Hi Kyle. I am curious as to why you promote Old Testament teachings vs New Testament ones. We know from Christ's words that there is forgiveness for the repentant, even murderers. Are you a Christian? Your stance seems a bit odd to me.
The short answer is that there is no difference between Old Testament and New Testament teachings on this topic.
Certainly, there is forgiveness. The Law prescribes how to be forgiven in such cases.
But in both OT and NT, the person has to want to be forgiven.
If they sinned against you, you can forgive them in your heart. But that won't release them from the legal implications of murder, especially if they have no desire to be forgiven.
Premeditated murderers often feel entirely justified. They don't feel they need to be forgiven. They wanted to do what they did.
When you have someone like that in society, who feels fully justified in their sin (and whose sin is destructive to others), you have to remove that person. Certainly, you can forgive them from your heart, but if they have no desire to repent, you can't leave them out among people to kill again.
If the murderer wants to be forgiven, Jesus loves to forgive. In the OT, they can go to the Tabernacle/Temple to sacrifice and be forgiven. In the NT, they can appeal to Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf and be forgiven.
But these laws about the punishment for murder are not discussing repentant sinners who want to be made right with God.
Note, also, that even in the NT people are punished for their actions, even in the church. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul speaks of handing two men over to Satan, so they would learn not to blaspheme. They had cultivated sin in their hearts, and apparently were unrepentant; they had to learn not to blaspheme.
Paul also states that those who don't work won't eat. We can certainly forgive them for their laziness, and God will forgive them. But if they are unrepentant and continue to be lazy, doing nothing, despite being able-bodied, then they don't eat, so as to motivate them to repent and work.
In the OT and NT, sins are punished at the appropriate level.
In the OT and NT, people can be forgiven if they want to be.
In the OT and NT, people who refuse to repent and don't want to be forgiven end up suffering the punishment their sins deserve.
Repentance is definitely a choice. I misunderstood your comment. You are right, evil needs to be addressed and brought to justice in society, otherwise chaos reigns. I apologize for confusing things. I'm not sure where the not working/not eating example comes into play here. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Kyle. I am curious as to why you promote Old Testament teachings vs New Testament ones. We know from Christ's words that there is forgiveness for the repentant, even murderers. Are you a Christian? Your stance seems a bit odd to me.
Hello Melanie! Thanks for the question.
The short answer is that there is no difference between Old Testament and New Testament teachings on this topic.
Certainly, there is forgiveness. The Law prescribes how to be forgiven in such cases.
But in both OT and NT, the person has to want to be forgiven.
If they sinned against you, you can forgive them in your heart. But that won't release them from the legal implications of murder, especially if they have no desire to be forgiven.
Premeditated murderers often feel entirely justified. They don't feel they need to be forgiven. They wanted to do what they did.
When you have someone like that in society, who feels fully justified in their sin (and whose sin is destructive to others), you have to remove that person. Certainly, you can forgive them from your heart, but if they have no desire to repent, you can't leave them out among people to kill again.
If the murderer wants to be forgiven, Jesus loves to forgive. In the OT, they can go to the Tabernacle/Temple to sacrifice and be forgiven. In the NT, they can appeal to Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf and be forgiven.
But these laws about the punishment for murder are not discussing repentant sinners who want to be made right with God.
Note, also, that even in the NT people are punished for their actions, even in the church. In 1 Timothy 1, Paul speaks of handing two men over to Satan, so they would learn not to blaspheme. They had cultivated sin in their hearts, and apparently were unrepentant; they had to learn not to blaspheme.
Paul also states that those who don't work won't eat. We can certainly forgive them for their laziness, and God will forgive them. But if they are unrepentant and continue to be lazy, doing nothing, despite being able-bodied, then they don't eat, so as to motivate them to repent and work.
In the OT and NT, sins are punished at the appropriate level.
In the OT and NT, people can be forgiven if they want to be.
In the OT and NT, people who refuse to repent and don't want to be forgiven end up suffering the punishment their sins deserve.
I do agree with you
Repentance is definitely a choice. I misunderstood your comment. You are right, evil needs to be addressed and brought to justice in society, otherwise chaos reigns. I apologize for confusing things. I'm not sure where the not working/not eating example comes into play here. Thanks for your comment.
Thank you, Kyle. A great article!