According to John 15:1-8, our interpretation of the sanctifying work that God accomplishes in our lives—especially during times of trial—is directly related to our understanding of pruning. This, in turn, affects our response to personal suffering and to others in their time of trial. If we view pruning as punitive, rather than restorative, we lose sight of God’s undying love toward us and we become like Job’s anti-gospel counselors who immediately assume God is punishing our fellow Christians and, therefore, we are now free to cast judgment and harsh treatment upon them.
Jesus Was Already Punished in Our Place
Now, do you and I deserve punishment? Do we deserve judgment from God? No question about it! We deserve 10,000 lifetimes of grief and pain and turmoil—plus eternal punishment in hell. But that is not what we get if we truly trust in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Why do we not receive eternal punishment? Because Christ already endured the punishment for our sin on His bloody cross. Why do we not receive punishment in our lives as Christians? Because Christ already endured the punishment for our sin on His bloody cross. If we forget this gospel truth then we become Pharisees
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