Understanding the difference between punishment and discipline through the lens of God’s grace reveals that, under the New Covenant, God lovingly corrects and trains us for growth—not to condemn us—because Jesus has already taken all punishment on the cross.
Usually, when we hear the words “discipline” and “punishment,” we think of parents and children. Most of us believe these words mean the same thing. Many of us may have been disciplined in love, but were also probably punished by our parents’ frustration and anger. Whether we realize it or not, our parental authority figures influence our concept of God, and it can get skewed when we assume that God acts the same way as our fallible parents. This false belief must be corrected so that we can rest in God’s grace.
If you grew up (like many of us) with a performance-based understanding of Christianity, you may have felt that when you messed up, God was waiting with punishment in hand, disappointed and ready to correct you harshly so that you would learn a lesson.
Also, when we face difficulties and tragedies in life (and we will), it’s natural to wonder why and even question if God is angry with us. Even though we aren’t exempt from trouble in this fallen world, God does promise that He will go through those times with us, and we can experience peace and joy amid sorrow and grief. God also promises that if we get off track in our Christian life, He will apply loving, corrective discipline to help us grow in understanding and expressing our new identity in Christ.
Through the lens of the New Covenant and Jesus's finished work, there’s a powerful difference between discipline and punishment. Understanding that difference changes everything about how we relate to God as His beloved children.
In Classic Christianity, Bob George clearly unpacks this distinction. He explains that punishment is about paying for sin, while discipline is learning and growing from our secure identity in Christ. Punishment flows from fear, and discipline flows from love.
Let’s explore this grace-based perspective together and reframe what it means to be “disciplined by the Lord” - not as a sign of His disapproval, but as an expression of His love and commitment to our growth as His dearly loved children.
Punishment Was Finished at the Cross
Under the Old Covenant, sin demanded punishment. But in the New Covenant, Jesus took the full punishment for sin (past, present, and future) on Himself at the cross once and for all. Bob George writes, "God, under the New Covenant, never deals with His children based on punishment. He is not dealing with us in anger, nor with a demand for justice.” If we believe God is still punishing us, we’re missing the complete picture of what Jesus did for us on the cross.
As God’s children, we are no longer under condemnation as stated in Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus." That means God doesn't punish us when we sin or fall short. The penalty for sin has already been paid in full. There’s no more wrath left for us to bear. What incredible freedom that brings - freedom from fear, guilt, self-condemnation, and shame.
This changes how we interpret difficult circumstances or corrections. It’s no longer about appeasing a disappointed God. It’s about walking with a loving Father committed to our growth and ongoing transformation in our daily lives. This occurs when we renew our minds and align our thinking, feelings, and actions with our new identity in Christ (Romans 12:2).
Remember that our core identity has already been transformed when we believe in Jesus. As we understand God’s grace and truth, our thoughts, emotions, and behavior reflect who we are as God’s children.
Discipline Is Rooted in Love
Discipline is different from punishment. Bob George clarifies that “discipline is training that develops self-control, character, and ability. It is looking forward to a beneficial result, is very personal, and is a continuous exercise.” Although discipline and punishment can sometimes feel the same to the person on the receiving end, there’s a big difference in the attitude and goal of the one administering it.
George says, “The attitude behind punishment is anger and indignation, and its goal is justice; the attitude behind discipline is love, and its goal is the benefit and development of the person.” Different objectives. God deals with us as a Father who loves His children dearly and desires to see them grow in grace.
God’s discipline is never about pushing us away. It draws us closer to Him. He’s not angry with us when we mess up. Instead, He lovingly guides us back to the truth, often using the consequences of our choices as a teacher.
Understanding the Difference
Confusing discipline with punishment causes us to fear God’s judgment, wondering if He’s keeping tabs on what we’ve done right and what we’ve done wrong. Imagine how it would feel to work with someone who constantly points out your faults daily. Now, think about the same situation working with someone who focuses on helping you grow in your skills and abilities and celebrates who you are regularly.
When we embrace the New Covenant truth that we are fully forgiven, entirely accepted, and unconditionally loved, we can rest in our relationship with God, even when He’s growing us through discipline.
Bob George explains, "God’s discipline is always for our good, never for our harm.” The Holy Spirit works in us not to condemn us, but to remind us who we are in Christ. Even conviction isn’t shame-based. It’s identity-based. It’s God saying, “This isn’t who you are. Let me show you a better way.”
When we rest in God’s grace, we stop striving. We stop fearing discipline and begin welcoming it as part of God’s loving fatherhood.
Discipline Under the New Covenant
As believers now under the New Covenant, God's discipline is understood as a form of loving training rather than punishment. Since we are fully forgiven and righteous in Christ, God's discipline is not about dealing with our sins in a punitive way. It’s about guiding and growing us in our relationship with Him (Hebrews 12:9-11).
God's discipline is described as a way to produce the peaceful fruit of righteousness. It’s meant to help us mature and experience the fullness of our identity in Christ. This discipline is not about breaking us down but building us up in love and truth (Ephesians 4:15-16).
In addition, God's discipline is future-oriented and focuses on training us for what lies ahead rather than punishing us for our past mistakes. It reflects His commitment to our growth and well-being as His children (Philippians 1:6). Thinking about discipline from this perspective allows us to embrace discipline as a positive and growth-oriented experience, knowing that it comes from a place of love and is for our ultimate good.
Embrace Your Father's Loving Instruction
God’s discipline is part of our lives as His children. He uses trials and hardships we face for our benefit, as shared in Romans 8:28. The cross debunked the lie that God is out to punish us, freeing us to rest in our Father’s great love. As a result, we can trust His correction as part of our ongoing transformation into Christlikeness.
Understanding the distinction between discipline and punishment through the lens of New Covenant grace transforms our relationship with God. We move from fear to love, working to resting, and guilt to growth. As Bob George articulates in Classic Christianity, embracing this perspective allows us to experience the fullness of God's love and the freedom that comes from knowing we are His very loved children, forever accepted and continually guided by His grace.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/eternalcreative
Renee Bethel, author of Finding Me: A Woman’s Guide to Learning More About Herself, is a Professional Christian Life Coach and a Certified Enneagram Coach. Her passion is guiding growth-minded Christian women to step into their God-given identity so they can live more authentically and confidently in the freedom of who they are in Christ. If you're ready to change how you view yourself and learn how God sees you, request her resource, Who am I - from God’s Perspective?
