The other day, I started to reflect on the question of whether a Biblical worldview requires us to support the death penalty. I concluded that it does not
One argument missing from my case but used sometimes by opponents of capital punishment is that Jesus has taken the penalty of death on himself at the Cross.
The usual counterpoint to that claim is that the death penalty is a creation ordinance and so not linked to the Gospel. However, I wonder?
First it is worth noting that Cain and Lamech in Genesis 4 are both murderers. Neither of them are physically put to death although Cain experiences a death like exile, the curse and judgement of the ground. Indeed, we may conclude that the physical death penalty is a way of representing that exile.
Secondly, in my article the other day, I raised the possibility that Noah’s covenant is not a generic, common grace covenant but special grace to God’s people. If so then the laws given to him are fulfilled in Christ just as the Mosaic laws are. This would mean that Jesus’ death fulfills the death penalty of Genesis 9. Indeed Genesis 9 becomes a Christological prophecy.
What do you think?
Faithroots 