Quote:
Originally Posted by satz  Something a little more on topic: 
I am happy to affirm that it is unjust and a sin for the government when criminals who deserve it under Moses' law are not put to death. On the other hand I also believe, as I have posted before, that it is God's (revealed) will that his people will live under unrighteous governments until the time Christ returns. So there is a sense whereby God's people can be happy about certain aspects of the fact that biblical law is not enforced. |
No one denies that. We are only exercising our prophetic abilities.
Quote:
|
If I were to someday, God forbid, commit adultery, I would be very grateful that would not be put to death
|
obviously.
Quote:
|
but have the chance to not only repent, but live a life fitting with repentance from then on. In 1 Cor 5 Paul told the church to throw the fornicator out not so that the state could deal with him, but in the hope of securing repentance and his eventual re-admission into the body.
|
Remember, Paul was writing to the Church, not to the Civil government.
Quote:
|
Would it have been unjust for the state to have executed him for his immorality? No. But God's NT people can still be thankful for the fact that such a person had the chance to repent and atone by living a godly life.
|
So? Of course we are thankful. But let's apply your maxim on a different level. What about a serial killer? We would rejoice in his conversion, but does that clear him with the civil law?