What happens to those who are not God's children?

The fate of those who remain outside of God's family is starkly different from that of the believers. Romans 2:6-8 reminds us that God will repay each person according to their works. The unconverted are warned that their end will be marked by suffering, rejection, and eternal separation from God. This reality serves to heighten the believer's gratitude for their status as children of God who are chastened now to avoid such condemnation. They are assured that their chastening on earth is a part of God's loving plan and serves to purify and prepare them for eternal joy in His presence.