Does God Discipline Believers

WOW! What a dicey subject to bring up. How can it be that a loving GOD, the same GOD who sent himself as his son, became flesh in order to become the perfect sacrifice to fulfill the law, punish believers?

Is there scriptural support for this? Let look at Hebrews 12:5, 6

And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." NIV

Paul is referring to Proverbs 3: 11-12
11 My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
as a father] the son he delights in. NIV

I think it is clear that GOD will chastise, punish, discipline, (however you want to put it), those believers who are living in continual sin by allowing certain things to happen to them. I think one of the major influences that lead believers to think they are covered for their sins and can continue in their sin,is the over emphasis on grace and the pounding home of Ephesians 2: 8-9

"8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." NIV

While these verses are important to show that we cannot work our way to Heaven modern teaching has come full circle from the time Paul. Just as in Paul’s day Grace is viewed as a license to sin. All forms of sin are overlooked in many modern churches. Cohabitation, homosexuality, gossiping, greed, slander, etc. are all ignored and instead many church members are not only taught but it is emphasized that Jesus is our friend, our buddy, that he will take care of us and all of our troubles are over simply by believing in him. Grace is over emphasized and mistaught.
If sin is pointed out, if we are warned that we are doomed to spend eternity in hell if we don’t turn from our sin, if the WORD is taught in full context, with it’s original intention, somehow we are deemed to be fanatics and in some cases, guilty of hate speech. If we dare point out that GOD will not be mocked and that a believer is subject to discipline because of his/her behavior, we are ridiculed by fellow believers, and thought of by the world as ignorant, superstitious hate mongers, Neanderthals, or worse.

Don't listen to the world. Don't attend a church that emphasizes one aspect of the Christian walk over another, it leads to all kind of abuse. Grace is important, but it is not a license to sin. It is not the be-all and end-all of the Christian walk.

I hope this has help somebody., until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.