Part 3 Chapter 2: The Cross Cleanses One From Sin

尼古拉前执事 · Wed 23 February 2005 9:57 pm

Reader Benjamin · Post by **Reader Benjamin** » Fri 15 April 2005 8:42 am

Angel: ... Sin is decay; but punishment: a tool of healing. Like a sick person is subjected to great suffering who does not permit the doctor to cleanse his putrid wound, so the sinner is the most unhappy of all people if not punished (At. John Chrysostom, Discourse 6, On Antioch). ...

As parents we punish our children, not to make them suffer, but to save them from suffering. There are a lot of restraints on sin now, and some of these restraints keep us from sinning. Fear of getting a horrible disease from committing some sins, embaresment if caught, spending time in jail, ect. For us Christians these restraints are helpful to begin with, eventually as we grow we don't do these sins because of our love for God. But for the time being punishment and fear of punishment keeps us from some sins. We need to keep in mind that what ever helps us in not sinning is good. Praise God for all restraints for sin, and the punishment for our sins now rather than later.