7/27/11 Murder not Unforgivable

1. 1 John 3:15
   Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.
2. Revelation 21:8
   But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
3. Revelation 22:15
   Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
   

(Uriah handing letter to Kng David- Peter Lastman 1619)

Thoughts: Murder is a terrible sin.  While all sin pollutes us- keeping us from heaven, murder is a sin so very serious that in itself it would keep us from God's presence and rest.  Murder on purpose is a capital offense in scripture.  Murder abolishes someone that God has made.  It obliterates the image of God given to them.  Yet, there is grace and forgiveness In the Old Testament there were cities of refuge for someone who killed another accidentally.  David was given forgiveness, though punished, after he had Uriah killed.  Jesus said to his murderers, "Father forgive them for they do not know what they do."  Murder is a horrible sin, but it is not in itself enough to keep someone from heaven.  However, unrepentant murder is unforgivable.

Prayer: May I hold onto your forgiveness, Lord.  Keep me from quickly condemning another, even a murderer.  Yet, help me to value life highly.