January 28, 2007
“Capital Punishment and Christ’s Cross”
Genesis 9:5-6; 1 Corinthians 2:2
When we consider the death penalty as a subject we are not only considering a modern issue but rather a biblical issue, even a biblical theme! Capital Punishment is introduced as man’s responsibility in Genesis 9 and yet the death penalty was introduced before that and is discussed throughout Scripture. It is so important that even the Gospel of Christ itself is not adequately understood without some biblical conception of the death penalty. It is a big, broad subject, more fitting for a series of sermons than just one, so today’s sermon is more of an overview than an exhaustive treatment, let us consider some of what the Bible says about the death penalty.
I. Consider what crimes are punishable by death –
1. Murder – Genesis 9:5-6
2. Hitting father or mother – Exodus 21:15
3. Kidnapping / selling to slavery – Exodus 21:16
4. Accidental murder while fighting, of a pregnant woman or her unborn child – Exodus 21:22-23
5. Not controlling or putting to death a dangerous ox that kills someone – Exodus 21:28-29
6. Sorcery – Exodus 22:18
7. Bestiality – Exodus 22:19; Leviticus 20:15
8. Sacrificing to false gods – Exodus 22:20 / prophesying for or promoting false gods – Deuteronomy 13:1-10
9. Offering children to Molech – Leviticus 20:2-5
10. Cursing father or mother – Leviticus 20:9 / Exodus 21:17
11. Adultery, various kinds of incest, homosexuality, etc… - Leviticus 20:10-22
12. Unauthorized entry to the tabernacle – Numbers 3:10
13. God threatened and brought about death (the death penalty) for eating the forbidden fruit – Genesis 2:17; Romans 5:12; 6:23
14. There are others, too many to note here, how different from our current situation in the US, murder is the only crime we punish with the death penalty and that not regularly or quickly
15. Important in considering death sentences is the condemnation of those not written in the Book of Life – Revelation 20:11-15
II. Methods of Execution of the death penalty –
1. Current – Hanging; Electric Chair; Firing Squad; Poison Gas; Lethal Injection; Guillotine; Stoning
2. Biblical (more than I can list, but here are a few) –
A. Stoning – Leviticus 20:2; 20:27
B. The Body of Death – Romans 7:24
C. Lion’s Den – Daniel 6
D. Fiery furnace – Daniel 3
E. Crucifixion – Matthew 27:22-44
3. Our modern methods are usually more tame, more consideration is given to the comfort of the person being executed than to justice being done or the penalty being fit to the crime, ‘eye for an eye …’
4. Ultimately, the 2nd Death and Hell’s fires are the greatest method of justice – Revelation 2:1-15
III. Who is due the death penalty?
1. Murderers – Genesis 9:5-6
2. All sinners – Romans 3:9-23
3. We are all on death row, even Christ suffered and died because of our sin – 2 Corinthians 5:19-21
IV. What connection is there between the Lord’s Supper and the death penalty?
1. We celebrate the Lord’s Supper because Christ took our place on the cross, we are to remember this great act of love and self-sacrifice
2. Remembering that Christ died in our place should excite great thankfulness – 2 Corinthians 5:14; Romans 12:1-2
3. Remembering that Christ (innocent of sin) died because of our sins should make us remiss about continuing in the same sins that cost Christ His life – Hebrews 10:26-31; Romans 6:1-2
4. Remembering that Christ, the Son of God, had to die for our sins and nothing else would satisfy God’s justice other than lost humans spending an eternity in Hell’s fires should make us very serious about being right with Christ – Acts 4:12; John 3:36
