Hebrews 12:6-8 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Those whom the Lord loves dearly, those who he finds pleasing, he trains, molding them into the image of Christ. And he scourges, metaphorically whips or lashes, every child that he adopts. The first word translated as “chasteneth” is the Greek word “paideuo”, having a range of severity of the punishment that is carried out. The second word translated “scourgeth” is more precise and is used elsewhere to describe the beatings that both Christ and the Apostles suffered. This type of punishment is described often in the Old Testament, when God brought affliction and calamity upon the children of Israel, for their disobedience and rebellion against Him. If a person is experiencing chastening of any type, then he can rest assured God is dealing with him as one of His children. All of Gods children experience chastening in one form or another.

Notice that God does not chasten all of mankind. There will always be those who are bastards, or rather, those who are not legitimate children or those without a father. When a person is washed by the washing of regeneration, they are adopted as children of God. No one can be regenerate, and not be a child of God. Considering other related passages, it seems best that this is describing them as being illegitimate, meaning they do not conform to a particular standard, are not of a particular type. Given these three meanings we arrive at the conclusion that they are not of the adopted type.

Now, having defined those who are bastards, let’s take a closer look at those who are children. In these passages from Hebrews, we have determined two different types of punishment. Every child is scourged at some point, this does not necessarily mean all the time. However, all are partakers of some form of chastening, whether it be scourging or chastening. Whether it be afflication and calamity or punishment for training and conforming. I have mentioned often in other studies of the two types of children, the obedient and disobedient, and again this passage suggests two deferring regenerate types. Those whom the Lord loves dearly, those who he finds to be pleasing, are the obedeint who are living righteously. Those who are scourged are those who are disobedient, still living in sin, and in conformance to the world.