What Does the Bible Say About the Death Penalty?

What does the Bible say about the death penalty is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Our phone lines are open and you can call us for the next 25 minutes or so. Here's the phone number. Jot this down for future reference. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites you can watch a drill live in the studio right now on YouTube and send him a message to our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Jason calling in from Kansas.

Jason what your question for Israel figure Bush program continue to bless it up. My question is family Bible study Monday and we had a question, about continued repentance we all fall short of the glory God and we wondered some people in the church we go to felt like once you're saved you no longer have to repent things you do daily simple behaviors is one of work some study scriptures I could look up in the bring back to my group or on Monday. Yes, a great question, Jason, and thank you for your encouragement. Glad the program is a blessing for you, but really important question. You know we were believers in Jesus Christ who believe that the blood of Jesus Christ his once for all sacrifice is sufficient to cleanse all of our sins past, present and future. But if that's the case why we continue to ask for forgiveness, or should we continue to ask for forgiveness.

Every day will affect the matter is I would say yes absolutely we should and this is something that's implied even in the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew chapter 6.

Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one right there.

Jesus is every day we should be praying, forgive us our debts got forgive my sins because we sin against God and thought, word, and indeed, and even though were justified as sinners through the blood of Jesus Christ by faith in Jesus Christ, we still wrestle with indwelling sin.

And that indwelling sin quenches the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives quenches our fellowship with other believers.

And that's why we need to bring it into the light and confess it and this is exactly what John says in first John chapter 1 verse five.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sins.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves.

The truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. Another which were called to continually confess our sins to the Lord to walk in repentance, so that we might be walking in the light needle having that that pure fellowship with with the people of God with the body of Christ, confessing our sins, and that doesn't mean that you every time we sin, we lose our salvation or something like that. But we do we do lose the sense of fellowship, closeness with each other, especially when we sin against each other. That's why it's important to confess to God and even to confess to one another where it's appropriate and so certainly Jason, I think. I think those two text that you can look at Matthew chapter 6 where Jesus taught us to pray, forgive us our debts, and then they are in first John chapter 1 would be good passages to take to your Bible study group and and so wonderful to hear that you guys are digging in the Scriptures together. Hey Jason, thanks so much for your call and thanks for being a regular listener to core Christianity really do appreciate you. Let's go to Kathy calling in from Indiana.

Kathy what your question for Pastor Israel. My question my Share on my one biblical support for a rapture and sell their seven year tribulation and then Christ is coming yet again, like the unbeliever I'm I'm a little confused and so is my thing honey.

That's when auntie could speak on yeah well Kathy thank you so much for that question here were talking about the doctrine of the last things the end times. The coming of Jesus Christ and where people will point to them and there are there are several passages that people who do believe in in the rapture of the church will will .2, and of course you know that these are these are even friends of mine who hold to the authority of Scripture, the inspiration of Scripture have a high view of the Bible and so this is something that brothers and sisters in Christ can in dialogue about, and even disagree on doesn't mean that were were not in fellowship with each other not really Christians is something that we want to search the Scriptures on and in where people will often point is a look at places like first Thessalonians chapter 4 where it talks about the coming of the Lord and in verse 17 Paul said, we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord and that word caught up means to steal away or take by force and some people might even translate that word rapture and that's where they get the idea from the question is, is the apostle Paul. They're talking about. As you noted coming of Jesus. That's separate from his second coming. In other words, is this Jesus appearing before the final judgment before his second coming in order to rapture out the believers and then usher in a time of great tribulation seven years. Some people say or 3 1/2 years. You and then he's in a come back again to judge the whole world. My view is that here in first Thessalonians chapter 4. As Paul is talking about the coming of the lawyer that's that's not that's not us a coming that's separate from or distinct from his second coming. On the last day and the reason I did. I think this is because in the context in the very next chapter. Paul begins to describe again the coming of the Lord it in the context of the final judge nieces concerning the times and seasons, brothers versus chapter 5 you have known need to have anything written to you for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the nights of the day of the Lord. That is the day of judgment is contemporaneous with what was taking place there in chapter 4 with this coming of the Lord sometimes referred to as is the Greek word Paro see that the of the appearing his coming and and so I think these passages to be referring to one coming of Jesus at the end of time in order to judge the entire world and so so that's that's my take. But you know that those who hold to rapture will say well we we think that Paul in verse 17 there in first Thessalonians 4 is is referring to something separate, something distinct and so that's where we gotta search the Scriptures and and study them and think through the their implications for us.

Kathy of just just out of curiosity wanted to ask you is is you and your family have studied this kind aware of you guys what what what perspective are you coming from. Well I have been brought up with adrenaline friends don't really buy into the rapture okay and I've heard so many people talking about it.I'm just really thinking yeah and I don't know what to make and I have the Bible verse.

You talked about in Thessalonians is one I've definitely looked at you now and are not wanting first Corinthians 15 yes one of the few. So yeah but I you know I've always heard that Christ will come a second time… Like I drank my third so yeah, I'm right there with you and it is the rapture theology was really popularized and in more recent times do I think some some ghetto books that were published that that really gained a lot of traction and then the reality is that one of the reasons why it was so popular is because people are concerned about web thinking about the coming of the Lord. I mean you get it gets people's attention, and it should and we are called to be ready to be vigilant to be watchful so often in the New Testament. You and Jesus talks about his coming. Those that those of the encouragements that we receive so that's that's a good thing.

But, as were being vigilant and and watch. We want to make sure that were understanding those passages correctly and that other text that you mentioned in first Corinthians 15 again talking about the resurrection of the dead. At the time of final judgment. It seems to me like in Scripture you have that the language of the second coming, the language of the resurrection final judgment that these are all things that are happening contemporaneously and at the same time so that there is in a separate coming of Jesus.

Prior to these events for the church and then later coming of Jesus, but that there's one final second coming. As you note and and as I said this is something that in other their differences on and in the church, but a great opportunity for us to dig into the Scriptures and I think you're on the right track. You know a girl and I was younger, not a red left behind. I kept worrying that what if I'm on an airplane and the pilot is a Christian and he gets rapture all my gosh what happened yes that yeah that would be yeah that would really be bad news for you Bill.

If that was the case on so you know this and I don't know about you but I certainly when I was a newer believer in this was actually the that the stuff I was brought up in his let me just add also to nightmares about you know the rapture happening, you start to float up into the sky. The note you called out of the ground. I think I had that dream two or three times that it's terrifying because one of the reasons why people get so intrigued by it in… This bit of a fear factor, but again we want to go to the Scriptures and understand them rightly, and then derive the comfort that we should be getting from the word of God well said this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

By the way, we have an excellent new Bible study would like to tell you about today. It's all about the parables yet all the parables of King Jesus and I it's fascinating you think about the fact that you spent so much of his ministry as he's teaching using parables, maybe arrestors of the question why why did Jesus preach and teach in parables, there's a lot of people that are confused about this, but one of the things the studies and help you do is understand why Jesus taught in parables and then some of that the specifics about the parables that are unpacked, is that it's a 10 week study and what I love about the studies, it highlights the fact that this is an just information. These parables that Jesus is giving is not just he's not just teaching us lessons about gardening and and what not know actually what he's doing is he's ushering in his kingdom through this verbal proclamation through these parables.

Also, there's just there's a serious element of judgment in the parables of hardening of blinding and so it's so important for us to come before the word of God to come before the need of the Scriptures and into Ascot for understanding as we dig into these parables. We think of this resources can help you with that and you can get over it. Core, Christianity.com for donation of $20 or more breast way to find it is go to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers and look for this new study called the parables of King Jesus would love to get that in your hand. You can also call us for that resource or any one of the resources we have at 833-843-2673.

That's 833 the court by the way, one of the ways you can ask a question is by going to our YouTube channel and you can watch a drill live in the studio every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time and you can also message us through YouTube YouTube question from one of our listers named Patrick he says, what does the Bible say about the death penalty yeah and there are also at that level of this just a great question because there are all sorts of debates that are happening about the death penalty about whether it's it's legitimate.

Whether it should ever be exercised a couple things here that I'll say one. There were capital crimes in the Old Testament Mina God's people and during the time of the theocracy in Israel that the civil law that he gave to them.

There were there were crime sins that could be committed. That would that would result in death where where you were liable to to this judgment to capital punishment, so you soon.

You do see it in Scripture and then also when we come to the New Testament. Specifically, it seems to me like when the apostle Paul talks about the civil government and and those authorities that easily they do exercise the sword and and right there is seems like he's referring again to capital punishment, and in it doesn't seem like he's talking about it in a sense of you and that they're doing so illegitimately but that they debate this is just a part of what they do in terms of the carrying out of justice in society and thinking of Romans chapter 13, where Paul says in verse one.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but the bad would you have no fear of the one who is in authority than do what is good and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good, if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain as possible just talking about how things were at that time and in using encouraging. Essentially, rightly, we want to be people who live in in in ways that are in line ultimately with God's law and doing good in society and we don't we break laws and especially very serious ones that were subject or liable to judgment. Now just in the Old Testament God made it very clear that an individual who was the note subject to capital punishment. You couldn't be punished in the this way except on the basis of eyewitness testimony could even be one would have to be multiple witnesses, so there was this this attempt if you will to safeguard unite as you can imagine that the judicial process it and so it you know what I would all say is it's clear in Scripture that capital panic punishment was practiced both in Israel under the old covenant and seems like it's it's one of the things that civil government does, but that that's not to say at all that awaits practiced all the time.

Today is always right. In fact we've seen and be there been stories of of instances tragically were an individual's is wrongly accused are there there punished and they were innocent and so this is something that requires a lot of wisdom, and I think this is Scriptures do have wisdom for us here in in this area, but it but it's also something that the just just having to deal with this question right. This is not how the world God made is supposed to be. I think of you know the words that Jesus speaks to that the religious teachers and their asking him about divorce and he said he had from the very beginning he was supposed to be like this but but there there are these things that we do because of your hardness of heart, because of sin, and so you know you having this discussion talking about these me with it. It the reason we have that talk about these things because of sin, because of the fallenness of the world. We know that in the new creation. This is going to be a reality. It's something that the were knocking to look at anymore and I think that's important for us to take into consideration as well and so appreciate that question again. Those are a couple passages of Scripture that you might want to dig into a little bit further your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's our phone lines are open. If you got a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

In fact, were to be recording a second core Christianity program today to be doing that shortly after the live program and so you can call us for the next 35 minutes or so at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 go to Roy in Marshall, Texas Roy, what your question for a drill bit you out of Egypt to the global every coaching Bible store.

So then he is studio.

And when you go to book of Corinthians of the grid is about how to behave and so look for communion so that the doctor over the summer was like a video is started or award will depend solely focus of the Mayo New Testament. Yeah, I really think I can tell brother that you thought about this. I love that you're bringing together all these different passages of Scripture and and so in your and you're going to write ones, you know, first Corinthians chapter 5 where it talks about Christ, our Passover and the institution of the Lord's supper in the later chapters of first Corinthians other thing I'll say is we have to think about the Passover was the Passover was commemorating God's deliverance from the land of Egypt, and this was an annual feast celebration that the children of Israel were obligated to participate in it was it was a part of their worship.

Now those fees under the old covenant were pictures of what was to come. Types and shadows. No sign post leading us forward to the reality that would be Jesus Christ that's exec will Paul told the Colossians in Colossians chapter 2 verse 16. Let no one pass judgment on you and questions of food and drink are with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ, so we look at these these Old Testament types and shadows. Whether was that the sacrificial system under the old covenant in the temple on the priestly offerings, or the these meals that have the Passover meal these feasts. They're pointing forward to something else, something greater a greater reality and the reality that are pointing forward to is Jesus and that's what Paul says in Colossians chapter 2 so Christ is, you know, through his sacrificial death for his people, the fulfillment of the Passover and that's why Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 5 or seven.

Cleanse out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven the leaven of malice and evil with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth in it right there. Again he the thing looked the these things in of the bread the unleavened bread there under the old covenant, but you know pictures of these greater realities. Let's celebrate the feast of Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed for us. Now we we benefit from the Lord's supper gathering around the table of the Lord. And so we celebrate the feast, not with the leaven of malice and evil which it is interesting we go to later chapters of first Corinthians in first Corinthians chapter 10 and chapter 11 when Paul begins talking about the Lord supper. It seems like the Corinthians were celebrating the Lord's supper with some malice with some evil, he rebukes them in chapter 11 verse 17 and following instructions. I do not commend you.

Because when you come together. It is not for better, but for worse. So he's encouraging them when when you take the Lord's supper. You need to do it in the way that's honoring honoring to the Lord with the with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth approaching the Lord's table and so the fulfillment of the Passover meal under the old covenant is Jesus's sacrificial life, death and resurrection and we participate in that reality through the Lord's supper, not through an annual festival in the Christian church that really was a type and shadow.

We offered for the old covenant. Now we take the Lord supper. We have the reality we have the substance which belongs to Christ. God bless this core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were getting a lot of calls today on the subject of the last days in the rapture just want to remind you we have an excellent Bible study on the book of Revelation, which you can find by going to core Christianity.com/studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies look for a Bible study on the book of Revelation.

Let's go to Jacob calling in from Iowa.

Jacob, what's your question for a drill hello yes I believe that really rapture the Bible or tribulation and I have. I know some people that believe that really rapture after the tribulation the post trip how to why I may not really combat but what information or what Bible verse what I could play it when I get a way to show them that it will be pretrip as I believe the Bible shows us. Jacob cannot just ask you a quick follow-up question you said pretrip as I believe the Bible shows is is there is there a passage that you're referring to specifically rethink all this is talking about a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. One would be a reference but the Bible said that you will be in the field will be take it well be left behind. That obviously means that there will be people there and I and I just heard a lot from my pastor that is pretrip and post okay yeah will thank you, one for your question. We were talking about the rapture a little bit early and is there their differences of opinions here. It seems to me that it and this is not to to you know you drive a deeper wedge, but it seems to me that when Scripture talks about the experience of the church of Christians here in this world that it is it is an experience of tribulation.

Jesus himself said in John chapter 16 before he left his disciples in this world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world. Is this sense that we as believers we were going to be spared from tribulation from difficulty from persecution. That's not the case at all of the week.

We see all of Daniel chapter 7. For example, talks about the Saints struggling being persecuted tribulation. You see this throughout the book of Revelation in the passenger referring to about tubing in the field. One being taken another left I would think.

Actually the one who's taken there in the context probably refers to judgment not to not to rescue and so it's really important that we look at those passages little bit closer and appreciate your question. God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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