Quote:
Originally Posted by Raptor
There are many verses that show not only loss of reward but also discipline and/or punishment for believers. We also have many cases, both in the Old T. and New T. concerning D and P. Entire chapters, books and accounts. And itīs relative, there is a large range, depending on every case....
Concerning the metaphorical use of a competition there is a third aspect you are not including:
1.) win = reward
2.) not win = lose reward
3.) cheat = discipline or punishment
Yes, maybe no punishment for not winning a prize, but surely punishment for behaving bad.
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Interesting #3 regarding cheating and that may need more exploring (you may have something here) . . . And yes . . . I know I didn't get "all the squirrels" up the one tree here! I was just pointing out that I think the preponderance of passages in the NT look to me to be more about gaining the reward or loss of the reward, rather than outright punishment. There are certainly passages that seem to go beyond just loss of reward, but regardless, as Nell pointed out, there is a purpose and God lovingly wants to help us and develop us fully into what He has planned.