Grace or Justice?
Murderer Danny Harold Rolling was executed by lethal injection in Florida yesterday. You can read about the details here. When asked if he had any final words, he sang a hymn extolling the virtues of God. The question of the day is, Did he receive grace or justice?
Rolling was accused of killing 5 college students in 1990, a heinous crime by anyone's standards. At least 5 families were deprived of their loved ones and dozens of friends and family members mourn the loss as well. How does God deal with a person who has committed such atrocities? Does God's grace extend to a multiple murderer? Where is justice for the families of the murdered if Rolling is given the gift of eternal life with God for confessing his sins and responding to the offer of salvation? I'll attempt to answer these questions briefly and then I'll invite your comments.
Sin separates us from God's love and the wages of sin is death. Having committed murder, Rolling was eligible for the full punishment for his sins. The Bible also says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins." (1 John 1:8,9) If Rolling confessed his sin, God extended his forgiveness. Justice for the families of Rollings victims was meted out through his execution. The Scripture reminds us that, "whoever kills a man must be put to death." (Lev 24:21) Rolling paid for his sin and justice was satisfied through the death penalty.
It is a hard concept for us to comprehend, that a 5 time murderer could actually be in heaven, but that is the nature of grace. God offers us what we don't deserve through faith in Jesus' sacrifice having paid the price for our sins. Your sin may not be of the same kind as Rolling's, but "all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious ideal." (Rom 3:23) That grace is offered to and extended to whoever confesses their sin and puts their trust in Christ.
May God provide comfort to the victim's families and may God have mercy on Rolling's soul.
Rolling was accused of killing 5 college students in 1990, a heinous crime by anyone's standards. At least 5 families were deprived of their loved ones and dozens of friends and family members mourn the loss as well. How does God deal with a person who has committed such atrocities? Does God's grace extend to a multiple murderer? Where is justice for the families of the murdered if Rolling is given the gift of eternal life with God for confessing his sins and responding to the offer of salvation? I'll attempt to answer these questions briefly and then I'll invite your comments.
Sin separates us from God's love and the wages of sin is death. Having committed murder, Rolling was eligible for the full punishment for his sins. The Bible also says that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins." (1 John 1:8,9) If Rolling confessed his sin, God extended his forgiveness. Justice for the families of Rollings victims was meted out through his execution. The Scripture reminds us that, "whoever kills a man must be put to death." (Lev 24:21) Rolling paid for his sin and justice was satisfied through the death penalty.
It is a hard concept for us to comprehend, that a 5 time murderer could actually be in heaven, but that is the nature of grace. God offers us what we don't deserve through faith in Jesus' sacrifice having paid the price for our sins. Your sin may not be of the same kind as Rolling's, but "all have sinned and fall short of God's glorious ideal." (Rom 3:23) That grace is offered to and extended to whoever confesses their sin and puts their trust in Christ.
May God provide comfort to the victim's families and may God have mercy on Rolling's soul.
posted by jawbone at
12:48 PM
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