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Scripture taken from the New King James Version.  Copyright 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.


The Bible Talks about CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.



(A man intentionally kills another man.  A jury finds him guilty.  He is
sentenced to die.  Is this right?  Should a state put a man to death?).

IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, AT MT. SINAI, GOD GAVE LAWS FOR ISRAEL TO FOLLOW AS
A NATION AND ALSO TO FOLLOW AS INDIVIDUALS.  TWO RECEIVERS OF THE LAW:
ISRAEL AS A GOVERNMENTAL BODY, A STATE, AND THE INDIVIDUAL.

TO THE INDIVIDUAL GOD SAID:
EXODUS 20:13  "You shall not murder."
LEVITICUS 19:18  "'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against
the children of your people,..."
LEVITICUS 19:18."...but you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  I am the
Lord."

BUT TO ISRAEL AS A GOVERNING NATION GOD SAID:
EXODUS 21:12  "He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to
death."  (Because the individual cannot put anyone to death, it is up to
Israel as a nation to carry out this command).

LEVITICUS 24:17  "'Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death."
(The same God who commanded man to love one another and not hurt or kill,
ordered the state, the governing authority, to take the life of a murderer.
A killer is not to go unpunished)



IS IT ANY DIFFERENT TODAY SINCE THE LAW HAS BEEN ABOLISHED?

NO!

AS INDIVIDUALS:
MATTHEW 5:44   "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse
you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use
you and persecute you,...."
Matthew 22:39   "And the second (Commandment)is like it: 'You shall love
your neighbor as yourself.'"
ROMANS 12:17 " Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in
the sight of all men."
(For the new commandments, read BT#12, Greatest and New Commandment).)


AS A GOVERNING NATION:
ROMANS 13:1  "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For
there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are
appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the
ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.For
rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be
unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from
the same.For he is God's minister to you for good.
 But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for
he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices
evil."


CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT MURDER.  CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IS THE ACTION OF  THE
STATE CARRYING OUT WHAT GOD HAS ORDERED.

(Evil-doers, escaping vengeance from individuals, are not to escape
punishment from governing authorities.)



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