Quote:
Originally Posted by Zezima
How can there be Christian punishment if the blood of Jesus cleanses you from EVERY sin?
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I may be the only one on here expressing this view, but I think "punishment" is too strong a word. I believe the preponderance of verses that apply don't have to do so much with punishment as they do with
loss of reward. The blood of Christ is completely efficacious, but there is accountability for what what Christians did after salvation, that is, their works. While there may be some passages that seem to imply some sort of punishment for Christians, what I've come to see is that it's more about the loss of a reward.
(To clarify, we get redeemed and born of God and that redemption is sure! And then we do whatever we will, but there is accountability for what God's children do:
"For we must all appear before the [bema] seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10)
One doesn't normally get punished for not winning a prize (unless maybe in certain communist countries). Yet there are consequences for not winning. All Christians' works will be tested - as in 1st Corinthians 3 where is says that what we are building with will be tested by fire. If what we've built with is not according to what He deems to be proper materials, our works will be burned-up, yet the person will be saved.
"If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 1 Cor 3:15
Paul also speaks about running a race in several places, as does Hebrews (12:1).
What happens if you don't run well in a race . . . do you get punished? Well, in a manner of speaking, there is the personal distress of not winning the prize (a lot could be said about the various reasons a believer may feel considerable angst about this).
But the contest's judge does not usually whip those who lost the race . . .