Civil Gov – Avenger of Wrath – What about Capital Punishment?

Crime calls for an avenger. That’s the civil magistrate’s role as God’s minister. He is not to rehab criminals, but to bear the sword against them as a terror to evildoers (Rom. 13:3-4). So, when a man commits murder, for example, his life should be forfeit (Gen. 9:6). And justice should be swift. When it’s not, lawlessness explodes, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil” (Eccles. 8:11). When civil rulers coddle criminals, they despise God’s Word, and nations crumble. Only by acting as righteous avengers will they reverse this trend and fill their God-given role.

Sermon:

https://churchandfamilylife.com/sermons/68e35b84d3673935241c37b9