Freak
New member
Yes, you read that title correctly: I support captial punishment.
I firmly believe God directly executes judgment, according to His will and discretion, and death upon men and nations for certain offences. But this is God's prerogative not man's (nor a governments).
"We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did–and in one day twentythree thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did–and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel."
As you can see I'm just about to tip toe in some dangerous territory...
I recognize a number of believers on TOL are absolutely for the death penalty in our present dispensation. I also recognize that this topic is a hot one and I need to be careful how I address it lest I get myself in trouble. So, with that in mind, let's investigate the biblical view of the death penalty.
First, it was clear God ordained the death penalty to deal with certain crimes and sins in the Old Covenant. Sins like blasphemy and crimes like murder required the death of the guilty. I recognize this.
Secondly, it is clear God allowed the theocratic nation to punish certain criminals with death. The Law mandated it. The nation of Israel was called upon, Holy God, to carry this out.
However,
The Old Covenant which called for the governing authorities to utilize the death penalty was temporary. A greater covenant was spoken of that would illuminate us (see Hebrews 7:22) to a better means in dealing with crimes and sins—on a personal & governmental level. The Old Law which called for the death penalty has been annulled “because of its weakness and unprofitableness” (see Hebrews 7:18).
Under the superior New Covenant, God began to enlighten His people of a better means in dealing with sin/crime-the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which reconciles, restores, redeems, and forgives. The Gospel is more powerful then the Law (see Romans 1:16), for the Law is bondage (see Galatians 4). Governments which consist of individuals should be directed to live (and in providing societal order) according to precepts found in the better covenant which has a better way of dealing with criminals.
Let’s look at how Jesus and New Covenant believers dealt with those guilty of capital crimes:
•The Samaritan Woman in John 4 was guilty of adultery and yet Jesus restored her and did not call for her to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
•The Apostle Paul was a murderer and yet when Jesus encountered him He did not command Paul to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
•The Christians in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) who were formerly "sexually immoral," "idolaters," "adulterers," "male prostitutes," and "homosexual offenders"--all of which were capital offences in the Old Testament, were not called upon the apostle Paul to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
The New Covenant calls for redemptive justice—what we see Jesus did for the Samaritan woman, the apostle Paul, and others. You restore when there is repentance. When there in no repentance, call for punishment (see Romans 13). In this, the New Covenant gives liberty in the area of punishment. The death penalty however is not an option, as the New Covenant does not give the governments of the world an allowance to put to death criminals. The “sword” mentioned in Romans 13 is referring, symbolically, to the “authority” the government has to punish evil doers not to put them to death.
Governments should be required to follow the example, of Jesus and how he dealt with those guilty of capital offenses. It works much better then requiring them to follow the Law’s handling of capital crimes—for the Law is incapable of doing what Jesus can accomplish. Jesus is much better then the Law.
I firmly believe God directly executes judgment, according to His will and discretion, and death upon men and nations for certain offences. But this is God's prerogative not man's (nor a governments).
"We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did–and in one day twentythree thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did–and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel."
As you can see I'm just about to tip toe in some dangerous territory...
I recognize a number of believers on TOL are absolutely for the death penalty in our present dispensation. I also recognize that this topic is a hot one and I need to be careful how I address it lest I get myself in trouble. So, with that in mind, let's investigate the biblical view of the death penalty.
First, it was clear God ordained the death penalty to deal with certain crimes and sins in the Old Covenant. Sins like blasphemy and crimes like murder required the death of the guilty. I recognize this.
Secondly, it is clear God allowed the theocratic nation to punish certain criminals with death. The Law mandated it. The nation of Israel was called upon, Holy God, to carry this out.
However,
The Old Covenant which called for the governing authorities to utilize the death penalty was temporary. A greater covenant was spoken of that would illuminate us (see Hebrews 7:22) to a better means in dealing with crimes and sins—on a personal & governmental level. The Old Law which called for the death penalty has been annulled “because of its weakness and unprofitableness” (see Hebrews 7:18).
Under the superior New Covenant, God began to enlighten His people of a better means in dealing with sin/crime-the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which reconciles, restores, redeems, and forgives. The Gospel is more powerful then the Law (see Romans 1:16), for the Law is bondage (see Galatians 4). Governments which consist of individuals should be directed to live (and in providing societal order) according to precepts found in the better covenant which has a better way of dealing with criminals.
Let’s look at how Jesus and New Covenant believers dealt with those guilty of capital crimes:
•The Samaritan Woman in John 4 was guilty of adultery and yet Jesus restored her and did not call for her to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
•The Apostle Paul was a murderer and yet when Jesus encountered him He did not command Paul to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
•The Christians in Corinth (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11) who were formerly "sexually immoral," "idolaters," "adulterers," "male prostitutes," and "homosexual offenders"--all of which were capital offences in the Old Testament, were not called upon the apostle Paul to report to the governing authorities to be put to death.
The New Covenant calls for redemptive justice—what we see Jesus did for the Samaritan woman, the apostle Paul, and others. You restore when there is repentance. When there in no repentance, call for punishment (see Romans 13). In this, the New Covenant gives liberty in the area of punishment. The death penalty however is not an option, as the New Covenant does not give the governments of the world an allowance to put to death criminals. The “sword” mentioned in Romans 13 is referring, symbolically, to the “authority” the government has to punish evil doers not to put them to death.
Governments should be required to follow the example, of Jesus and how he dealt with those guilty of capital offenses. It works much better then requiring them to follow the Law’s handling of capital crimes—for the Law is incapable of doing what Jesus can accomplish. Jesus is much better then the Law.
