Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
“He who smites a man that he die shall be surely put to death. . . . He who smites his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. He who steals a man and sells him . . . shall be surely put to death. He who curses his father or his mother shall be surely put to death.”
Exodus 21:12, 15–17
“For the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, and just, and good.”
Romans 7:12
An excerpt from a letter from Brother Gary Savelli
“I was thinking today about how merciful and how loving the Old Testament death penalty was. For example, if young people knew that to become a homosexual would mean certain death - then the temptation to yield to those thoughts could most probably be overcome. But when death is something not carried out (and not seen by the human eye), there seems to be more boldness to yield to evil and to say and do wicked things, rather than seek God in prayer for strength to resist evil. Homosexual spirits have a safe haven now, with no penalty, and they can find homes (hearts) to live in much more easily. God’s Law, when kept, prevented such wicked spirits from having such liberty with the minds and hearts of our children. Our children desperately need their own deep experiences with God, so that the fear of God can live in them and protect them from sin.”
Amen, Brother Gary! The harshness of the Law of Moses was intended to put such fear in people that they would never have to experience the harshness of the Law, but would be protected and saved by it, and then reap the many benefits of righteousness. The fear of God is good and clean. Would to God that every man and woman had a supply of it sufficient to keep them from sin. That is the will of God. His first choice is to love and bless people, not to intimidate them with threats. How the nature of man perverts the way people look at our good God!