In the course of my message this morning I said,
“Let’s say for the sake of argument, that this Governor had a sincere desire to be best leader of Judea since Solomon.
Let’s say that he took the needs of others above his own needs and pleasures.”
There is probably a name for that sort of thing, but I don’t know what it is.
Whatever its name is, I’m not its inventor, because we find that even Paul did the same thing.
In this case he basically said,
“If for the sake of argument, I am a felon, then I refuse not to be punished.
But the fact is, I am innocent of all the charges against me.
I have not broken the laws of Moses, and I have certainly done nothing to offend Rome.
If I am guilty of a capital crime, then I refuse not execution.”
When Paul referred to death as a punishment for certain crimes, doesn’t that imply that there are crimes worthy of death?
As they might have related to Paul treason and insurrection fall into the category of “capital crimes.”
Paul was not a murderer; he was not a rapist; he was not guilty of incest or homosexuality, so those crimes didn’t apply to him.
But he had been charged with being a “pestilent fellow and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world.”
If these were true then Paul suggested that execution would have been an acceptable punishment.
Paul, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, a ring-leader of the sect of the Nazarenes –
Paul as a prophet and spokesman for the God of Heaven suggests that capital punishment is Biblical.
I’m not going to take a lot of time to prove that the Old Testament demands capital punishment.
“Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
“He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death.”
“He that killeth any man shall surely be put to death.”
The question is not, “Did God ordain capital punishment,” but “is capital punishment Christian?”
Some people want to brick up the door between the Old Testament and the New Testament.
But the God of the first half of the scriptures is the same God that we find in the last half.
The law of the Old Testament was not done away in Christ, but rather it was fulfilled in Him.
Jehovah has never repealed the death penalty.
The 6th Commandment in Exodus 20 is not the abrogation of capital punishment.
The meaning of that sentence is simply, “Thou shalt not murder people.”
It has nothing to do with the execution of criminals.
Proof of that is seen in fact that God later, and often, ordered the death penalty.
When Jesus saw Peter hack off Malchus’ ear, what did the He say?
“Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.”
In this Jesus hinted at His approval of the death penalty.
On the cross the dying thief reflected the attitude of Jewish society.
Justice demands that murderers forfeit their lives.
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.”
Swords are not good instruments for slapping wrists.
Even a good wrist-slapping with a sword probably means a bloody and painful death.
Without a doubt, an honest study of scriptures shows the death penalty to be Christian.
And if it wasn’t – what would it mean in regard to the most notable death-sentence ever carried out?
If I mentioned the name “Wesley Dodd” how many of us could tell me who I was talking about?
Actually I used him as an illustration in a sermon on capital punishment about 12 years ago.
And in that message I actually said,
just as we have forgotten the names of countless others executed during our lifetime.”
And is the crucifixion of Christ Christian?
It is not only Christian, but it is at the very heart of Christianity itself.
It is the key that unlocks eternity and the abode of God.
Without it, the purpose of the incarnation of the Son of God is inexplicable.
That might occur from time to time, and it is highly regrettable, but that is an awful fact.
I can’t afford medical insurance, let alone heart surgery.
And I’m just one of hundreds of thousands across the United States.
And neither is race a question when it comes to this subject.
Have the vast majority been poor black folk, as the liberals try to tell us?
In Washington seven blacks have been executed, and all the rest have been white or other races.
In fact, in many states, because of backward prejudice, it’s nearly impossible to execute a black man.
In 2004, 59 criminals in the United States were executed, 6 fewer than in 2003.
In 2003, 65 persons in 11 States and the Federal system were executed –
2 each in Indiana, Missouri, and Virginia; and 1 each in Arkansas and the Federal system.
But of those 65 people executed in 2003: – 65 were men.
It is often argued that capital punishment may result in the death of innocent people, falsely convicted.
That is certainly a possibility, but it is a very slight possibility.
And don’t think that the Lord didn’t know that when he ordered the death penalty.
It is still our obligation to execute those whom we think are law-breakers.
A notable case is when a criminal has taken hostages.
Most law-enforcement people advocate risk losing hostages to get the criminal.
We do it with parental poisoning of children with secondary tobacco smoke.
He can’t hide behind the possibility of executing one innocent man out of a thousand.
Besides, the greatest blessing ever bestowed on this world, was one particular execution of an innocent man.
If Christ had not been crucified there would be no hope for any of us.
But if the ACLU had its way, Christ would never have died, and we’d all go to hell.
But still, is it MORALLY right to put a murderer to death?
Well then, what are morals and who determines them?
but in this case, we’re talking about the command of God.
And that, brethren, is the end of the discussion.
But there is an even more important theme than just a command to execute sinners.
There is the fact that the execution of Lord Jesus, the Son of God was eternally ordained.
Because you and I are sinners, we are enemies of God and His kingdom.
If that penalty was a fine of $20.00, we could all pay it
If that fine were $1,000 and 10 years in prison, we probably could pay that as well.
But the penalty for our sin is eternal death.
How can someone pay the price of eternal death and still live? That is impossible.
Christ was taken, and in what was truly cruel and unjust punishment died an agonizing death on my behalf.
To every man, woman and child who will acknowledge his sin debt, and who will humble himself before the now living Redeemer, there is forgiveness and eternal life.
Since this is the God-ordained plan, it MUST BE morally acceptable to Him.
And if it is not acceptable to you, then you will die in your sins and spend eternity Hell.
Denial of the death penalty, for many people, is a thinly disguised denial of the punishment for sin in Hell.
I stand amazed that so-called “evangelicals” can be opposed to capital punishment.
That denial stabs at the very heart of our need of a Saviour.
Don’t tell me that capital punishment doesn’t save lives; it most certainly does.
If capital punishment had been properly carried out the family of Shasta Groeny would be alive today.
Some people argue, “But executions are expensive.”
The price of the last hanging in the State of Washington is said to have been $20,000.
But what is the cost of incarcerating someone for 40 years?
And there are currently at least a dozen men on death row in Washington State.
What will be the expense of Shasta’s therapy for the next 60 years?
He said that people don’t want to see executions.
“We don’t want that sort of gross and ugly process done in front of our eyes if we can help it.
Come on Johnson, get real, that is what TV is built upon these days.
Media coverage of an execution is the ultimate reality TV.
But it does raise the specter of a simple thirst for blood.
To me this is the saddest part of the whole business.
We should be grieved that people have to be executed, not delighted.
Another soul, which should have been given to the glory of God has been sent out into eternity without Christ.
It’s a sad affair and not something over which Christians should lustfully drool.
But again, the problem is not the execution, it’s the glee that some have in it.
There is one other thing: capital punishment has some very important eternal practicality.
Most people don’t know when it will be that they shall die, but that is not true when an execution is planned.
And if that knowledge can be used by the Holy Spirit to bring a sinner to his knees before God – Amen !
Death is a very sobering thought which most of us casually dismiss.
But if it can’t be dismissed, then perhaps we need to consider salvation at the same time.
Paul essentially said,
“I believe in the practical application of capital punishment for those who deserve it.
But in the case of Rome versus Paul, I am NOT guilty.
In the case of Judaism against Paul, I am NOT guilty.
And in the case of JEHOVAH against Paul, I have been justified through the atoning blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Even if the first two were true, if the last was true, then there would not have been any real problems for Paul.