

Here’s a truth we can’t afford to ignore, misunderstand or underestimate: “The Lord disciplines those He loves.” Discipline is part of God’s plan for spiritual transformation – for all of His children. If you’ve known the Lord for any length of … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Blessed by God, Burnout, Christian life, Christian worldview, Complaining, Contentment, Despair, Discipline, Discouragement, Encouragement, Godly sorrow, Guidelines for living, Hope?, J. I. Packer, Joel Osteen, Mad at God, Mistreated, Proverbs, Punishment, Sovereignty, Spiritual Detox, Spiritual disciplines, Spiritual growth, Spiritual inventory, Spiritual transformation, Study of God, Suffering, Trials, Victory, Walking with God, Will of God | 4 Comments

Does God’s Discipline involve punishment?

Posted on May 23, 2007 by

  Is there a difference between God’s general discipline (of which all believers share as they move toward Christian maturity) and targeted discipline (in response to a particular sin or area of disobedience)? Since Jesus bore the punishment our sin deserved, should … Continue reading →

Posted in Punishment, Trials | 2 Comments