God will take care of things with complete justice. In Romans 13, the verses that we quoted above, tell us that God requires the government to be in charge of capital punishment. It is not right for citizens to form a posse and go after a criminal and have a lynching. That is how things have been done at times, but that is not God’s way. God’s design is for governments to operate under the fear of God and for judges to operate under the fear of God and they are the ones who have the God-given authority to sentence certain criminals to death. That is lacking in our country and there is much injustice taking place.
The apostle Paul was directed to write those words at a time of great injustice as well. He had been abused often for his faithfulness to the Lord. The Roman government was corrupt and the Jewish religious system was corrupt as well. God-fearing people like Paul suffered at the hands of evil people. However, God told him to write that the purpose of government is to punish evil. The sword in that passage is a reference to the need for capital punishment. Wicked governments will use force in the wrong way. We see that in China and Russia and Venezuela and even in our own country. God will hold governments accountable for their abuse of power. However, God is always just. The criminal may not get caught in this life. He or she may not be judged properly in this life, but God will take care of it all. The criminal has a guilty conscience in this life. They cannot enjoy life as God designed it to be. The bank robber may steal millions and may not get caught. They always need to be looking over their shoulder and they will always be suspicious of others. They cannot enjoy life. The same holds true for all criminals.
God gave us His Word to help fallen man be able to live in this sin cursed world without having to dodge bullets and knives. Cain was the first murderer and as the Bible teaches, that murder started in his heart. It was already committed before he ever laid his hands on his brother. He hated him and that hatred led to the physical death of Abel. God addressed that matter and Cain was a marked man for the rest of his life. He did not enjoy life. He did not pass on any good values to his children. He died a lost man and has been in torment now for 1,000’s of years and will spend all of eternity in torment.
When we take God’s Word seriously, we find His way of peace. When a lost sinner repents toward God and is forgiven and saved through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they can know His peace. The thief that was nailed to the cross beside Jesus Christ lived a rough and violent life. However, he was given the same opportunity as others to turn to God and be saved. He chose to listen to the convicting work of God in his heart and he turned from railing on Jesus as he had done just before that, and he asked Jesus to forgive him and save him. Jesus heard his prayer and he was forgiven and saved at that moment. He had wasted his life up to that point, but graciously, he was forgiven and given the gift of eternal life. He still died on that cross. That death was necessary to warn others of the consequences of violence. That thief’s salvation did not remove his need to be dealt with justly for his crimes. Salvation is not a scape-goat. Salvation is real and the forgiveness of sin is the most important thing that we all need. If we would listen to God as a child we would avoid much sin and we would spare ourselves much grief.
It is foolish to think a person can plan to wait until the very end and then call upon God for salvation. Many die in their sin. The day of salvation is always today. It is never wise to put off that important decision for another day. If you are a lost sinner, turn to God today and know His peace and blessing for the remainder of your time on this earth and on into eternity.
Pastor Bartel