| Killing and Murder. There is a Difference. | Created Date: 17-Feb-2017 |
Does God Forgive Murder? Yes |
Last updated: 17-Mar-2024 |
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God absolutely forgives murderers. Jesus Christ came to earth in the role of a suffering servant to make a way for the restitution of all sins, through the greatest prophetic event in history at the crucifixion, for everyone that would accept Him as their Savior.
God is involved in a moment by moment basis in all of the Earth's people that is meant to lead people in recognizing Jesus Christ as their Savior and to God's Glory. This moment by moment does come to a milestone point where God no longer witnesses to a person or the person becomes unable to perceive God with a need for a Savior:
A murderer can be a Christian where:
We can fully trust God in all matters in life even when it involves injustice and all evils including murder. It this author's opinion that sometimes God allows a murderer to not experience a court appointed death penalty, or even escape justice because God has a purpose in having the murderer:
Positively:
Consequentially:
There is a commonly spoken phrase "a fate worse than
death", that indicates there absolutely is always consequential
suffering for evil done. This has been also popularized in literatures and
movies that have a murderer wishing death would happen to escape the current
horrible predicament.
| Galatians 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. |
| Romans 9:15 | 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. |
| Genesis 15:14-16 | 14 But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. 15 You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. |
Jesus Christ paid the price for all sins, which includes murder, that every single person who has ever lived and will live. Jesus Christ, through His perfect Life and Death on the Cross, made it possible for those who accept Him as their Savior to have Salvation. We are not capable of fully comprehending the immensity of the price paid by Jesus Christ until perhaps we are in eternity with Him. If you do not have Jesus Christ as your Savior then ask Him to come into your life now!
All the sins we commit in our life will not prevent us from going to Heaven, but they may have consequences, which is where God's Grace and Mercy comes into effect with the potential loss of rewards in heaven.
If God chooses to judge a murder and give the murder additional time on this earth then it is God's prerogative. As just pointed out, there is no sin that cause us to lose Salvation. If God takes the murderer's life or if the murderer faces execution, by human government, then we need to realize that the penalty is justified.
Unfortunately, in many cultures, the word Killer has taken on the meaning that is synonymous with Murderer. When someone is called a Killer, then the word "killer" is usually meant as a derogatory and judgmental connotation. Conversely, when a person accidentally kills someone, where the fault is because of victim's actions such as walking in front of a moving car, the person who killed someone is not called a killer because of the negative connotation.
When reading this topic on the Cities of Refuge and Avenger of Blood, the two following points need to be kept in context:
The scriptures of Genesis 9:5-6 and Leviticus 24:17, informs us that God
expects judicial process against someone who murders another human being
(including animals) who murder someone. Notice the "I
will surely demand an accounting" which means God will examine the
motive and righteousness of all that have been killed in an act of murder that
points to both the Judgment Seat of
Christ and the Great White Thrown of Judgment.
| Genesis 9:5-6 | 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. |
| Leviticus 24:17 | Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. |
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Many people are against all forms of having to kill another human
being, even when it is a time of war. One example often given by
those against military actions is the use of the atomic bombs during
WWII because the two bombs killed perhaps 200,000 Japanese civilians.
The following is a partial excerpt from the topic on killing and murder. NOTE: This author does not have any satisfaction in writing about the horrible deaths that result in times of war, and find the subject very sad to have to write about knowing the suffering beyond words that have occurred throughout all wars in history. My ability to even think about the subject causes me to grieve and look forward to seeing the way God handles the perpetrators of evil and rewarding the victims at the Judgment Seat of Christ and Great White Thrown of Judgment.
It is interesting, and in this author's opinion done intentionally, that no
history book or website gives the full explanation, that I could find, why the Atomic Bomb was
most likely used. General Douglas MacArthur and
top American Military commanders estimated in a full-scale invasion of Japan, there would be approximately:
Historical sources are quick to point out the bombs killed approximately 90,000 and 40,000 immediately in Hiroshima and Nagasaki with tens of thousands of deaths from radiation exposure later. This is far less significant than multiple millions of Japanese deaths, with the million Americans, during a full-scale invasion of Japan! |
Does God require a murderer to forfeit their life? The scriptural answer
is yes, where human-beings have been instructed by God to administrate proper
justice as already mentioned earlier in this topic which began in Genesis 9.
| Genesis 9:5-6 | 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. |
There are two types of death that can occur as the result of someone else's actions that the death is accountable:
where these are part of God mandating human-being to administrate justice that does not involve revenge, anger and anything that is not properly judged that in modern-times requires a court system.
In a judgment process in a court system there may be a situation that sufficient evidence is NOT available to convict of murder but instead was negligent homicide As a possible example, there could be a case when a robber is stealing from a store and the store owner, in a fit of anger, tries to stop the robber that is violent which gives the robber no option other than to protect himself that may cause the inadvertent death of the store owner. The robber can claim self-defense, but the true perspective is the killing would not have happened if the robbing did not happen.
The next question is dealing with the areas that are not necessarily easily discerned. The first paramount concept that would alleviate the problem is for human being to understand that committing murder is never to be done. Is there a punishment that does not involve the murder losing their life that is more punitive? In some viewpoints the answer is yes by being confined in a prison cell:
As pointed out above regarding punishment for a murder, Leviticus 24:17 needs
be kept in the
context. The scripture, along with entirety of the scriptures, is stating that anyone who unjustly kills another human being is a
murderer, and should be put to death.
| Leviticus 24:17 | Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. |
In today's society of unrighteous and wrongful prosecution that has lead to the death penalty of innocent people, it is understandable that many are opposed to the Criminal Death Penalty. Regardless, if righteous judgment is based on false evidence, then a jury should not have regrets for doing what was required, and God is the Judge who will reward His Own who die prematurely.
There are the cases in the scriptures when God took the life of someone, as
discussed in the topic "God Slew". This is without question, righteous
when God made His decision. In our recent history, we often hear in the
media that a murderer was later killed by another murderer, where it is the
opinion of many that this became inevitable when human government does not
exercise
capital punishment.
God is not mocked and a murderer is going to reap what has been done.
| Galatians 6:7 | Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. |
From the scriptural viewpoint, God gave administration of human government, with responsibilities that included capital punishment at the start of the Book of Genesis, where God personally judged Cain's murder of Able. As discussed in the topic, "Cain", God chose to spare Cain's life and in the opinion of some Biblical Scholars and this author, Cain was forgiven.
From the scriptures, all Christians
cannot argue with the directive that God has given to us all which requires capital
punishment on all murderers. There are many scriptures that emphasize the
requirement:
| Genesis 9:5-6 | 5 And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. 6 Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind. |
| Leviticus 24:17 | Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. |
| Numbers 35:31 | Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. |
| Matthew 5:21 | You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. |
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The full answer to the question on does God require a Murderer to forfeit their
life: Unfortunately, there are sometimes Pastors and Christians that are stating we are not to have government exercise capital punishment. This statement by a Pastor or a Christian is wrong and going against the scriptures, which also is refusing to obey God. I n some people's beliefs, the incorrect justification against capital punishment, is because of the times in the scriptures that God did not require capital punishment. These people are forgetting that God is perfect in knowledge where God can make the decision to NOT require the death penalty for His own purposes. We cannot judge God.Because God did NOT require capital punishment in some cases in the scriptures, that does not mean we can refuse to exercise capital punishment for a convicted murderer. Also, when God does expect human government to exercise capital punishment, it does NOT mean a Christian murderer will go to the Lake of Fire. Salvation is through Jesus Christ and it is for all of us who accept Him as our Savior, which includes murderers. If we do not exercise capital punishment, through government, then we are
disobeying God's directives, where we are subject to possible loss in
Rewards in Heaven as the
consequence. The people that are alive, who were connected to the
victim of the murderer, are also being stolen from by not doing what God expects
as they are left with the pain of knowing the murderer is not suffering the same
fate that the murderer had done, so this is further consequences of potential
losses in
Rewards in Heaven. |
"Capital Punishment is against the Word of God because by ending the life of a human being then they may not have had the opportunity to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior. By not giving the person time to repent with acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Savior then the murderer will go to hell."
The reasons why some Christian Denominations will state this cannon statement is the incorrect belief in these four points:
Addressing these four incorrect points above, the reasons why this Denominational statement is incorrect is:
| John 3:17 | 17 Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not to destroy, but to fulfill. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. |
Also, God does not change!
Many Christians do not understand that by the many areas of acting and performing the requirements that God has given humankind, when establishing government, will bring benefits, rewards, blessings and so much more from God. In the Scriptures, God expects us to administrate our government by righteousness which includes areas such as capital punishment for a murderer.
When a government does not administer capital punishment:
The problem with anyone thinking that execution is not righteous, is not
thinking scripturally. Also, by not acting righteously in administration
of Capital Punishment, then this is calling God a liar, by believing that God
does not require capital punishment.
| 2 Chronicles 7:14 | if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. |
| Exodus 15:26 | And He said, If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer. |
Every one of us in our life have thought and planned out so many types of sins in our minds, which includes murder, even though we may not have committed them. God knows our thoughts and weaknesses.
The following list are some examples from the scriptures of many incidents that God forgave murder, because God can judge in ways, we are not capable.
| Person | Scriptural References and reasons | Forgiven? | |
| 1 | Cain kills Abel |
God did not take Cain's life then and there for the murder. God
gave Cain a Mark to have Faith in for protection. Read more
here. (Many
Biblical commentaries state that Cain and his descendents were evil.
The scriptures do not state that, and do not point to that conclusion.) |
Yes |
| 2 * | Simeon and Levi kill all the males of the entire city of Shechem. | Revenge, but also protection, for raping of their sister Dinah | Yes |
| 3 | Moses kills an Egyptian | Exodus 2:11-15 | Yes |
| 4 | King David has Uriah the Hittite killed to cover up the adultery that resulted in a pregnancy with Uriah's wife by King David. | 2 Samuel 11:14-15 | Yes |
| 5 | Thief on the cross | While we do not know what the Thief's crimes were, they were worthy of death by the laws of the Romans. Did God forgive him? See Luke 23:39-43 | Yes |
| 6 | Saul before becoming the Apostle Paul | Saul who became the Apostle Paul, participated in the death and imprisonment of Christians, where Stephen was one of them and was stoned to death (Acts 7:58-8:3) | Yes |
| 7 ** |
Lamech kills a
boy who either attacked him or wounded
Lamech unintentionally. This is a different Lamech then the one in the Royal Blood Line of Jesus Christ. See chart graphics in "Is Cain Saved section" of Cain topic. |
In Genesis 4:23, we read that Lamech kills a
boy. We do not know: (a) if the killing was for protection, or (b) the wounding by the boy was an accident.
|
Yes, by inferring the reference in the scriptures. |
* In Genesis 33:18-19, the man Israel is temporarily in the area of the city of Shechem with his family. There is a raping of Israel's daughter, Dina who is sister to Simeon and Levi in Genesis 34:1-2. The man who rapes Dina is Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite and prince of the region, where Shechem becomes in love with Dina and asks to marry her.
A woman's virginity before marriage was vitally important, where a non-virgin woman before marriage was considered a lesser defiled woman during that area in history. Dina's brothers were enraged because of the rape so they made a plan to make all the men in the city of Shechem vulnerable by requiring them to be circumcised before the marriage so that they could kill all the men when they were in pain during recovery of the circumcision. In Genesis 34:23, we learn that the men of Shechem had their own secret plan to take over all of Israel's possessions, where we are not told the details but may have been eventually by force after getting Shechem's his bride Dina.
After the circumcision of the men in Shechem, Simeon and Levi go into Shechem and kill all of the males, bring back all of the women, livestock and anything of value to Israel. There is much more to be noted about this incident with the evil deed of Simeon and Levi, which caused them to be passed over for the blessing of the first-born. All of the men of the tribe of Levi regained blessing for their act of standing with Moses in Exodus 32:26 when Aaron was forced into making the Golden Calf where there was idolatry in the camp that resulted in those who were idolaters being killed by sword by the tribe of Levi.
** We need to remember that the boy who is killed by Lamech is under the Age of Accountability principle.
Some commentaries come to the wrong conclusion that Lamech was evil. The scriptures do not point to that conclusion as the Holy Spirit gave us Lamech's horrible deed for a reason which did not finish with having Lamech's life forfeited.
Additionally, we do not know if Lamech believed it was intentional where Lamech's action appears to be in revenge without the intention to kill the boy but to inflect pain. Lamech is remorseful and burdened where he wants his wives to hear and relieve the guilt. Because of the scriptural reference, along with confessing to his wives albeit with fear, shows that Lamech wanted forgiveness which is the basis of obtaining forgiveness!
If you have
there is no remedy to fix the life lost or damage left to a victim that survived a murder attempt.
For those who have committed murder or tried to murder someone, there are and may be actions that are required, which God would want of any of us who sin against others.
Jesus Christ paid for all of the sins of the world on the Cross but it is important to make restitution to those who were hurt and also to society. Note that this author is NOT saying that restitution is required for forgiveness from God but that it is part of doing what is correct, worthy and scripturally correct. See James 2:17 along with the whole of scripture to understand that Faith without Works is dead and we all are Saved for a Godly Purpose.
| James 2:17-19 | 17 Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself. 18 Yea, a man will say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith apart from thy works, and I by my works will show thee my faith. 19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. |
By moving forward with taking responsibilities for one's actions, this adds
benefits to the person's life and will get
Rewards in heaven. We all need to remember that even in the last
actions in our life can have eternal benefits just like the
Thief on the Cross.
| Author's Note: I have the horrible experience of knowing about someone who tried to kill my future wife, before I met her. The person used cyanide poising on two different occasions that caused two separate near-death experience and two short-term comas. The police could not bring enough evidence to prosecute. It has been over forty years since the event, and I haven't thought about in years until updating this topic. I wonder if the person will ever make a death-bed confession which would be partial justice that should have been done a long-time ago. |
What to read next?
What is Salvation? Is it possible to lose Salvation? We have eternal life. Evolution is not real. When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it. Rewards in heaven. Do we Tithe? What does the 3rd Commandment tell us? What is Grace and Mercy? Is there an Age of Accountability? Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?