The Death Penalty

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.

“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4

According to the Bible we understand that the Moral Law, the Ten Commandments are still valid today. They have always been in existence and always will be throughout eternity. Any transgression of the law brings the penalty of death on the guilty person.

However, in Old Testament times, the Ceremonial Law was added. Why? ” Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions,” Gal.3:29. This law is the one that was nailed to the cross. ” Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;” Colossians 2:14. It was the law that dealt with ordinances.

Since it was done away with, often we are tempted to think that it is not important to study these laws. Yes, they contained instructions for the keeping of the feasts, such as Passover and Pentecost. They also contained instructions for animal sacrifices which became unnecessary when Jesus was nailed to the cross.

But, if you carefully read the books of Moses, you find that they contain more laws besides the feasts and sacrifices. There are health laws and laws regarding conduct in families, all of which are an extension of, or interpretation of, the spirit of the law contained in the Ten Commandments. Some laws incurred a death penalty when violated others simply brought upon the guilty person a milder form of punishment. These laws are still good instructions for us in our personal lives, as well as social contacts.

From studying these laws, it is clear that there are degrees of sin. Some are more offensive in the eyes of God than others.

“If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.” 1 John 5:16,17

“Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:31-32

“God does not regard all sins as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well as in that of man; but however trifling this or that wrong act may seem in the eyes of men, no sin is small in the sight of God. Man’s judgment is partial, imperfect; but God estimates all things as they really are. The drunkard is despised and is told that his sin will exclude him from heaven; while pride, selfishness, and covetousness too often go unrebuked. But these are sins that are especially offensive to God; for they are contrary to the benevolence of His character, to that unselfish love which is the very atmosphere of the unfallen universe. He who falls into some of the grosser sins may feel a sense of his shame and poverty and his need of the grace of Christ; but pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give.” SC 30

Even though there are degrees of sin, even the smallest sin that is cherished is enough to keep a person out of heaven. All sin must be overcome, however, as a person persists in living a life of sin, returning and repenting become increasingly more difficult.

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Hebrews 6:4-6

Backsliding is very dangerous… yet God is still merciful to the sinner.
“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever.” Jeremiah 3:12

SIN AGAINST HOLY SPIRIT

In the previous issue of the Messenger (March 2004), there is an article about grieving the Holy Spirit. There are many ways in which we can grieve the Holy Spirit and the article brought out a few ways that we perhaps may not have thought so important, yet are grievous in the eyes of God. Things were mentioned, such as, gossiping, complaining, carelessness and neglecting our duty, especially our duty in missionary work. Grieving the Holy Spirit is very dangerous and if not corrected very soon, it can lead to sin against the Holy Spirit – blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, a sin from which there is no forgiveness. The death penalty (the second death) is inevitable.

“What constitutes the sin against the Holy Ghost? It is willfully attributing to Satan the work of the Holy Spirit. For example, suppose that one is a witness of the special work of the Spirit of God. He has convincing evidence that the work is in harmony with the Scriptures, and the Spirit witnesses with his spirit that it is of God. Afterward, however, he falls under temptation; pride, self-sufficiency, or some other evil trait, controls him; and rejecting all the evidence of its divine character, he declares that that which he had before acknowledged to be the power of the Holy Spirit was the power of Satan. It is through the medium of His Spirit that God works upon the human heart; and when men willfully reject the Spirit and declare it to be from Satan, they cut off the channel by which God can communicate with them. By denying the evidence which God has been pleased to give them, they shut out the light which had been shining in their hearts, and as the result they are left in darkness. Thus the words of Christ are verified: ‘If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!’ For a time, persons who have committed this sin may appear to be children of God; but when circumstances arise to develop character and show what manner of spirit they are of, it will be found that they are on the enemy’s ground, standing under his black banner.” 5T 634

“The most common manifestation of the sin against the Holy Spirit is in persistently slighting Heaven’s invitation to repent. Every step in the rejection of Christ is a step toward the rejection of salvation, and toward the sin against the Holy Spirit.” AG 215

“Closely connected with Christ’s warning in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ But the words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are. It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt, dangerous to question and criticize divine light. The habit of careless and irreverent criticism reacts upon the character, in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man indulging this habit has gone on unconscious of danger, until he was ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” DA 323

Your words can have a very powerful influence in deciding your eternal destiny. Use your words wisely.
Sin against the Holy Spirit has no repentance. He who has sinned against the Holy Spirit is living on Death Row.

When people sin today; they don’t incur an immediate death penalty. This has caused some to become more hardened and bold in their sin. In Ancient Israel, there was immediate capital punishment for certain sins. I now want to address some of these sins that brought on the death penalty in Ancient Israel since these sins are very prevalent in society today and often they are not considered grievous at all. However, it is important for the Christian to know their grievous nature in the eyes of God and violation of these laws is sin and will bring upon the person the death penalty.

The counsel is given to parents: ” Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.” Proverbs 23:13,14

“He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 13:24

However in today’s society this counsel has been taken to extremes. On one side discipline has degenerated into child abuse, causing society to turn against any form of physical punishment. The other side states that all punishment can be done by non-physical methods. This may be true in some cases, however not in all cases. There needs to be a middle ground of physical discipline wisely conducted when absolutely necessary without degenerating into child abuse.
From the child’s perspective, a child at no time is to ever smite or curse a parent on pain of death.

“And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 21:15,17. These two Bible verses show how disrespect for parental authority is severely condemned by God. How much rebellion do we see amongst children and young people today, against their parents? In Ancient Israel these children would have been stoned to death. These verses portray children and youth who are in deliberate and persistent opposition to parental authority. When we think about it a bit deeper, parents stand in the place of God to their children until the age of moral responsibility. They care for and protect them in their helpless years, and even nature places within the minds of children an instinctive reverence for their parents, therefore this penalty is not as excessive as it may at first appear. Society is never secure and cannot long exist where parental authority is held in contempt. Far more is involved here than a single act of disrespect. Inasmuch as parents do stand in the place of God to their children in their earliest years, the penalty for cursing them is equivalent to the penalty for blaspheming God.

This punishment is repeated in the book of Leviticus. ” For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.” Leviticus 20:9

” If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.” Deut. 21:18-21. A lot of youth would be stoned in today’s society if this law were still enforced today. The disrespect of parents is a plague that is destroying society.

Genetic Engineering:

This includes combining beast and human… ” Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 22:19
“But if there was one sin above another which called for the destruction of the race by the flood, it was the base crime of amalgamation of man and beast which defaced the image of God, and caused confusion everywhere.” 3SG 64. We’ve seen in the name of medicine how man has attempted to combine human with beast, one example being the attempt to add a baboon’s heart into a baby. Who knows to what extent genetic engineering may go to in the future before the Lord puts an end to it all.

Sacrifice to other gods:

” He that sacrificeth unto any god, save unto the LORD only, he shall be utterly destroyed.” Exodus 22:20. To make a sacrifice is the ultimate form of worship. To do so to a false god, not only acknowledges that this false god has first place in a person’s life, but also renounces the true and living God and any responsibility to Him. In the Theocracy of Ancient Israel this brought on the death penalty. Today Christians have many gods which have priority in their lives over the Lord and His requirements. Are we guilty also? Do we have more important things to do than attend prayer meetings, Bible Studies, or to even have some quiet time with the Lord every day?

Afflict widow and fatherless:

“Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry; And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.” Exodus 22:22-24. The widows and fatherless are defenseless individuals, requiring extra care and concern. It is important not only to refrain from afflicting them, but also to not neglect those in need. To neglect to do well is to do ill. The Holy Spirit is grieved when we neglect to do the duty that the Lord places before us.

Sabbath Breaking

“And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the Sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him. And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.” Numbers 15:32-35. This man’s act was clearly presumptuous. There was such a warm climate in the wilderness that fires were unnecessary. The Sabbath forbids any unnecessary labour, with punishment for violation, being death. The Sabbath is a sacred and holy day. It would do well for us to consider how carefully we are keeping it. It is easy to get distracted – allow the mind and words to wander onto worldly themes. It takes much effort and prayer to keep the mind stayed on the Lord during the Holy Sabbath hours.

“Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.” Exodus 31:14,15

Uncontrolled Animal

“But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death.”

Exodus 21:29. If a man knew his animal was dangerous but did not watch it properly, he is considered an accessory to the death and his penalty is death, even though he did not commit the act himself.

This can hold true for our brethren and friends – if we see they are in danger by their lifestyle of sin – if they are doing something that will lead to eternal death and we don’t warn them, we are considered an accessory to their death. Or if we don’ t restrain our children when they are young and it is in our power to do so, we are guilty of their sin also. Will our penalty be any less than the penalty in Ancient Israel for the man who did not restrain his animal?

The seventh commandment

Adultery: “And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” Leviticus 20:10

Incest: “And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:11,12

Homosexuality: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” Lev. 20:13. Homosexuals are permitted to be priests and leaders in some Christian churches. We can only wonder at the spiritual level of these churches when there are the ” blind leading the blind.”

Rape:”But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die:” Deut 22:25

We see in today’s society how little if any, punishment is given to those offenders in these immoral sins. Some of them are accepted as normal behaviour. In God’s eyes, they are very grievous sins – bringing upon the guilty person the death penalty.

Entice others to sin

” If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Deut. 13:6-10.

Here we see the influence of close relatives on spiritual life. The wife, the person nearest to the man, for they are one flesh has often had the most success in influencing her husband in the wrong direction. The reverse is also true, therefore great care should be exercised in the choice of a life partner. In times of crisis, particularly during the final events in the history of this world it may not be possible to trust even the closest relatives if they do not hold to the faith.

Today we are surrounded by the false gods of materialism, wealth, popularity, politics, sports, fashions and amusements. How easy to wander away from the Lord, and encourage others to follow us. However to entice someone into sin, brings upon the offender the death penalty. Be careful of your influence. You are either a positive influence or a negative influence on the people with whom you come into contact – especially your close friends. If you are a negative influence, you bring upon yourself the blood of their guilt. Make sure also that your friends are not enticing you in the wrong direction either.

Spiritualism
” A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones: their blood shall be upon them.” Leviticus 20:27
” The very name of witchcraft is now held in contempt. The claim that men can hold intercourse with evil spirits is regarded as a fable of the Dark Ages. But spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies, and even in the courts of kings–this mammoth deception is but a revival, in a new disguise, of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old.” GC 556. The majority of the Christian world now believes in spiritualism in one degree or another. Communicating with the dead is very common. The idea that dead loved ones are looking out for us is an accepted belief. Visiting those who communicate with the dead is considered a privilege. This is spiritualism in a real sense.

Respect leader’s decision

” And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.” Deut 17:12.
The root of the word ” presumptuous” here is: ” to act rebelliously” . How many we see, especially young people, acting presumptuously and rebelling against, and disrespecting, the leaders God has set up.

” He who has placed upon men the heavy responsibility of leaders and teachers of His people will hold the people accountable for the manner in which they treat His servants. We are to honor those whom God has honored. The judgment visited upon Miriam should be a rebuke to all who yield to jealousy, and murmur against those upon whom God lays the burden of His work.” PP 386. We see what happened to Korah, Dathan and Abiram in Ancient Israel when they rebelled against Moses’ leadership. Also in 1951, there was a group that separated from God’s church because of rebellion against God’s appointed leaders. They were shaken out.

Sacrifice children to Moloch

” Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Moloch; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones.” Leviticus 20:2. This was a terrible sin that was regularly practiced in heathenism in Old Testament times – sacrificing children on an altar to the heathen god, Moloch. We would never do this would we? We often do when we don’t give our children proper guidance and discipline. We allow the world to guide and discipline them ‘ which ultimately is sacrificing them to heathen gods.

Murder

” And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. And if he smite him with throwing a stone, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. Or if he smite him with an hand weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.” Numbers 35:16-18 Of course, murder incurred the death penalty. However if you read in the New Testament where Jesus discusses the spirit of the law, it is said that ” Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15. To be unable to forgive someone or to harbour hatred falls under the sin of murder.

False prophet

” And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.” Deut. 13:5.

Anyone, whether a self-professing prophet or a leader who turns another person away from the truth, was punished by death. Today there are, ” spirits of devils working miracles” . And in the time of the end, Jesus said that ” Many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:5. Don’t trust a person just because they say they are a prophet, have dreams or even performs miracles. We can only trust a person who speaks according to the ” law and testimony: If they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20

Rebellion against leaders of the church

” And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go. According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.” Joshua 1:16-18. How grievous a sin it is to rebel against the commandments and instructions that God has sent to His people through His appointed servants. Often these servants are not respected due to the fact that they are mere fallible men. While it is true, they are fallible, but in the strength of Christ they are a powerful force against the enemy and their messages and instructions must be heeded.

Also to rebel against the commandments given by God through His servants, and even ridiculing the standard, not believing that the Lord would set so high a standard. We don’t need to be as strict in the lifestyle issues that the church teaches.

What can we learn from all these laws? While there are degrees of sin, some sins which we, perhaps, have not considered too serious, are very grievous in the eyes of God. Some sins are more difficult to overcome because they have become habitual and a part of our character. ” We are to do all that we can do on our part to fight the good fight of faith. We are to wrestle, to labor, to strive, to agonize to enter in at the strait gate… Help has been provided for us in Him who is mighty to save. The spirit of truth and light will quicken and renew us by its mysterious workings; for all our spiritual improvement comes from God, not from ourselves. The true worker will have a divine power to aid him, but the idler will not be sustained by the Spirit of God.” Faith and Works, p. 48. All sin brings about the final death penalty to be given to the unrighteous after the millennium.

” I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” Hosea 14:4

” Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” Isaiah 55:6. Thankfully we serve a merciful and loving God, who sent His own Son to pay our death penalty. Unfortunately, the vast majority of people do not want to accept this payment for their debt. They choose to continue in their own ways, which will bring upon themselves the death penalty in the end.

Although we may have been forgiven after we repented of our sin, there is one more condition before we are fully accepted into harmony with God. In the following Bible verse we read:

” If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.” Lev. 26:40-42. Sin has consequences, even if it is repented of. We must accept the punishment that comes along with our sin. Then the Lord will remember the covenant that He has made with us. If a man is a murderer and ends up in jail for 25 years, God will forgive him, however he may still have to serve his time in prison. The punishment may not be removed. Even then, grace is given for a person to bear the punishment. The Lord is with them.

May God help us to overcome all sin that we may be perfect, even as our Father in heaven is perfect, (Mat. 5:48) so we will be ready to meet Jesus without shame or remorse when He comes in the clouds of glory and avoid the final death penalty (the second death), which Jesus, Himself, suffered for our sake.
AMEN