Page 15 - October 2025 - Truth & Tidings

of sins, purified conscience and standing ought (12:9-10), but with far superior
(1:3; 2:11; 7:19; 9:9,14; 10:10,14,17-22), was outcomes – “our profit,” “that we may
secured at our salvation. But our ultimate share his holiness,” and to yield “the
perfection, or the future aspect of salvation peaceful fruit of righteousness” (12:10-
anticipated in 1:14, is yet to be realised 11 ESV). It may be for sin (ignorant or
when the Church is “caught up” (1Th 4:14- wilful), for which our Father desires to
17). At this momentous event, our Lord invoke self-examination, confession and
and Saviour Jesus Christ “shall transform obedience to His Word. It may be to test
our body – humiliation into conformity to our motives, prove our character, produce
his body of glory” (Php 3:21 JND), and, as more fruit or to strengthen us for greater
sons “called according to ... purpose,” we responsibility. Ultimately, His purpose
2
shall be “conformed to the image of his is to cultivate Christ-like character and
Son” (Rom 8:28-29). OT saints will also Spirit-led capacity for sonship’s elevated
be “made perfect” (11:40; 12:23). They too privileges and responsibilities – both now
shall “awake with [his] likeness,” but not and in His kingdom. The principle is suc-
until after the tribulation, at the “resurrec- cinctly expressed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
tion of the just” when the Lord comes to Chastening can be quite severe and
earth in glory (Psa 17:15; 73:24; Luk 14:14). painful, and infants are apt to despise it.
Until then, God sovereignly arranges Adult sons, mindful of God’s purpose in
suffering in our lives to chasten us, to chastening, will be exercised to endure
make His “many sons” more like His and submit to it, despite how harsh it may
beloved Son. The Hebrews had “forgot- seem. They will recognise chastening as
ten,” as do we, “the exhortation which preparatory training for the honour of
speaketh” with us as with sons, “My son, sharing in Christ’s kingdom administra-
despise not thou the chastening of the tion (Act 14:22; Rom 8:15-19; 2Ti 2:12).
Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of
him: For whom the Lord loveth he chas- And since the sceptre of the Son, the
teneth, and scourgeth every son whom he Prince of Peace, is “a sceptre of righteous-
receiveth” (12:5-6, cited from Pro 3:11-12). ness” (Heb 1:8), they will appreciate the
The subject of chastening is timeless Father’s desire for heirs of the kingdom
truth (eg., Job 5:17; Deu 8:5; Rev 3:19). to be developed in righteousness and
The NT word for “chastening” (paideia) peace (12:11,14). Accordingly, we must
comes from a root meaning “child” (pais) not despise chastisement, but receive it as
and carries the ideas of disciplinary cor- coming from a loving Father who has the
rection, rebuke and admonition, training glory of His Son and “many sons” in view.
and instruction. Chastisement is proof Therefore, “lift up the hands which
of God’s love for us and our immutable hang down,” strengthen “the feeble
relationship with Him (12:6-8). Moreover, knees” and make “straight paths for [our]
God chastens His sons as earthly fathers feet” (12:12-13)! In citing Isaiah 35:3, we
judge the writer would also have us “ex-
2 The title “sons” implies relationship, hort one another” (3:13; 10:25), just like
responsibility and rights as heirs of God he was doing (13:22), so that others who
through “a spirit of adoption” (or sonship), and
applies to both male and female believers (see become despondent under chastening
Rom 8:14-19; Gal 4:5-7). don’t give up and go back.

303
TruthandTidings.com I October 2025 303