The Death Penalty

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Category: Doctrines

Published on Saturday, 28 March 2009 05:53

Written by Ryan Hicks

THE DEATH PENALTY

By Ryan Hicks

There are many people that oppose the death penalty solely because God demands it. And yet, they also have no problem with INNOCENT people being murdered every single day by way of abortion, because God commands against it. This only shows that the sinners love to defend their own: murderers, rapists, thieves, drunkards, etc., rather than defend the innocent unborn lives they so joyfully murder.

As the world becomes more and more ungodly, you will see more of the pagans defending those worthy of death, and yet taking great joy in having innocent babies murdered in the name of the pride and total selfishness of the mother. Could it be that they are so against the death penalty because they know in their hearts that they also deserve it? Possibly, though most of these people's consciences are so seared that they do not have any regard for the things that are good and just.

In 1998 there was a Christian woman who was put to death for horrible wickedness that she committed before salvation. Many pretend Christian groups went out and protested and tried to get her death penalty waived. (Of course, the many other groups that are against the death penalty were not there to protest because they did not care whether she lived or died because she was a Christian now.) All of this is totally against the word of God. One prominent "minister," Pat Robertson, said that he would have to change his views on the death penalty because of her case. Thus, in his eyes, the death penalty is warranted as long as the person does not ever become a Christian. This is no better that the anti-death penalty groups' defense of those like them who are worthy of death, it is hypocritical and inspired by devils.

If a person commits an act worthy of death, they deserve death. If the person becomes a Christian that does not change the reaping what is sown (Galatians 6:7). They are forgiven and on their way to be with the Lord, but He does not waive their earthly punishment. For this would only give the green light for people to commit acts worthy of the death penalty and then pretend to be converted to Christianity.

God's law for those that murder, not kill in self-defense or godly war, is that their blood be shed by the hand of man (Genesis 9:6). When God declared this to Noah this was before the Law of Moses. The death penalty was clearly given during the Old Testament Law, and it is equally given during the New Testament Law.

Acts 25:9-11
9   But Festus, willing to do the Jews a pleasure, answered Paul, and said, Wilt thou go up to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these things before me?
10   Then said Paul, I stand at Caesar's judgment seat, where I ought to be judged: to the Jews have I done no wrong, as thou very well knowest.
11   For if I be an offender, or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die: but if there be none of these things whereof these accuse me, no man may deliver me unto them. I appeal unto Caesar.

Here is our Brother in Christ, the Apostle Paul, making it clear that if even he had done something worthy of death HE REFUSED NOT TO DIE! This is the thought of the truly born-again. If you have done something that makes you worthy of death then even though you have repented and been forgiven by God you still accept the consequences of your actions. It is the trademark of a coward to try to get out of reaping the just reward of death for actions that are worthy of the death penalty. The Bible is clear on where such cowards will spend eternity (Revelation 21:8).

Romans 13:1-5
1   Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2   Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3   For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4   For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5   Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.

It is godly to resist the higher powers when they try to stop you from fully serving God, but for any other reason it is wicked and of the devil. God tells us to be subject to the higher powers because they ARE ordained of God. Rulers are a terror to evil works, not good works. Do not think that the higher powers bear the sword in vain, "for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." This makes it clear that God has ordained, in the New Testament times even, that the higher powers and rulers use their swords to execute wrath on those that do evil. God clearly ordains the death penalty in certain cases, and He has ordained the rulers to inflict wrath (i.e. death) with the sword upon them that do evil.

We also see in John 8:1-11 where the scribes and Pharisees were trying to tempt Jesus to either overturn the death penalty as given by God in Moses' law or go against the Roman government and carry out the death penalty according to Moses' law. Jesus enforced the death penalty, but also enforced the law of two or three witnesses being the first upon the person to put them to death (Deuteronomy 17:6-7). None of the scribes and Pharisees met the requirement, and thus the woman was left with no accusers, to which Jesus said, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."

Romans 1:18-32
18   For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19   Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20   For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21   Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22   Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23   And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24   Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25   Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26   For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27   And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31   Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

People that do such wickedness are worthy of death, both physical and eternal. This is another set of verses of Scripture clearly teaching that the death penalty is ordained by God, as it reads, "Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

The only people that really are against the death penalty are sinners, some evening claiming to be Christians, although there is no such thing as a sinful Christian. They try to pretend like they are doing the right thing by appearing to be nice and caring for godless reprobates worthy of death, but actually they are loving their own. They defend and argue against the death penalty because they claim it is cruel, as if the murder, rape, etc. that those who are worthy of death commit is not cruel! In actuality all these people are pleading is the cause of Satan. They defend his servants who sin such great sins as murder and other things determined to be worthy of death, and in doing such are condemned as sinners.

Ezekiel 13:18-19
18   And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?
19   And will ye pollute me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, to slay the souls that should not die, and to save the souls alive that should not live, by your lying to my people that hear your lies?

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