Sep
26
Means of Grace: Church Discipline
Filed Under Christian Living
This will be the fourth and last installment of our tour through the means of grace. Church discipline is considered by many not to be included as a means of grace. This is probably due in part to the misunderstanding that grace and discipline are incompatible when in reality they are sisters. Consider briefly the difference between discipline and punishment. Punishment is the payment due for trespasses. In this sense there is no punishment due for the Christian. Christ has paid the punishment due for our trespasses. So what is disicpline? Discipline is correction for growth in grace. Godly discipline is training in holiness. By this definition, Christians desperately need discipline. Though Christians are redeemed they are not sinless (1 John 1:8). It is God’s grace in our life that he disciplines/corrects us so that we grow as Christians (Hebrews 12:3-17). The main avenue through which God disciplines us is through our brothers and sisters in Christ, especially elders (Matthew 18:15-20), holding us accountable to the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16).
Do you want to grow as a Christian? If so, you desperately need to be a member of a church where you invite, even encourage, your brothers and sisters in the Lord to hold you accountable to the faith you proclaim. Love is not the absence of correction but rather love is the boldness to speak hard things to people we love for their good and growth. Discipline within the church is a means of grace.
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