Rom.13:1-5 THE DEATH PENALTY 5-11-13
Today I want to talk for a few minutes about the death penalty and let me say that every one listening to this broadcast has their personal views and opinion about the death penalty.
According to the Gallup's annual Crime Survey, it found that 65% of Americans continue to support the use of the death penalty for persons convicted of murder, while 31% oppose it -- continuing a trend that has shown little change over the last six years.
The current 65% support level is roughly equal with what has been measured for most of this decade.
I also found that the death penalty is favored by most Republicans nationwide; the death penalty also receives the general support of a solid majority of independents.
Support for and opposition to the death penalty are roughly even among Democrats.
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Doubtless there have been innocent people put to death down through the years, and there have even been people sitting on death row that later have been proven innocent of the crime they were convicted of especially since the DNA analyses has been perfected, and on the flip side of the coin so to speak it has proven the guilty to be guilty without doubt.
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All of us have our own personal opinion on the matter of the death penalty, and my opinion on the death penalty is that if a person has been convicted of a capital crime without any doubt what so ever then the death penalty should be carried out, but if there is any doubt at all it should not be.
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The people of America have laws in place that call for the death penalty when certain crimes have been committed, capitol punishment is meant to be a deterrent to others who would consider such a crime.
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* LISTEN as I read today's text found in;
>> Romans 13:1-5 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? -- Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4For 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. 5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
The word "revenger" here means, (one who exacts a penalty from a person, - a punisher)
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So folks can say what they want to about the death penalty, but we find it here in the bible, in the N.T. and it's in the O.T. as well.
We'll come back to these verses in a few minutes Lord willing and say some more.
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Today we have people in government that speak out against the death penalty even if the accused are proven without doubt to be guilty.
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* LISTEN- The reason bible believers have no problem, or should have no problem with the death penalty is because God instituted the death penalty, how can we as Christians oppose something that God has ordained?
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* LISTEN as God is giving Noah the way of human government;
>>Genesis 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.
In our way of saying this today would be, if a man wrongly takes another mans life, that mans life is to be taken by man, that is, after rightly convicted by a judicial process.
>>Leviticus 17: 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood:
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* But some will say that the bible says in;
>>Exodus 20:13 "thou shalt not kill"
And it certainly dose say that, but if people go ahead and purposefully take an innocent life then Gen. 9:6 is still there.
* God put Gen.9:6 before Exodus 20:13.
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Do you know why wicked people will still take a chance on getting by with murder? --- They think that if they should get caught that they'll sit in jail for decades appealing the death penalty verdict, or that they'll be sentence a number of years in jail, and then just maybe some liberal politician may set the prisoners free, their willing to chance it. -- And let me say that some prisoners in the recent past have been turned loose back into society under the pretense there was not enough room in the prisons, and of this number many have commit crimes again. If the death penalty was carried out swiftly there would be room.
Evil people are willing to take a chance because there maybe some loop hole to get by with it.
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* Listen; here is what God's Word says about such a matter.
>> Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. *
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I'm talking about crimes that call for the death penalty today, I'm not talking about people robbing banks, or stealing cars as bad as that is, but wicked people that take innocent peoples lives.
I'm talking about serial killers, such as Richard Ramirez known as "the night stalker" in California, he's been sitting on death row for years, there's no doubting about his guilt, -- another serial killer known as "the green river killer" sentence to life in prison, he murdered numerous prostitutes just because he didn't like them he said. -- According to Gods Word they should have been put to death, instead the tax payers are having to shelter and feed them, and there are countless others.
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~ Let me say that there is a big difference in murder and protecting our self and family; we have a lot of people in our government that would take our guns if allowed to, some of you may not like the NRA but if it wasn't for them we'd all be defenseless, the crooks, they'll have their guns regardless of what law is passed, that would be great for the crooks because he's going to have his gun whether we do or not, they don't obey laws.
~ And let me say too, that ever since the "CONCEALED WEAPONS" permit law has been in place crime has gone down some- what, because the crook can't be sure if a person might be armed or not. -- It has saved countless lives without doubt.
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We have our armed forces, (I said ARMED forces) to protect us from hostile countries, if we did away with our military might we'd be annihilated before dark. Obama is cutting back on our defense budget, a big mistake, but what's new?
But I believe all that is, is to weaken us as the worlds so called supper power, and make room for the soon coming one world government as the Revived Roman empire will at that time be the one world super power.
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I recently saw a news report that the United States now has a "bunker busting bomb" that can go 200 feet into the ground and then blow up, it was reported to weigh 30,000 pounds, this bomb should be a game changer as for as Iran's nuclear facilities under ground are concerned, to me this is a means of protection for us and our allies as well. -- So there is a big difference in murder and protecting our selves.
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We all know that Iran has called Israel a cankerous sore on that part of the world, they have vowed to destroy all traces of the Israeli's, let me say to people that are of that mind set, to attack Gods people is a sure way to commit suicide, many of those that have tried it before are no longer around, the Amalikites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, where are they? They are no longer, but little Israel is still here and always will be, they are Gods chosen people, do you know why Iran's biggest bombs will never destroy Israel? We find the answer in;
>>Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; ---
Our government should realize that Israel can get by without us, but we can't get by without Israel.
>> Genesis 12: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: --
This country has prospered because of our stand with Gods people, but some in our ranks today don't have sense enough to know it.
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* Let's get back to our text today, and remember we're talking about the death penalty today, these verses are telling about God ordained positions in our law structure to keep and carry out the laws of the land.
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>> Romans 13:1-5 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Government is an agency ordained of God, subjection to the governing laws is the obligation of every citizen in the country not just Christians, it's not optional, but an absolute necessity.
>> Titus 3:1Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,-
>> 1st. Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
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>>2Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Damnation here in this verse means, "judgment" -- it's not talking about eternal damnation, God has delegated authority to human government to carry out set penalties according to certain crimes, as we're about to see that God still up holds the death penalty.
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>>3For rulers are not a terror to good works, --
The police are not out to get people that are doing what's right.
= For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil.
One of the reasons for human government is to uphold the good and punish the evil. Right and wrong is determined by the state, as so governed.
~ we all know that if we run a red light or stop sign we have broken a law, and if we should get caught doing so there will be some sort of penalty to pay, not because law enforcement have it in for us but because we have violated a governing state law, if there were no fine to pay most people would never stop at all.
>>Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?
Fines and or jail time will in most cases cause people to respect these laws, to be afraid to break the law. -- Opposition to government is opposition to God.
~Dear heart, the highway patrol, the county deputies, all police officers, are servants to the law abiding citizens, their in no way public enemy number one, we should thank God for these dear people, if it wasn't for our law enforcement this country would be even more dangerous that it is today.
--- >> Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
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These positions of our governmental officials hold office by virtue of God's appointment and are primarily the servants of God in their offices, in other words, God is the One that ordained these positions.
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>>4For 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: --
The sword here in this verse is a symbol representing the authority given to government to protect its citizens by punishing those who do what it has determined is wrong.
God has allowed human government to have the power of enforcing itself, and so this verse without any doubt provides New Testament justification for capital punishment. -- The death penalty.
The SWORD represents a weapon made for protection and killing. What else could be its purpose?
We've all heard the saying; "a paper tiger" there would be no use for the sword at all other than a showing of a certain penalty it brings in capitol punishment cases.
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>>- for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
As a revenger of God, the appointed executioner will carry out the set penalty for the crime.
Let me say that we as Christians certainly are to obey the laws of the land, as long as the laws don't go against what God has already said in His word.
For instants, there are now many states that have passed a law allowing same sex marriage, which is undeniable evidence they we're in the last days, the days of Lot, when it comes to such stupidity as this we that are saved will never approve or agree with such laws.
>>5Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. We're aware of these penalties and strive to not break these laws, also in keeping the law of the land we'll have a clear conscience.
