Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 4/18/2007

Question
Why does God no longer punish us for our sins?  In the Old Testament he sent punishment in the form of plagues, war, captivity, etc both on Israel and in judging the actions/behaviour even of nations that did not know him.  If God is the same yesterday, today and forever why are we not punished in the same ways?  
Also how can it be fair for God to punish those who were not his chosen people?  You can discipline your own children, but not others!

Answer
I'm sorry Dan. I sent you my ruff draft first by accident.
Here is the corrected reply.
Elder G~




Dan,

Good questions Dan. These are questions that have confused and perplexed people for many years. I will do my best to briefly answer them for you one at a time.

1) Why does God no longer punish us for our sins? If God is the same yesterday, today and forever why are we not punished in the same ways?

(Dan, after reading these questions, I concluded that these two are the same, and I will answer them as such. If I am mistaken, feel free to let me know.)

You are correct in assuming that God does not necessarily punish people in the same manner you referenced that He did in the Old Testament. Why? Biblical human history is categorized into what is called
"dispensations". To make it easier to read, I will list them for you in order of occurrence...

A) The Dispensation of Innocence.
This was the period of time between the creation of Adam and Eve until they sinned.

B) The Dispensation of Conscience.
From the fall of Adam to the flood of Noah. (Genesis 3:22-8:14)    

C) The Dispensation of Human Government.
From the flood of Noah to the tower of Babel. (Genesis 8:15-11:32)

D) The Dispensation of Promise.  
From the tower of Babel to the exodus out of Egyptian bondage. (Genesis
12:1-Exodus 12:37)

E) The Dispensation of Law.
From the exodus out of Egypt to the coming of Jesus Christ preaching
the Kingdom of God. (Exodus 12:38-Matthew 2:23)

F) The Dispensation of Grace.
From the first coming of Christ to the second coming of Christ.
(Matthew 3:1-Revelation 19:10)

G) The Dispensation of Divine Government.
From the second coming of Christ to the last rebellion of Satan on
Earth.(Revelation 19:11-20:15)

From the Dispensation of Conscience through to the Dispensation of Law God did indeed meet out the type of punishment you were eluding to. Mankind during these dispensations was accountable to God depending upon which dispensation they lived.

For instance...

During the dispensation of conscience man was ruled by his own conscience. Whatever he felt or thought was right, that is what they did.

During the dispensation of human government man was ruled by the unification of all men. This was before the tower of Babel. All of mankind refused to fulfill God's command to replenish the Earth, stayed in one location, and focused upon themselves and their goal of obtaining "godhood" through human efforts.

During the dispensation of promise, God began to reveal Himself in and through His covenant to Abraham and his descendants.

During the dispensation of law, God set up a sacrificial system that pointed to the future in which He would redeem man back to Himself. Under the law, man was shown how God dealt with man's sin nature, through the finished work of Jesus on the Cross.

However, we are now in the Dispensation of Grace. This is the period of time in which we now live. From the death of Jesus on the Cross until the second coming of Christ. Now God deals with us through the finished work of Christ. Now, men are held accountable, not by their conscience, not by the keeping of law, but by their acceptance or rejection of God's grace. Grace is the unmerited favor of Almighty God. He provide through Christ, the means by which we can receive eternal life.

Dan, you may be wondering what this has to do with your question. The reason I wrote about the former dispensation is that during those times God punished people as you described. This was His way of punishment at that time. He would warn the people (in many different ways) and if they did not repent and turn away from the evil they were doing, then judgment came. God has not changed in His judgment of sin/evil, only the "way" He executes that judgment. By this I mean that in this dispensation (of grace) mankind is held accountable to the Holy Spirit drawing them to repentance and faith through the Word of God.

John 6:44
No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Rom. 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Now, when people reject God's ONLY way of salvation (Jesus, and His death on the Cross) they will then receive judgment spiritually, as well as physically. They will suffer in the natural from the domination of sin in their lives (wrong decisions, fear, stress, ect...), as well as suffering spiritually (eternal separation from God in hell).

Dan, we also must consider the fact that everyone (Christian or not) all live in a world corrupted by sin. Even our physical bodies suffer from sin's effect's (sickness, ageing, ect...). So with this in mind, there are also things that happen to us that (for lack of a better way of saying it) just happen. Life just happens. Everyone gets a flat tire. Everyone faces issues at work. And if we live long enough, we will all face death itself. The Bible put's it this way....

Matt. 5:45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

But as Christians we know that God use's all things for our good. Even the bad things in our lives, if we continually look to the Heavenly Father.

Rom. 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2) "Also how can it be fair for God to punish those who were not his chosen people? You can discipline your own children, but not others!"

(Once again, these two are one question)

God will use even judgments as a means of "breaking down" the walls of resistance people put up in their lives in rejection of Jesus Christ. You are correct that those who are not Christians are not God's children. But it is the will of God that everyone be saved.

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.


Jonah was a good example. God sent him to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. He resisted at first, but finally went. He preached the coming judgment of God that was to come upon the city. But the people of Nineveh received the waning God gave them and repented and turned from their sins.

Another example is the great 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. God used this tragedy to birth a revival in Los Angeles at the Azusa St. mission. After the earthquake thousands poured into this small mission converted from a horse stable. Thousands their received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and were filled with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. From a great tragedy to a great revival!

Now do all turn to God? NO. Sadly many are like the pharaoh that tried to keep Moses and Israel in bondage. Plague after plague, yet he still would not submit to God. The same is true today.

God's will is that all be saved, yet He will not override the free-will of every person to accept, or reject His salvation. If I may be so bold Dan, have you received Christ as your personal Lord and Savior? If not, why not turn to Him now. If yes, then I rejoice with you in God!

Please let me know if this was helpful, or if you have any further questions.
Elder Greg Madden