When the Pain You're Facing Feels Like a Punishment
When things go wrong in your life, do you ever feel that you’re being punished by God?
Life is full of hurt and pain. When you feel like you're doing a "good job" living the Christian life, all the suffering you're experiencing can feel like a punishment from God. In today's short clip, Paul uses Romans 5 as the proof you've been looking for that God never punishes His children.
Maybe you’ve felt it when your car broke down, or when someone at work is giving you an especially hard time. Maybe these kind of thoughts come to you when you've got $72 in your bank account and it has to last you another week, or when the kids are pushing you to your limit.
It sure can feel like we're being punished by God sometimes, can't it?
And when we feel this way, it’s easy to then think about the ways it hasn't been a great week for us spiritually. You know, you look back and realize you’ve done some things you’re not very proud of, and suddenly it just makes sense: you deserve to be punished.
That kind of thinking, friends, is a kind of thinking that plagues so many Christians, and I want to clear up that thinking today, because it makes you afraid of God.
In Romans 5, Paul tells us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. (NASB) That's an amazing statement by Paul right there.
God proved His love to us by sending His Son to die for us. Now that's love!
As we keep reading, Paul goes on to say “much more,” or in other words, “You think that was great… 'Having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.'” Romans 5:9 (NASB)
There are two types of Wrath, both of which we are saved from:
We are saved from the future wrath of God in the tribulation period.
The Bible speaks of a future seven year tribulation time that is coming in the world, where the wrath of God will be poured out on mankind. But do not be afraid, friend, because verse 9 tells us that God's righteous children will be rescued from that wrath. It's not for you. Let that news bring peace to your soul today. It's not for you.
When Christ died on the Cross, He bore the wrath of God for the sins of the world.
There is no longer punishment for sin. God does not punish sin anymore, otherwise, the forgiveness of sin, that He paid so dearly for, means nothing. How can He punish you for a sin that He's already forgiven? It just doesn't make sense.
When everything is going wrong in your life and you wonder if you’re being punished, you must remember that it is not God who's making your car battery die, it's not God provoking your children so they’ll push you to your limits - it’s just life.
We live in a fallen world with fallen people, and things go wrong. But those things are not caused by God.
Friends, God wants you to know and experience the infinite love He has for you. You are safe from His wrath, there's no punishment or wrath for you. There is no need to be afraid of God anymore. Run to Him today to experience His love and find everything you need in Him.
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