Answering some issues on the death penalty
Fri, Oct 21. 2011
Editor: On a radio program aired on CCR Radio last Sunday, 9th October, in a discussion on issues surrounding the death penalty, Dr. Linton Lewis said in his opening statements that âthe people who are calling for the death penalty have a criminal mind themselves.â{{more}} This statement is so crazy; it is the creator of the Universe who has given the death penalty for gruesome crimes that are committed such as murder: âwhoso sheddeth manâs blood by man shall his blood be shedâ¦â Genesis 9:6.
So to make a statement like that, Dr. Lewis, is to say that God who gave the death penalty has a criminal mind. God does not have a criminal mind! The reasons for giving the death penalty are clear. He gave the death penalty to put away evil from the land, and to deter the would be criminals. Deut 21:21
Government has the right to carry out the mandate of God: to protect the rights of all it citizens, as is mentioned in Romans 13:1-7. But when one citizen violates the right to life of another citizen, they forfeit their right to life. When the state kills someone who is found guilty of murdering another, it is not the same as murder. If it were the same, then we would have to say God instructed men to break His law, which in its correct rendering, is âthou shalt do no murderâ Exodus 20:13. Jesus taught obedience and justice. âAgree with thy adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary delivers thee to the judge and the judge delivers thee to the officer and thou art cast into prisonâ¦till thou have paid the uttermost farthing, âFor all they that take the sword shall perish with the swordâ Matt 5:25, 26; 26:52. Murder is defined as the act of unlawfully killing a human being with premeditated malice, by a person of sound mind.â Noah Webster 1828 American Dict. of the English Language.
Another issue that was raised on the program was whether or not Jesus is God. The scriptures show where Jesus is the creator and he is very God in flesh who gave the death penalty from the beginning. In John 1:1-3 it shows that the Word is God and all things were made by Him (creator) and in verse 14 it shows that the Word (GOD) became flesh and dwelt among us. Other references are made of Christ as Creator Col.1:16-20,Heb 1:2 just to name a few. He spoke to Moses from the burning bush calling Himself âI AMâ Ex. 3:14, He repeated His name to the Jews and they wanted to kill Him (John 8:58) âJesus said unto them, verily, verily I say unto you, before Abraham was I Amâ. But unto the Son he saith, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy Kingdomâ¦And, thou, Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of thy hands.â Heb 1:8, 10. Jesus has not contradicted himself in the scriptures; else He would cease to be God, âfor God is not the author of confusionâ¦â1 Cor 14:33. But he is consistent and always offers forgiveness and repentance. âBut there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.â Ps 130:4, (2 Pet 3:9). Thus, as it is said to them, it is said to us âI said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins. John 8:24. (The âheâ is not in the original) So the answer to the statement that âJesus is not God,â made by Mrs. Kay Bacchus Browne is JESUS IS VERY GOD INDEED.
Anyone of us today who does not accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior from sin is just as guilty of His death as those who shouted âcrucify Himâ, so forgiveness is granted to all who repent of their sins, for Jesus did not just pray for those who were present in his time, but for all who would come after. (If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness) 1John 1:9.
Maydon Parris
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