How do we know that God's chastisement is different from judgment?

The distinction between chastisement and judgment is crucial. Hebrews 12:6-8 clarifies that God's chastening is an act of love, meant to guide His children back to the right path, whereas judgment pertains to the deserved consequences of one's own sins. The enduring of trials signifies that one is being treated as a son. Thus, a believer can differentiate through their response to suffering: if they endure as God's child, it indicates His loving correction rather than punitive judgment.