What does 1 Corinthians 11:32 mean?

Though it may shock some of us to hear it, Paul had been clear about the effect of God's wrath on His own children. God had brought some Corinthian Christians to sickness or death; this was in judgment for their unworthy participation in the Lord's Supper. How were they unworthy? For one, they treated the observance of communion as if it were any other meal, even eating and drinking too much. For another, the wealthy believers humiliated the poorer Christians at their Lord's Supper gatherings by not providing them with enough food or treating them respectfully (1 Corinthians 11:17–30).

Nothing in the text suggests that Paul is talking about people who are not legitimately Christians. These are born-again believers God has judged with sickness and death for their sin. Paul clarifies that this judgment does not include a loss of salvation. These believers will share eternity with Christ in glory based on their faith in Him and God's gracious forgiveness for their sin.

Paul describes judgment on this side of eternity as discipline. God may step into the life of a believer with loving discipline, even to the point of death, to keep us from experiencing the level of condemnation of those who have rejected Christ. The writer of Hebrews describes it this way, "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12:5–6).

This does not mean every illness and death comes as a result of the Lord's discipline (John 9:1–3). It does, however, mean God may use suffering to discipline the children He loves.