The Loving Discipline of a Father
by Sarah Wootten, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

“I [Paul] do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel,” (1 Corinthians 4:14-15, ESV).
1 Corinthians is a heavy letter. If we examined the Corinthian congregation from a hundred different angles, what would we find? We would find a church divided over leadership and ignoring the wisdom of God. Immorality would be on display, and arrogance would be infused in almost every decision. Brother would be suing brother, and selfishness was the norm.

But in our examination, we would also find something wonderful – a group of sinners who have been loved extravagantly by the gracious heavenly Father. This isn’t a group of people who have believed a false gospel, like the church in Galatia. Rather, the Corinthians had been graced by God with faith in Christ, and they had been given a sure hope that one day they would be found blameless because of their faith in the Son (1 Corinthians 1:4-9). God set His love on them, and that love is evident by the salvation that they received.

As we come to 1 Corinthians 4:14-15, Paul reminded the believers of a very important truth that they needed to grasp – God disciplines those He loves (Proverbs 3:11-12). This is a hard truth for us to remember in the middle of discipline. As Christians, we have the Word of God, and we know that we are called to live a life that is reflective of the character of Christ. However, we find ourselves in sin again and again. If the Father has bestowed Christ’s riches upon me, then why must I still struggle with my own sin, and thus receive painful correction?

God has given pastors and elders to His churches to admonish the flock in the wisdom of God. Paul’s words of rebuke are not for the purpose of leaving the Corinthians in their shame, but for their guidance toward Christ. As Paul is calling the believers to repent, he is doing so out of a heart that a father has for his child. The love Paul has for these precious people is evident by his admonishment towards them. Paul is the one who shared the gospel with this congregation initially; they are his spiritual children. A faithful pastor loves his flock and rebukes them when necessary out of a heart of immense love and humility, just as the apostle is doing in this letter. And yet, what do we most often do when we are confronted with our sin? Instead of humbly receiving correction, we attempt to justify our actions.

But God disciplines those He loves. If a child was standing in front of oncoming traffic, none of us would leave him in the middle of the road out of fear of hurting his feelings. We would urgently move him to safety. The same is true for us. The conviction the Holy Spirit puts upon us is evidence of God’s love towards us. The Spirit’s conviction may come through a variety of ways – reading the Bible, a careful word from a pastor, remembering a truth after a moment of sin. However conviction may come, God’s love towards His children is too vast to leave us in our sins. He sent His Son to die for us, and then He gave us a Helper that produces Christlikeness in us.

While Paul’s words are candid in 1 Corinthians, we must remember that they are meant for our good. In God’s infinite wisdom, believers continue to struggle with our sin until we breathe our last breath. The painful discipline we receive is a reminder of God’s great love toward us. He did not leave us in our sin; rather, He sent His Son to be our Savior. So do not hate God’s correction, even if it comes from the faithful word of a pastor. Rather, receive it humbly with repentance. Then quickly move to praising Him because the Father has loved you greatly and is making you more like His Son.