Christ and The Death Penalty

[Webers_Home]

-
There's always a number of people out and about who truly believe that
Christ wasn't obligated to comply with the covenant that Yhvh's people
agreed upon with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Take capital punishment for example. I encounter people all the time who
sincerely believe that Christ opposed it. But were Christ to oppose capital
punishment, he would incur a curse upon himself.

†. Deut 27:26 . . Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this law and
observe them.

The grammatical tense of that curse is present rather than future, indicating
that the curse is instant-- no delay and no waiting period.

And then there are people who sincerely believe that Christ was a reformer;
viz: his brand of religious philosophy was kinder, gentler, and more loving
and understanding than the thunder and lightening of the Old Testament's
God. But Christ claimed that he and God are unified.

†. John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but
the will of Him who sent me

†. John 8:29 . . He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me
alone; for I do always those things that please Him.

†. John 10:30 . . I and my Father are one.

The ultimate capital punishment pending is the lake of brimstone featured at
Rev 20:10-15 wherein people will undergo termination akin to a foundry
worker falling into a vat of molten iron. The administrator won't be the Old
Testament's thunder and lightening God, no, the administrator of that
horrifying scene will be the kinder, gentler, and more loving and
understanding Jesus.

†. John 5:22 . . The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to
the Son

†. Acts 17:31 . . He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness through a man whom He has appointed, having furnished
proof to all men by raising him from the dead.

The Great White Throne event won't be a peaceful scene. People will be
literally pale with terror, lips trembling, mouths too dry to speak; screaming,
shrieking, bellowing, sobbing and yelping-- eyes darting about looking for
something, anything, to clutch and cling to as a force they cannot resist
drags them off to capital punishment in a flaming substance where their
incinerated remains will be perpetual nourishment for a curious species of
fire-proof worm.

†. Isa 66:23-24 . . All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week
and from month to month. And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies
of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will
never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by
will view them with utter loathing.

A worm that thrives in brimstone is pretty amazing, but not totally
unreasonable. The 4-inch Pompeii worm lives in sea water temperatures of
176° F --hot enough to destroy salmonella and sanitize an egg. So I guess if
God could create a worm like the Pompeii, it shouldn't be too difficult for Him
to create worms that like it even warmer; and Christ fully approves because
he and the Old Testament's God are unified.

†. John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of Him who sent me

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[heretoeternity]

Jesus words "Those of you who are without sin cast the first stone"....seems to negate the death penalty

 

[iakov]

-
There's always a number of people out and about who truly believe that
Christ wasn't obligated to comply with the covenant that Yhvh's people
agreed upon with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.

Take capital punishment for example. I encounter people all the time who
sincerely believe that Christ opposed it. But were Christ to oppose capital
punishment, he would incur a curse upon himself.

†. Deut 27:26 . . Cursed be he who will not uphold the terms of this law and
observe them.

The grammatical tense of that curse is present rather than future, indicating
that the curse is instant-- no delay and no waiting period.

And then there are people who sincerely believe that Christ was a reformer;
viz: his brand of religious philosophy was kinder, gentler, and more loving
and understanding than the thunder and lightening of the Old Testament's
God. But Christ claimed that he and God are unified.

†. John 6:38 . . I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but
the will of Him who sent me

†. John 8:29 . . He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me
alone; for I do always those things that please Him.

†. John 10:30 . . I and my Father are one.

The ultimate capital punishment pending is the lake of brimstone featured at
Rev 20:10-15 wherein people will undergo termination akin to a foundry
worker falling into a vat of molten iron. The administrator won't be the Old
Testament's thunder and lightening God, no, the administrator of that
horrifying scene will be the kinder, gentler, and more loving and
understanding Jesus.

†. John 5:22 . . The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to
the Son

†. Acts 17:31 . . He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in
righteousness through a man whom He has appointed, having furnished
proof to all men by raising him from the dead.

The Great White Throne event won't be a peaceful scene. People will be
literally pale with terror, lips trembling, mouths too dry to speak; screaming,
shrieking, bellowing, sobbing and yelping-- eyes darting about looking for
something, anything, to clutch and cling to as a force they cannot resist
drags them off to capital punishment in a flaming substance where their
incinerated remains will be perpetual nourishment for a curious species of
fire-proof worm.

†. Isa 66:23-24 . . All humanity will come to worship Me from week to week
and from month to month. And as they go out, they will see the dead bodies
of those who have rebelled against me. For the worms that devour them will
never die, and the fire that burns them will never go out. All who pass by
will view them with utter loathing.

A worm that thrives in brimstone is pretty amazing, but not totally
unreasonable. The 4-inch Pompeii worm lives in sea water temperatures of
176° F --hot enough to destroy salmonella and sanitize an egg. So I guess if
God could create a worm like the Pompeii, it shouldn't be too difficult for Him
to create worms that like it even warmer; and Christ fully approves because
he and the Old Testament's God are unified.

†. John 4:34 . . My food is to do the will of Him who sent me

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

In Ro 13, Paul said that everyone is to be subject to the government and that:
Rom 13:3-4 ... rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; or it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. (NASB)

In Paul's time, the wrath brought was often a death penalty.

Jesus told that parable of a noble man who went on a journey to be appointed king over a country. People from that country sent word that they did not want him to be king over them. (Luke 19:12, 14) When he returned as king he commanded: “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.” (Luke 19:27 NASB)

IN that parable, Jesus is talking about himself. He is the one who will go to a far country (the throne of God) to be appointed king. When He returns to rule, He will have His enemies slain in the lake of fire. His enemies are those who refuse to submit to His rule.

I'd say that Jesus is definitely a proponent of capital punishment.

Iakov

 

[Webers_Home]

-
An incident recorded in the 8th chapter of John is sometimes appropriated to
suggest that Christ opposes capital punishment. But the incident is actually
better appropriated to show that Christ is a stickler for due process.

Long story short, a woman was brought before Christ accused of adultery;
which is normally a mandatory death offense under the terms and conditions
of the covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God as per the Old
Testament.

†. Lev 20:10 . . And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife,
even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and
the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

However; the covenant requires that no one can be given the death penalty
without the testimony of at least two witnesses.

†. Deut 17:6-7 . . At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall
he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness
he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon
him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou
shalt put the evil away from among you.

As it turned out; all the witnesses, to a man, recused themselves, leaving
none with which to build a case against the woman.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 

[heretoeternity]

The law you are quoting ended at the Cross....just as Jesus said no longer and eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth...Love your enemies, pray for your enemies....thats why He said "those of you who are without sin cast the first stone" No one was qualified...quite profound don't you think?

 

[Webers_Home]

-
†. Gen 9:5-6a . . But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will
require it of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human
life, of every man for that of his fellow man! Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed;

The important thing to note is that Gen 9:5-6a is neither a Jewish law nor a
Christian law. It's not even a religious law. It's what's known as a law of the
land; and it pertains to everybody, both man and beast.

†. Gen 9:8-10 . . And God said to Noah and to his sons with him: I now
establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every
living thing that is with you-- birds, cattle, and every wild beast as well --all
that have come out of the ark, every living thing on earth.

The death penalty as per Gen 9:5-6 is mandatory only for murder; which
Webster's defines as: the crime of unlawfully killing a person; especially with
malice aforethought. The key word in that definition is "unlawfully"

Capital punishment for murder isn't optional. The word "shall" indicates an
edict: and anybody who thinks they're in step with God while actively
opposing the death penalty for murder has another think coming.

Q: Don't you think it's better to lock all murderers away for life rather than
risk taking the lives of those who are innocent?

A: It is never better to disobey God. The first couple did, and you see what
that got them.

Disobedience is on a scale with dark arts and the worship of pagan gods like
Shiva and Vishnu.

"Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying
the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed
than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and
insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. (1Sam 15:22-23)

In war, commanders expect a percentage of casualties by human error
and/or friendly fire; and those kinds of casualties are usually factored in as
acceptable losses. But it isn't wise to turn off a war off just because
somebody might get hurt by friendly fire. Accidents happen; even under
ideal conditions.

It's the same with the war on crime. Just because a percentage of innocent
people get executed for something they didn't do, is no excuse to get in bed
with the Devil and oppose God's edicts as per Gen 9:5-6.

America's justice system, although far from perfect, has a pretty good
batting average. The overwhelming majority of people dead from executions
fully deserved what they got. Only a tiny percentage are victims of error;
and those percentages should always be considered acceptable losses in any
legitimate endeavor to protect domestic tranquility.

†. Gen 9:6b . . For in His image did God make man.

Interesting. So then; murder wasn't banned because it's immoral, but
rather, because it demeans the name of God. Apparently, were humanity
lacking His image, people could go on safari and stalk each other like game
animals and mount human heads as trophies of the hunt.

James criticized the cursing of humans not because it's immoral, but
because it demeans the name of God.

"People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no
one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into
curses against those who have been made in the image of God." (Jas 3:7-9)

The image of God lends humanity a measure of divinity that it wouldn't have
otherwise.

"You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory
and honor and put everything under his feet." (Heb 2:7-8)

Without that measure of divinity, humanity would just be another among
many air-breathing primates.

Refusal to pursue the death penalty for murder denigrates the sanctity and
dignity of Almighty God. So don't ever let anyone tell you capital punishment
for murder is wrong. No; capital punishment for murder isn't wrong; au
contraire, capital punishment for murder is divine.

†. Isa 45:9 . .Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker

†. Rom 9:20 . .Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 

[mjrhealth]

Love was always teh option something that was constanly overlloked, that is why jesus did what He did with the women.

Hos_6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Psa 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psa 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Psa 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

It is the "law" tha trequires sacrifice not God.

 

[heretoeternity]

Love was always teh option something that was constanly overlloked, that is why jesus did what He did with the women.

Hos_6:6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Psa 40:5 Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
Psa 40:6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

Psa 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Psa 51:16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

It is the "law" tha trequires sacrifice not God.












The Mosaic law 613 laws of Moses was the sacrificial system which included circumcision, feast laws, food laws, clenliness laws etc.....this is where the sacrificial system that ended at the cross and Jesus was the final sacrifice to redeem mankind...

God's law the Ten commandments is different altogether, and are the moral law for the human race to live by, and is the law of love according to Matthew 22 and James 2...Love of God (the first four commandments) and Love of neighbour (last 6 commandments)..

 

[brakelite]

-
†. Gen 9:5-6a . . But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will
require it of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human
life, of every man for that of his fellow man! Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed;

The important thing to note is that Gen 9:5-6a is neither a Jewish law nor a
Christian law. It's not even a religious law. It's what's known as a law of the
land; and it pertains to everybody, both man and beast.

†. Gen 9:8-10 . . And God said to Noah and to his sons with him: I now
establish My covenant with you and your offspring to come, and with every
living thing that is with you-- birds, cattle, and every wild beast as well --all
that have come out of the ark, every living thing on earth.

The death penalty as per Gen 9:5-6 is mandatory only for murder; which
Webster's defines as: the crime of unlawfully killing a person; especially with
malice aforethought. The key word in that definition is "unlawfully"

Capital punishment for murder isn't optional. The word "shall" indicates an
edict: and anybody who thinks they're in step with God while actively
opposing the death penalty for murder has another think coming.

Q: Don't you think it's better to lock all murderers away for life rather than
risk taking the lives of those who are innocent?

A: It is never better to disobey God. The first couple did, and you see what
that got them.

Disobedience is on a scale with dark arts and the worship of pagan gods like
Shiva and Vishnu.

"Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying
the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed
than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and
insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. (1Sam 15:22-23)

In war, commanders expect a percentage of casualties by human error
and/or friendly fire; and those kinds of casualties are usually factored in as
acceptable losses. But it isn't wise to turn off a war off just because
somebody might get hurt by friendly fire. Accidents happen; even under
ideal conditions.

It's the same with the war on crime. Just because a percentage of innocent
people get executed for something they didn't do, is no excuse to get in bed
with the Devil and oppose God's edicts as per Gen 9:5-6.

America's justice system, although far from perfect, has a pretty good
batting average. The overwhelming majority of people dead from executions
fully deserved what they got. Only a tiny percentage are victims of error;
and those percentages should always be considered acceptable losses in any
legitimate endeavor to protect domestic tranquility.

†. Gen 9:6b . . For in His image did God make man.

Interesting. So then; murder wasn't banned because it's immoral, but
rather, because it demeans the name of God. Apparently, were humanity
lacking His image, people could go on safari and stalk each other like game
animals and mount human heads as trophies of the hunt.

James criticized the cursing of humans not because it's immoral, but
because it demeans the name of God.

"People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no
one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison.
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it breaks out into
curses against those who have been made in the image of God." (Jas 3:7-9)

The image of God lends humanity a measure of divinity that it wouldn't have
otherwise.

"You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory
and honor and put everything under his feet." (Heb 2:7-8)

Without that measure of divinity, humanity would just be another among
many air-breathing primates.

Refusal to pursue the death penalty for murder denigrates the sanctity and
dignity of Almighty God. So don't ever let anyone tell you capital punishment
for murder is wrong. No; capital punishment for murder isn't wrong; au
contraire, capital punishment for murder is divine.

†. Isa 45:9 . .Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker

†. Rom 9:20 . .Who are you, O man, to talk back to God?

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Yet you do not believe in capital punishment. You do not believe in the death of the sinner...you believe in, promote, and even exalt in the idea of eternal torment, wherein the sinner has eternal life. Your entire thread is a contradiction. And a shameful caricature on the character of God believing he desires sinners to suffer for all eternity in flames. You have been promoting this merciless theory of yours for years, and it flies directly in the face of Romans 6:23, which says the wages of sin is death, in direct contradistinction to the eternal life of the saved.

 

[DanielGarneau]

Hello,

I recently read through the United Methodist Church Statement of Belief and Social Creed, which really challenged my thinking on a number of issues, one of them was how they view death penalty. The following text is extracted from the above-mentionned section of their web site:

"The Death Penalty – We believe the death penalty denies the power of Christ to redeem, restore and transform all human beings. The United Methodist Church is deeply concerned about crime throughout the world and the value of any life taken by a murder or homicide. We believe all human life is sacred and created by God and therefore, we must see all human life as significant and valuable. When governments implement the death penalty (capital punishment), then the life of the convicted person is devalued and all possibility of change in that person’s life ends. We believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and that the possibility of reconciliation with Christ comes through repentance. This gift of reconciliation is offered to all individuals without exception and gives all life new dignity and sacredness. For this reason, we oppose the death penalty (capital punishment) and urge its elimination from all criminal codes."

This statement is part of a broader approach to social issues that is thoroughly explained within the Church documentation. You can read the text quoted above within its fuller context on their web site, under the title Social Principles: The Political Community.

 

[heretoeternity]

Quote from Weber "America's batting average has been good the criminals got what they deserved...hmmmm how many innocent people were put to death? If the criminal justice system was perfect you could make that statement..but it is corrupt, and seeks to convict the first "suspect" they find. Anything to get a conviction and move on....so your statement does not make sense, to me anyway, based on this information. What happened to Paul and Peter's statement "Do not repay evil with evil, but evil with good"? and Jesus statement "those among you who are free from sin cast the first stone"?

 

[Barrd]

-
An incident recorded in the 8th chapter of John is sometimes appropriated to
suggest that Christ opposes capital punishment. But the incident is actually
better appropriated to show that Christ is a stickler for due process.

Long story short, a woman was brought before Christ accused of adultery;
which is normally a mandatory death offense under the terms and conditions
of the covenant that Yhvh's people agreed upon with God as per the Old
Testament.

†. Lev 20:10 . . And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife,
even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and
the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

However; the covenant requires that no one can be given the death penalty
without the testimony of at least two witnesses.

†. Deut 17:6-7 . . At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall
he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness
he shall not be put to death. The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon
him to put him to death, and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou
shalt put the evil away from among you.

As it turned out; all the witnesses, to a man, recused themselves, leaving
none with which to build a case against the woman.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

You seem to be forgetting Jesus' requirement that the witnesses against this woman must be without sin themselves.

 

[Webers_Home]

-

You seem to be forgetting Jesus' requirement that the witnesses against
this woman must be without sin themselves.

†. John 8:6-9 . . Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with
his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said
to them: He among you without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at
her.

. . . Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who
heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus
was left, with the woman still standing there.

There's lots of speculation going around about what Christ wrote on the
ground; and some of it is a mite kooky. Well, as for me; I suspect it was the
names of girlfriends that the woman's accusers had on the side that they
thought nobody knew about. Hence when Christ said "let him who is without
sin cast the first stone" he wasn't talking about sin in general; no, he meant
the same sin; viz: adultery.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 

[Webers_Home]

-
Below is a list of sins for which the law-- that Yhvh's people agreed upon
with God as per Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy --mandates
the death penalty.

Murder (Gen 9:5-6, Ex 21:12-14, Lev 24:17, Lev 24:21, Num 35:31-34)
Assault and Battery upon parents (Ex 21:15)
Kidnapping (Ex 21:16)
Execrating parents (Ex 21:17)
Harboring a dangerous animal (Ex 21:28-29)
Adultery (Lev 20:10, Deut 22:22)
Marrying a mother and her daughter (Lev 20:14)
Sleeping with a daughter-in-law (Lev 20:12)
Homosexuality (Lev 20:13)
Sleeping with the wife of one's father (Lev 20:11)
Necromancy (Lev 20:27)
Contempt of court (Deut 17:8-13)
Perjury (Deut 19:16-21)
Breaking the Sabbath (Ex 31:12-17)
Propagating cults and isms (Deut 13:1-18)
Blaspheme (Lev 24:13-16)
Malicious miscarriage (Ex 21:22-24)
Bestiality (Ex 22:18, Lev 20:15-16)
Tainted Virgins (Deut 22:13-21)
Naughty fiancée (Deut 22:23-27)
Sorcery (Ex 22:18)
Reprobate offspring (Deut 21:18-21)

The death penalty for those sins is a covenanted penalty. Seeing as how
Christians are not covenanted with God to enforce the law as per Exodus,
Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy; then Christians, as a corporate body,
are under no obligation to punish sin in their midst in accordance with the
law's stipulations.

For example: If a member of your church is caught practicing sorcery, then
your church's governance may discipline the member, but that's the limit of
their authority because capital punishment for the sin of sorcery is restricted
to Judaism.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

 

[iakov]

Jesus words "Those of you who are without sin cast the first stone"....seems to negate the death penalty

According to the Law of Moses, (Lev 20:10 NKJV) The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put to death.

Jesus did not revoke that law but He did expose the hypocrisy of the the people who demanded that He approve of stoning her. If she was caught "in the very act" of adultery, (John 8:4) where was the man with whom she sinned? Why hadn't they brought him to be stoned along with the woman as the Law requires? And why would they bring her to Jesus since they knew exactly what the Law said? They didn't need His approval.

The scribes and Pharisees had no problem with having a woman stoned to death while allowing the man to go free in their attempt to trap Jesus in His words. He showed them to be merciless hypocrites who would readily violate the Law and kill someone if it was to their advantage.

But, there is nothing in the passage that could be seen as Jesus revoking of the death penalty. In fact, Jesus upheld it.

 

[iakov]

Christians, as a corporate body, are under no obligation to punish sin in their midst in accordance with the law's stipulations.

I believe you are correct. The church is not a court where people are accused, indited, tried, convicted and sentenced.

But there is a level of discipline which is necessary to sustain the pursuit of holiness within the congregation.

What do you make of the following passage?

1Co 5:1-5 (NIV) It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this? For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

And:

Rom 13:1-5 (NKJV) 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. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.

A sword has only one intended purpose. The scriptures do not challenge the secular government's authority to carry out capital punishment.

 

[heretoeternity]

According to the Law of Moses, (Lev 20:10 NKJV) The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress, shall surely be put

The scribes and Pharisees had no problem with having a woman stoned to death while allowing the man to go free in their attempt to trap Jesus in His words. He showed them to be merciless hypocrites who would readily violate the Law and kill someone if it was to their advantage.

But, there is nothing in the passage that could be seen as Jesus revoking of the death penalty. In fact, Jesus upheld it.

So you feel you are without sin, and would be eligible to cast the first stone?

 

[iakov]

So you feel you are without sin, and would be eligible to cast the first stone?

Whaaaaatt?????

How could you possible come to such a conclusion?

Is English your native language? (Seriously :mellow: I really have no idea how you came up with that conclusion.)

 

[r4hnsn]

While " all have sinned", there have been men throughout all history, whom God has removed all sin from them. Anyone who denies this atleast a possibility, also denies the power of God. Or do you think you will enter into heaven with sin ? No we all shall be transformed in a twinkling of an eye, and if God will do such then, why will He not do such here if He so wills.

But nowhere is it requirement to be sinless for a government authority to carry out the death penalty, the only requirement is to have 2+ witnesses, DNA and Forensic' science do not count as witnesses. That is where most punishment by death goes wrong, that and the fact that too much time elapses and it loses its shock value to deter others, which is the main purpose, not revenge or retribution, for we are to forgive our enemies and leave revenge to God.

 

[michaelvpardo]

Jesus words "Those of you who are without sin cast the first stone"....seems to negate the death penalty

Perhaps, but it was the Spirit of Christ who gave the death penalty in the first place, as in Genesis chapter 9: 5. "Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's brother I will require the life of man. 6. "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man. Genesis 9:5-6
You'll notice that this was not the Old Covenant law, but the everlasting covenant made with Noah, his family, and all creatures.
Perhaps Jesus, being God, knew a little more about the situation than we are told in the biblical narrative. In the gospel account we are told that the woman was caught in the act of adultery, but adultery is between two people and both are condemned by the law, so where is the guy? If she was "caught in the act" then the witnesses were either hiding the man involved or participated in some manner in the act itself, either would incur guilt and consequently they were "not without sin."