Consequences...

[Bold Believer]

If a person commits a crime worthy of death (mass murder for instance) and they really and truly repent, should they still not have to pay the temporal consequences (i.e.: execution)?

I believe they should (for the most part). There may be some exceptions to that, but I think they'd have to be extraordinary.

[MorningGlory]

If they truly repent, and God grants them forgiveness, then....no. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, not to us.

[Guest LadyC]

God never let anyone off the hook from earthly consequences. His forgiveness grants them eternal life... which may happen much sooner than if they hadn't committed a death penalty crime in the first place.

we still must pay the earthly consequences for our actions. we don't get a free pass on that.

[Jayyycuuup]

If a person commits a crime worthy of death (mass murder for instance) and they really and truly repent, should they still not have to pay the temporal consequences (i.e.: execution)?

I believe they should (for the most part). There may be some exceptions to that, but I think they'd have to be extraordinary.

Moses was a murderer, one of Gods chosen people at the time. So yes, as long as you truly repent and lay your sins at the feet of Christ, "ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened" Mathew 7:7. Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice, and because of him doing so, That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved Romans 10:9 you will be saved.

Also, if God sees that it is fit for them to live then he will deliver them from execution, Its not weather we see its right or not because God has a plan for all of us. There are many storys off of the 700 club of where murderers and such recieve Christ and then are soon released and continue their walk with Him. So I would Say YES!

[Bold Believer]

1. Moses was NOT a murderer. Moses killed a man who was beating another man to death, which doesn't fit the definition of wanton homicide. Moses committed justifiable homicide to protect someone else.

2. Yes, if God desires that a man be delivered from execution, then he will act.

3. It is the duty of society to carry out God's commands. "If anyone sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed." This was long before the law of Moses.

[gdemoss]

If a person commits a crime worthy of death

Separating to confirm points. This is the condition set forth. The person we speak of commits a crime worthy of death.

(mass murder for instance)

Who decides what crime is worthy of death? God seems to think all these are worthy of death:

unrighteousness

fornication

wickedness

covetousness

maliciousness

envy

murder

debate

deceit

malignity

whisperers

Backbiters

haters of God

despiteful

proud

boasters

inventors of evil things

disobedient to parents,

Without understanding

covenantbreakers

without natural affection

implacable

unmerciful:

Rom 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

and they really and truly repent, should they still not have to pay the temporal consequences (i.e.: execution)?

Now that we have established a broader spectrum of crimes worthy of death we can work toward answering this question in a godly way, where we make decisions that are more inline with Gods decisions.

I believe they should (for the most part). There may be some exceptions to that, but I think they'd have to be extraordinary.

At least your not completely sold on the idea.

When it comes to inflicting judgment upon criminals, I leave it up to God to decide who lives and who dies since all, without exception, are worthy of death. God did say:

Gen 9:5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.

And many look at these verses and jump in line to execute those whom they personally feel should die. They miss the truth of what God is saying here. God is saying that he will make it happen. God moves man to do his will. God used Satan to move David to count the people of Israel because he desired an occasion against them. God used Satan to afflict Job to teach us that even a perfect man needs to justify God and not himself. God is sovereign and calling the shots, if God wants a man dead, the man has no hope in him. God is not telling me to go about serving justice. No, instead he has placed specific unbelievers in place to do such things as he desires to move their wicked hands against their own brothers. By his own word he tells us to pray for all in authority that they might be saved, because they are not truly saved. If they knew Jesus, they would follow Jesus but they do not know him.

God decides who lives and dies. If we are wicked enough to raise up our hand against our brethren he will use us to judge them. Mercy rejoices against judgment.

In Jesus Name,

Gary

[Bold Believer]

A CRIME, not a sin. There is a difference. Envy is a sin, but not a crime. Backbiting is a sin, not a crime. In fact, none of those things you listed is a CRIME with exception of murder.

Murder

Rape

Kidnapping (manstealing)

Child molestation

Sodomy

these things are both crimes AND sins. Capital crimes. Don't confuse the two.

I recommend Theonomy in Christian Ethic by Dr. Greg Bahnsen for a Biblical look at crimes versus sins.

[gdemoss]

A CRIME, not a sin. There is a difference. Envy is a sin, but not a crime. Backbiting is a sin, not a crime. In fact, none of those things you listed is a CRIME with exception of murder.

Murder

Rape

Kidnapping (manstealing)

Child molestation

Sodomy

these things are both crimes AND sins. Capital crimes. Don't confuse the two.

I recommend Theonomy in Christian Ethic by Dr. Greg Bahnsen for a Biblical look at crimes versus sins.

Your arguing with God not me. God said they were worthy of death, meaning to him they were crimes.

Gary

[Guest LadyC]

God never let anyone off the hook from earthly consequences. His forgiveness grants them eternal life... which may happen much sooner than if they hadn't committed a death penalty crime in the first place.

we still must pay the earthly consequences for our actions. we don't get a free pass on that.

Might want to recheck those scriptures again.

Your best bet is to stay out of the system.

Jesus Is Lord.

really mike? well heck, since i'm too dumb to check them right the first time, would you mind showing me where in scripture God says that if we sincerely repent to Him, that the authorities on earth are obligated to release us without suffering the penalty?

of course, you are right that it's better to stay out of the system in the first place.

[Way195]

I belevieve a person in that case should be willing to take the consequenses of previous sin if that is nessecary.

I know of a man who is on the California top ten list of most wanted men who had fled from the law to Central America and became converted down there. After that he decided that it would be best to turn himself in to the authorities. I think they forgave him then when he explained the situation and confessed his wrong but I haven't read the story recently so I can't say for sure..