Being Perfected in Love No.2

NO. 2 — Being Perfected in Love Abolishes Punishment

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4: 18

There is a difference between punishment and discipline. We often misunderstand this difference in the body of Christ. I hope the following information helps us better align with what the Bible says about punishment and about discipline.

The Word of God is clear. There is no fear in love because fear has to do with punishment. When it comes to love, punishment can’t be present. If it is present, then the motivation isn’t love. It’s fear. However, the Word does say that God disciplines those he loves.

My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives. Proverbs 3:11-12, Hebrews 12:5-6

When we feel resistance as we mature as disciples, that is training, aligning, and adjusting to the nature of God being formed in us. The impetus for our transformation to be like God is his love for us and our love for him.

Let’s look at three terms from the verses above. I believe this will help us gain a better understanding of the differences between punishment and discipline and ultimately between fear and love.

• Discipline: Discipline means to teach or mold. We go through discipline so we can become like Jesus. The principle of beholding and becoming (2 Corinthians 3:17) is in action. We look to Jesus for instruction (Psalm 32:8-9), and he counsels according to his nature. It’s pretty amazing! Although becoming like him is a deep, innate longing in us, it is still in opposition to our fleshly nature.

• Chastise — Chastisement is probably the most misunderstood of the terms. It means to scourge or to tear the flesh, and it is the punishment Jesus took for us. His flesh was literally torn so we could be reconciled to the Father. So what does that mean for us? Are we supposed to tear our flesh, too? No. Not in the literal sense. Praise the Lord! However, as new creations in Christ, we are called to walk in the Spirit and resist the flesh (Galatians 5:16). In tandem with discipline, it is a deliberate choice to refuse or “tear” out our flesh nature and its desires. God’s love for us teaches us to take up our cross and follow him. It also teaches us to say not my will, but yours be done.

• Punishment — Punishment is a penalty of guilt. Again, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, and it is the greatest demonstration of love. This love abolishes the need for punishment and the fear that accompanies it. Say this out loud. “I am un-punishable under the blood of Jesus! I am a no-fear zone.” As disciples, we do not train to follow and become like Jesus under the oppression of fear. Discipleship is a response of love to the greatest love we can ever know.

(Let me briefly touch on persecution here because I could see some overlap as I studied. The church as a whole and its individual members are subject to persecution, especially these days as we prepare for Jesus’ return. But persecution isn’t punishment laid on us by God. Jesus said to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake is a blessing (Matthew 5:10). It is part of our joy. We will talk more about this later in the series.)

Being perfected in love is a vigilant surrender! We are all in process. We are going to experience fear—fear of man, God’s leadership, the known, the unknown, etc.—as we live life and grow in Jesus. What will further us along in love’s perfection is an acknowledgment of fear when we sense it. It might sound like this, “Jesus, I sense fear about this decision. Forgive me. Perfect me in your love and counsel me today.” I am finding this simple prayer to be transformative. There is something powerful about confessing our need for help and remembering where our help comes.

Read the whole series in Vigilance Quarter 2. Download the free PDF HERE

---