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Another wonderful evidence of a Know-So Salvation is the disciplinary efforts of our loving Father.

CHASTISEMENT

Hebrews 12:5-8

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as children,

My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art

rebuked of Him: For whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth

with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? But

if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards,

and not sons."

Any parent who truly loves his children will lovingly discipline them. It is an act of love. Our heavenly Father authenticates His love for us through discipline.

I do not like to use the word "punish." Punishment is reserved for the unsaved who choose to reject Christ and wind up in Hell. There is no "punishment" for God's children, only chastisement of the nature God knows will work best. A loving parent always knows which kind of correction produces the best results. God knows how to deal with me.

What happens when there is repeated disobedience and no repentance? This kind of rebellion may lead to the physical death of the believer. Many times God has to take His children home because of their willful disobedience.

If I take one of my Children somewhere and they misbehave, I am embarrassed. If repeated warnings and disciplinary actions do not work, I may have to say: "You have embarrassed me long enough, I'm going to take you home." There are times when the believer rebels long enough to commit the "sin unto death."

I John 5:16

"If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he

shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do

not say that he shall pray for it."

Salvation is a miracle of God through Jesus Christ on the cross. Yet there are some who say that miracle can be undone in our lives. We have become children of a loving heavenly Father, yet some say that He will cast away His children. They used several verses of Scripture to support their argument.

Galatians 5:4

Philippians 2:12

Hebrews 6:4-6

In our next update we will take a look at these verses and what they really mean.

TO BE CONTINUED...