Acts 12:7 KJV
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:23 KJV
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
I noticed this morning that two men were smitten of the Angel of the Lord in this chapter. But the results of that smiting is much different between the two. The Greek word is even the same in both verses. The word has a huge difference in meaning; either, to knock gently or to strike fatally. We see both extremes in the chapter.
Neither is pleasant, but the purpose of each is far different and it goes to remind us of the difference of facing God's chastisement or His judgment.
God's judgment is fatal and eternal.It condemns the soul to eternal hell and is horrible in both the short and long term impacts.
God's chastening is temporal and gentle.
Its purpose is to bring the intended into a right relationship with the Father. It is not pleasant but yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
God's judgment has been met in the person of Jesus Christ. Any person who trusts Christ as Saviour never need fear the fatal blow of judgment. God's chastening is only for the child of God.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
Acts 12:23 KJV
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
I noticed this morning that two men were smitten of the Angel of the Lord in this chapter. But the results of that smiting is much different between the two. The Greek word is even the same in both verses. The word has a huge difference in meaning; either, to knock gently or to strike fatally. We see both extremes in the chapter.
Neither is pleasant, but the purpose of each is far different and it goes to remind us of the difference of facing God's chastisement or His judgment.
God's judgment is fatal and eternal.It condemns the soul to eternal hell and is horrible in both the short and long term impacts.
God's chastening is temporal and gentle.
Its purpose is to bring the intended into a right relationship with the Father. It is not pleasant but yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
God's judgment has been met in the person of Jesus Christ. Any person who trusts Christ as Saviour never need fear the fatal blow of judgment. God's chastening is only for the child of God.
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