7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
Verses 7 and 8 validate the believer’s relationship with God.
God deals with you as with sons;
Proper filial responsibility of a parent is to discipline children. All of God’s sons are subject to divine discipline. The phrase “as with sons” refers to believers as genuine members of the family of God.
“Deals”—God’s active involvement with believers by divine discipline is evidence of their salvation. Chastening proves we are genuine believers. God views Himself as our Father in our relationship with Him. This is the way He behaves Himself toward us.
The Lord will deal with “sons” in a fair manner. God is true justice; He never bends truth to suit His anger. He always treats believers according to the standard of absolute righteousness. The thrust is that no Christian should be surprised by divine discipline (1 Pe 4:12–13).
for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?
In ordinary life, a father who does not discipline his son does not love him (Prov 3:11–12). Love expresses itself in discipline or care for the one loved.
PRINCIPLE:
God’s integrity demands that He disciplines those whom He loves.
APPLICATION:
From God’s viewpoint, there is a need for discipling those He loves. If He did not discipline His children, He would show indifference to them. His absolute integrity demands that He remains true to Himself.
It is important to realize that God deals with us from the viewpoint of His sons or daughters. He does not arbitrarily relate to us.
Simple suffering is not in itself evidence of whether we are Christians. However, enduring duress with faith does show the reality of our relationship with God.
Trial, hardship by divine discipline, demonstrate one’s sonship in the family of God. God disciplines us not despite sonship but because of it.
