Truth really can be stranger than fiction.
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La verdad puede ser más extraña que la ficción.
First Page - ¡Ya está en marcha! Todas las historias son verídicas, o están basadas en hechos reales. Lectura ilimitada por $4.99 / mes. No hay que descargar nada. Lea en su teléfono, tableta u ordenador.
Manna Minutes Podcast: Eye-opening Bible study in less than five minutes! Access all episodes here.
Manna Minutes en español:
Estudio bíblico que nos hace abrir los ojos en menos de cinco minutos! Acceda a todos los episodios aquí.
Manna Minutes Podcast auf Deutsch:
Augenöffnendes Bibelstudium in weniger als fünf Minuten! Alle Episoden finden Sie hier.
Was There A Curse On Helen's Romantic Life?
The Third Man by Angela Sheffield is based on a true story. Read chapter one now!
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¿Qué tiene que ver conmigo? por Teófila Gottfried
Lo que leemos en la Biblia tiene que ver con todos los seres humanos, sean cristianos o judíos, ateos o agnósticos, budistas, musulmanes o adherentes a alguna de las filosofías o nuevas religiones que surgen en el mundo. ¿Por qué? Ver mayor información sobre este interesante libro.
Scripture of The Day - St. John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Escritura del día - San Juan 14,6
Jesús le dijo: Yo soy el camino, y la verdad, y la vida; nadie viene al Padre, sino por mí.
Bibelstelle des Tages - Johannes 14,6
Jesus spricht zu ihm: Ich bin der Weg und die Wahrheit und das Leben; niemand kommt zum Vater, denn durch mich!
What Does the Bible Say About the Capital Punishment Debate?
Thou Shalt Not Kill
Many people opposed to the death penalty who choose to make mention of scripture from the Christian Bible, often quote Exodus 20:13, which says, "Thou shalt not kill." While Exodus 20:13, at first glance, appears to put an end to the capital punishment debate--at least for Bible believing Christians, such an "answer" is insufficient. What else does the Bible say about killing? If right interpretation of biblical scripture is to be gained, it's imperative to rightly divide the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Right division of God's word requires careful consideration and acceptance of ALL, not part of what scripture says on a matter.
King Saul was commanded by God to kill all of the Amalekites, including women and children, and their flocks and herds (1 Samuel 15:2-3). Saul, however, decided to spare the life of Agag, king of the Amalekites, and the best of the sheep and oxen (1 Samuel 15:7-9). God rejected Saul for failure to obey his word--for failure to kill to execute his wrath. There was no defense for Saul in the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," because in the Lord's eyes, king Agag was to be killed. The question of why God ordered the killing of all of the Amalekites is not the focus of this article. Focus is on the fact that "Thou shalt not kill" does not put an end to the capital punishment debate, because "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...a time to kill, and a time to heal..." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-3).
Capital Punishment Debate Under Grace (The New Testament)
Some might say that king Saul and Solomon's writings (the book of Ecclesiastes) should not be considered when asking, "What does the Bible say about the death penalty?" Those writings are Old Testament scripture. If we use that logic, we then must also discard the "answer" of "Thou shalt not kill," because it is also Old Testament scripture.
The capital punishment debate will not be ended by one article or one Bible study. However, enlightenment should take place that, "Thou shalt not kill" will not silence those who believe that the death penalty is right and supported by scripture from the Christian Bible.
The Sword - A Symbol of the Death Penalty
The official government is the higher power of God, because law and order in the land is ordained of God. The executioner is a part of government, which is supposed to execute the wrath of God. Execution of the body does not automatically mean that a person dies lost (without salvation). If the one to be executed is truly guilty of the crime, but repents to God, his or her spirit is saved. Being executed does not annul the truth that God will forgive those who confess their sin, confess him as Lord, and ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
In the Bible, the criminal who was executed by crucifixion next to Christ received salvation, but his salvation did not spare him the death penalty (Luke 23:39-43) nor did Jesus speak against capital punishment for crimes worthy of death.
The scripture of Romans 13:1-4 says, "Let every soul be subject unto higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the powers? Do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For 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."
The sword in this passage speaks of death by execution for the commission of a crime worthy of death according to God's word. This is not killing. This is the rightful execution of God's wrath by the executioner and it is just judgment.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons/Chris 73
Based on true events, The Third Man by Angela Sheffield, brings the Bible up close and personal as the characters face real issues of life: Betrayal, deceit, romance, bitterness, anger against God, hopelessness, will power, perplexity, triumph, unforgiveness, mental illness, and the "Alcohol made me do it" excuse. Read chapter one FREE now.
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