John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 11:31

"But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged." — 1 Corinthians 11:31 (ASV)

For if we would judge ourselves. Here we have another remarkable statement: that God does not suddenly become enraged with us, to inflict punishment immediately when we sin. Instead, for the most part, it is due to our carelessness that He is, in a way, constrained to punish us when He sees that we are careless and drowsy, flattering ourselves in our sins.

Therefore, we either avert or lessen impending punishment if we first call ourselves to account and, moved by a spirit of repentance, implore God to turn away His anger by voluntarily inflicting punishment on ourselves. In short, believers anticipate God's judgment through repentance, and there is no other remedy by which they may obtain absolution in God's sight than by voluntarily condemning themselves.

You must not, however, understand, as Roman Catholics are accustomed to do, that this involves a kind of transaction between us and God, as if, by voluntarily inflicting punishment on ourselves, we rendered satisfaction to Him and, in a way, redeemed ourselves from His hand. Therefore, we do not anticipate God's judgment on the basis that we bring any compensation to appease Him.

The reason is this: because God, when He chastises us, intends to shake us out of our drowsiness and arouse us to repentance. If we do this voluntarily, there is no longer any reason why He should proceed to inflict His judgment on us. If, however, anyone, after having begun to be displeased with himself and to meditate on repentance, is nevertheless still visited with God’s chastisements, let us understand that his repentance is not so complete or certain as not to require some chastisement to be sent to him, by which it may be helped toward a fuller development. Note how repentance wards off God's judgment by a suitable remedy — not, however, by way of compensation.