This is one of the most important questions we've gotten in the Aspastor John inbox and

it comes from a listener named Jesse to your Pastor John in a recent episode in number

948.

You note that, quote, God sent his son into the world to suffer with us and for us.

This means that if we trust him, none of our suffering is punishment for sin.

Christ bore all of our punishment for sin.

But there are very real consequences for sin in this world, both on ourselves and on

others, both for believers and unbelievers alike.

For example, financial hardships follow selfish overspending or sexually transmitted diseases

follow promiscuity.

How do we see this as discipline in that punishment and what really is the difference between

the two?

The difference between God's discipline of his children and God's judgment on his

enemies is an infinite difference.

So I hope I can help Jesse feel the difference because it is so important for his or her own

walk of faith.

So let me begin by defining the difference with a couple of biblical passages.

Just two, and they are massively important.

When I speak of God's judgment upon his enemies, I'm referring to the misery that he brings

upon them not for any purifying or restoring or rehabilitating purposes, but solely to

express his holy justice, his retribution, not restitution.

And it's purely on the basis precisely of what the enemies deserve.

...