Sternness, as a concept in the Bible, refers to a firm, uncompromising, and sometimes severe approach to discipline, correction, or judgment. It is often associated with God's righteous nature and His dealings with humanity, as well as the conduct expected of believers in certain situations. Sternness is not to be confused with cruelty or harshness; rather, it is a reflection of justice, truth, and love that seeks the ultimate good.

Divine Sternness

God's sternness is evident throughout Scripture, particularly in His dealings with sin and disobedience. In Romans 11:22, the Apostle Paul writes, "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in His kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." This passage highlights the dual nature of God's character—His kindness and His sternness. God's sternness is a response to rebellion and is intended to lead people to repentance and restoration.

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of God's sternness. In the account of the Exodus, God displays sternness towards Pharaoh and the Egyptians through the plagues (Exodus 7-12). This sternness serves as a demonstration of His power and a call to acknowledge His sovereignty. Similarly, God's sternness is evident in His dealings with the Israelites, such as when He disciplines them for their idolatry and disobedience (Judges 2:14-15).

Sternness in Leadership and Discipline

Sternness is also a necessary quality in leadership and discipline within the community of believers. Leaders are called to exercise authority with wisdom and justice, sometimes requiring sternness to maintain order and righteousness. In 1 Timothy 5:20, Paul instructs, "But those who persist in sin should be rebuked in front of everyone, so that the others will stand in fear." This directive underscores the importance of sternness in addressing sin within the church to promote holiness and accountability.

The Book of Proverbs frequently addresses the theme of discipline, which often involves sternness. Proverbs 13:24 states, "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently." This proverb emphasizes that true love sometimes requires sternness to guide and correct, ultimately leading to growth and maturity.

Sternness in Personal Conduct

Believers are also called to exhibit sternness in their personal conduct, particularly in resisting sin and standing firm in the faith. In 1 Corinthians 16:13, Paul exhorts, "Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong." This call to strength and vigilance implies a sternness in the face of temptation and opposition.

Furthermore, sternness is necessary when confronting false teachings and maintaining doctrinal purity. In Titus 1:13, Paul advises, "This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sternly, so that they will be sound in the faith." Here, sternness serves as a protective measure to ensure the integrity of the faith community.

Conclusion

Sternness, as depicted in the Bible, is an essential aspect of God's character and a necessary quality in the life of believers. It is a reflection of divine justice and love, aimed at correction, restoration, and the promotion of righteousness. Whether in divine judgment, leadership, or personal conduct, sternness serves as a tool for maintaining holiness and truth.(n.) The quality or state of being stern.

The Note of Pity.
... In the chapter just concluded we have tried to lay down that one essential of the
preacher's message is the note of sternness, that the preacher is, on God's ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter ii the note of.htm

Prepositional Phrases
... aspect of grandeur. assumption of sternness. atmosphere of obscurity. attitude of
mind. ... explosion of rage. expression of sternness. extension of experience. ...
/.../kleiser/fifteen thousand useful phrases/section v prepositional phrases.htm

Particular Redemption
... first of all from the heinousness of our own guilt, from which He has delivered
us; secondly, we shall measure His redemption by the sternness of divine justice ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/particular redemption.htm

The Humanity of God
... That we need never show hardness, pride, sternness to our children when they do
wrong, but should win them by love and tenderness, caring for them all the more ...
/.../kingsley/discipline and other sermons/sermon ix the humanity of god.htm

The Note of Accusation.
... It is one of the criticisms of to-day that sternness has died out of theology. ...
This warning and accusing note of sternness must be regained. ...
/.../jackson/the message and the man/chapter i the note of.htm

The Meek and Lowly One
... There is a sternness which cannot be condemned. ... Neither do I condemn thee; go and
sin no more." Oh, how different from the sternness or Elijah! Sinners! ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the meek and lowly one.htm

Life in India.
... What a picture revealing Henry Martyn's character!"the contrasting attributes of
sternness and gentleness, his martyrlike determination to do his whole duty ...
/.../rhea/life of henry martyn missionary to india and persia/life in india.htm

A Short Account of the Origin of Methodism in England
... the age of sixteen he entered college at Oxford, and soon gave evidence, by his
progress in his studies, of that acuteness of intellect, and sternness of virtue ...
/.../chapter 1 a short account.htm

God's Character Our Resting-Place
... Had God been all frowns, and the Bible all terrors, and Christ all sternness, these
men could not have been in a more troubled and uncertain state than that in ...
/.../bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iii gods character our.htm

An Account of the Organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church ...
... government, no longer under the control of Great Britain, either in civil or
ecclesiastical matters, Mr. Wesley began to relax from the sternness with which ...
/.../chapter 3 an account of.htm

Sternness (1 Occurrence)
... (n.) The quality or state of being stern. Multi-Version Concordance Sternness (1
Occurrence). Romans 11:22 See then the goodness and severity of God. ...
/s/sternness.htm - 6k

Sternly (9 Occurrences)

/s/sternly.htm - 8k

Stew (7 Occurrences)

/s/stew.htm - 9k

Gehazi (14 Occurrences)
... On this latter occasion he was guilty of duplicity and dishonesty of conduct, causing
Elisha to denounce his crime with righteous sternness, and pass on him ...
/g/gehazi.htm - 19k

Frown (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To contract the brow in displeasure, severity,
or sternness; to scowl; to put on a stern, grim, or surly look. ...
/f/frown.htm - 7k

Rigor (8 Occurrences)
... winter. 6. (n.) Stiffness of opinion or temper; rugged sternness; hardness;
relentless severity; hard-heartedness; cruelty. 7. (n ...
/r/rigor.htm - 9k

Elisha (70 Occurrences)
... We next find him at Bethel (2:23), where, with the sternness of his master, he cursed
the youths who came out and scoffed at him as a prophet of God: "Go up ...
/e/elisha.htm - 61k

Austere (2 Occurrences)
... and disobedient. The fear resident in a guilty conscience sees only sternness
and severity in God's perfect righteousness. The word ...
/a/austere.htm - 8k

Steel (7 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) A piece of steel for striking sparks from flint. 6. (n.) Fig.: Anything
of extreme hardness; that which is characterized by sternness or rigor. ...
/s/steel.htm - 10k

Elijah (104 Occurrences)
... James (5:17) finds in him an illustration of the power of prayer. (See also Luke
4:25; 9:54.) He was a type of John the Baptist in the sternness and power of ...
/e/elijah.htm - 71k

What does the Bible say about Christian fathers? | GotQuestions.org

Sternness: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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