Grandliseur
Well-Known Member
God shall always balance his justice, never will it be too little or too much. Punishment shall be applied in proper measure whether forgiven or not. Since I am not the judge, I can only say what generally is true. If the murderer deserves to die in eternal sleep, damnation - he will.I don't see life in "benefit vs punishment" mindset. That's too barbaric and romanistic for me.
The murderer suffers the consequences of his actions on earth, in this life as all the verses I quoted.
If he does not repent, the consequences (or punishment if you like) will follow him until the next life where god says he will be judged by his deeds as a christian.
If the muderer is a christian and repents, he is no longer in debt to his salvation. You are addressing something entirely different than what I am saying. Maybe it's because you use punishment when not everyone needs to be punished for their actions to know and experience the consequences of them.
The key word in your point I see is repentence. You would be correct if the person did not repent. Since he does, how is he still at a fault with god excluding that he will still experience the consequences of his actions?
1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thy heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 While it remained, did it not remain thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thy power? How is it that thou hast conceived this thing in thy heart? thou has not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down and gave up the ghost: and great fear came upon all that heard it. 6 And the young men arose and wrapped him round, and they carried him out and buried him. 7 And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8 And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much. And she said, Yea, for so much. 9 But Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to try the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them that have buried thy husband are at the door, and they shall carry thee out. 10 And she fell down immediately at his feet, and gave up the ghost: and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her by her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church, and upon all that heard these things.
This is no Sunday-school stuff - if you have done a deed that damns, there is no longer any forgiveness, you cannot repent any longer.The God of the OT is the God of the NT. He is scary as all can be: (James 2) "19 Thou believest that God is one; thou doest well: the demons also believe, and shudder. "
There is no getting around punishment, down to our words even.
Matthew 5:22 . . .but whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, ‘You despicable fool!’ will be liable to the fiery Ge‧hen′na.