REPORT: The Death Penalty Debate - By Bob Enyart
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I have Freak. I see the underlying grace, beneath the veneer of symbolic law and works. I see that the law still exists, and that we are saved from the spiritual penalty as Christians only by grace. I also see that grace does not negate crimimal penalty--the thief on the cross is a good example of that.
Symbolic law should not be obeyed by the saved. Paul made that clear. As for the unrighteous--they can try if they want to, but I seriously don't think that any of the unrighteous will be able to totally keep the symbolic law--only Christ fulfilled all requirements--and even if they do, those under the law are cut off under the dispensation of salvation by grace. What do you think about keeping the symbolic law? I would say that keeping entirely symbolic aspects of the law for the sake of being "Right with God" alone would put a believer back under the law, which is a really lousy place to be.
Untouchable
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The thief on the cross doesn't seem to be a good example, seeing as he was being crucified along with the innocent Son of God.
Freak
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The primary function of the Old Covenant was a ministry of death.
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! (2 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Why bring the death penalty in the New Covenant?
Freak
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If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come--one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron? For when there is a change of the priesthood, there must also be a change of the law. (Hebrews 7:11-12)
Freak
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The Old Covenant has been perfectly fulfilled in Christ, Crow, and done away with. God's law is still binding on the believer in the New Covenant era, but God’s righteous standards are contained in the Law of Christ, not the Law of Moses:
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
What was the law of Christ, Crow?
To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. (1 Corinthians 9:20-21)
What was the law of Christ, Crow?
Freak
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A better way has been brought to us through the New Covenant.
NO!!!! Salvation is the weapon to fight crime. Do you believe that? What tranforms the heart--the Gospel message or the death penalty?
Crow, re-read what the New Covenant tells us:
He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! (2 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Now which covenant brings death?