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Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 2:39:18 PM
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godsend221
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If God is so loving, why did he kill innocent people in the Old Testament?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 2:40:35 PM
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MrFribbles
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quote:
If God is so loving, why did he kill innocent people in the Old Testament?
Who did He kill that was innocent?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 3:15:33 PM
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john_mark
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quote:
ORIGINAL: godsend221
If God is so loving, why did he kill innocent people in the Old Testament?
the apostle paul sums it up in romans 1
18.For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19.because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20.For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21.For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
i would point you to the whole of chapter 1 thru 3 of romans, but the short version is that mankind knowing who God is rejects God and worships the creation rather than the creator.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 4:44:38 PM
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rawr.ben
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Why is the question always about God killing, instead of God preserving the righteous remnant?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 6:20:09 PM
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godsend221
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I think this is an important question in the world today that needs an answer. In the old testament he told the israelites to kill men, women, and children. Why?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 6:24:17 PM
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mvic
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quote:
If God is so loving, why did He kill innocent people in the Old Testament?
It is a fair question - often avoided by those who do not know the answer.
When God sent the many plagues on Egypt to punish Pharoe; no doubt many of his citizens perished and died. Are we to believe all were guilty? Of what? Or did they suffer for their leader's sins?
When Moses parted the Red Sea and then returned it to its original state, many soldiers perished and died. Are we to believe they were all guilty? Of what? They were soldiers following orders - to stop the Jews from leaving Egypt.
When everyone perished in the great flood, except Noah and his family; are we to believe that the whole world was wicked and all deserved to perish? Every single one of them? Noah and his family were the only unblemished creatures in the whole world worthy to be saved?
I'm sure you can think of similar examples where seemingly innocent people perished.
Why? Asks the OP. I really don't know why. Yet I understand the question.
Anyone care to explain to me and the OP please?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 6:32:24 PM
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john_mark
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
When God sent the many plagues on Egypt to punish Pharoe; no doubt many of his citizens perished and died. Are we to believe all were guilty? Of what? Or did they suffer for their leader's sins?
were they not given the chance to honor God and let the people go?
quote:
When everyone perished in the great flood, except Noah and his family; are we to believe that the whole world was wicked and all deserved to perish? Every single one of them? Noah and his family were the only unblemished creatures in the whole world worthy to be saved?
I'm sure you can think of similar examples where seemingly innocent people perished.
Why? Asks the OP. I really don't know why. Yet I understand the question.
Anyone care to explain to me and the OP please?
doesnt scripture tell us about the times of noah?
5.Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually .
6.The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7.The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky ; for I am sorry that I have made them."
8.But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
if man is to honor/worship God and doesnt is he innocent before God? does not scripture tell us that all men are guilty of sin?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 6:52:39 PM
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SovereignIsHe
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Who is man to put God on trial in regards to His actions with that He created and breathed life into regardless of how things appear to man? His actions and motives are far above our reproach and mankind should be humbled to the point they would even consider God isn't what He says to be simply because what He has done appears to our feeble minds as horrific... Who is man to say God has to answer for His actions?
Paul answered much the same question with the following...
Roman 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
_____________________________
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Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 7:00:52 PM
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SovereignIsHe
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
When God sent the many plagues on Egypt to punish Pharoe; no doubt many of his citizens perished and died. Are we to believe all were guilty? Of what? Or did they suffer for their leader's sins?
Mankind stand guilty before God apart from the shed blood of Jesus Christ... The question isn't what is man guilty of, but what ISN'T man guilty of in the eternal sense.
quote:
When Moses parted the Red Sea and then returned it to its original state, many soldiers perished and died. Are we to believe they were all guilty? Of what? They were soldiers following orders - to stop the Jews from leaving Egypt.
Even soldiers following orders are responsible for his personal actions and those who lead them bear a greater responsibility because they are in authority...
quote:
When everyone perished in the great flood, except Noah and his family; are we to believe that the whole world was wicked and all deserved to perish? Every single one of them? Noah and his family were the only unblemished creatures in the whole world worthy to be saved?
Yes... You believe God simply put them to death because it was convenient? It's very telling that 99.9% of the breathing creatures on the ark were not human...
quote:
I'm sure you can think of similar examples where seemingly innocent people perished.
There is no such thing as an innocent person... Mankind as a whole stands accused before God. And without a doubt no one dies apart from the day and moment God ordained...
quote:
Why? Asks the OP. I really don't know why. Yet I understand the question.
Anyone care to explain to me and the OP please?
His good pleasure...
_____________________________
John
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 7:43:35 PM
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DougHorton
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quote:
ORIGINAL: godsend221
If God is so loving, why did he kill innocent people in the Old Testament?
Every human being is a sinner, including you and me.
None of us are innocent and every one of us deserves to be wiped off the planet.
The real question should be why does He allow so many guilty people to live long lives and die peaceably.
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You may think it strange, but he never likes any assistance. When he made the world, he did not ask the angel Gabriel so much as to cool the molten matter with his wing, but he did it entirely himself. -- Spurgeon
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 9:55:01 PM
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mvic
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Thanx for your answers. I think you're missing the point of the OP; and my point too.
Of course we're all sinners. Of course we all deserve to perish and die etc ... If that were the case then God might as well get rid of all His creations right now and live happily ever after without us humans bothering Him. The fact that He doesn't is up to Him. No one is questioning that.
What I'm questionning is that it seems improbable/unbelievable that every single person apart from Noah and his family deserved to die.
When Pharoe disobeyed God it would have seemed reasonable to punish him personally. What point is there in punishing every single person living in Egypt by sending the plagues? Pharoe was not personally harmed by that. Were all his people compliant with Pharoe's disobedience and therefore worthy of punishment? I doubt it.
Was every soldier in agreement with their ruler's wishes and deserved to perish? I doubt it also.
The reality is that we don't know God's wishes, His reasonings, and motives for His actions. That's because we don't deserve to know. He let some people perish in what seems to us to be unfair justice. That's His priviledge and not ours to question.
Had you said this - it would have been an understandable answer. But to say we all deserve to die because we've all sinned etc ... whilst true, does not address the sentiments behind the question asked.
Thanx.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/12/2009 10:26:57 PM
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godsend221
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I don't believe it's wrong to ask questions. God gave me a mind and an intellect and i'm going to use it. Why did God tell the israelites to kill people yet we criticize the Muslims for doing it. The jews killed because God told them to and that's what the muslims are doing. Why didn't God do all the killing himself?
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 5:46:41 AM
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schtumpy
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quote:
ORIGINAL: john_mark
quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
When God sent the many plagues on Egypt to punish Pharoe; no doubt many of his citizens perished and died. Are we to believe all were guilty? Of what? Or did they suffer for their leader's sins?
were they not given the chance to honor God and let the people go?
Actually no.
They weren't.
Exodus 10:20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 9:49:48 AM
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john_mark
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quote:
ORIGINAL: schtumpy
Actually no.
They weren't.
Exodus 10:20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
prior to the hardening of pharaoh's heart we find this encounter in exodus 5
1.And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' "
2.But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go ? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."
this was prior to the hardening of pharoah that is spoken of in exodus 6
1.Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh ; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land."
so if sequencing has any importance first pharoah was given the oppurtunity to obey God. after his disobedeince was his heart hardened even though at the onset God knew that pharoah wouldnt obey of his own desire.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 10:02:46 AM
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timf
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In the old testament he told the israelites to kill men, women, and children. Why?
God decreed the death of all people (except eight) by the flood. There is a limit to the evil God will tolerate. When God was promising Abraham the land of Canaan, Abraham asked how it was possible since the land was already occupied.
Genesis 15:16
But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.
There was a judgment that was to come on the people who lived in the land. The judgment was because their deeds were as evil as those before the flood.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 10:34:45 AM
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SovereignIsHe
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
The reality is that we don't know God's wishes, His reasonings, and motives for His actions. That's because we don't deserve to know. He let some people perish in what seems to us to be unfair justice. That's His priviledge and not ours to question.
Had you said this - it would have been an understandable answer. But to say we all deserve to die because we've all sinned etc ... whilst true, does not address the sentiments behind the question asked.
Thanx.
I believe that is what I posted....
Who is man to put God on trial in regards to His actions with that He created and breathed life into regardless of how things appear to man? His actions and motives are far above our reproach and mankind should be humbled to the point they would even consider God isn't what He says to be simply because what He has done appears to our feeble minds as horrific... Who is man to say God has to answer for His actions?
His good pleasure...
_____________________________
John
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 10:40:45 AM
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WesP
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quote:
ORIGINAL: john_mark
quote:
ORIGINAL: schtumpy
Actually no.
They weren't.
Exodus 10:20
But the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go.
prior to the hardening of pharaoh's heart we find this encounter in exodus 5
1.And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, 'Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' "
2.But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go ? I do not know the LORD, and besides, I will not let Israel go."
this was prior to the hardening of pharoah that is spoken of in exodus 6
1.Then the LORD said to Moses, "Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh ; for under compulsion he will let them go, and under compulsion he will drive them out of his land."
so if sequencing has any importance first pharoah was given the oppurtunity to obey God. after his disobedeince was his heart hardened even though at the onset God knew that pharoah wouldnt obey of his own desire.
Exactly! Everyone has a choice. If you choose other than God, He still has His plan, and you WILL fit into it whether you like it not.
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Peace,
Wes
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 11:33:48 AM
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JStucki76
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quote:
ORIGINAL: mvic
Thanx for your answers. I think you're missing the point of the OP; and my point too.
Of course we're all sinners. Of course we all deserve to perish and die etc ... If that were the case then God might as well get rid of all His creations right now and live happily ever after without us humans bothering Him. The fact that He doesn't is up to Him. No one is questioning that.
What I'm questionning is that it seems improbable/unbelievable that every single person apart from Noah and his family deserved to die.
When Pharoe disobeyed God it would have seemed reasonable to punish him personally. What point is there in punishing every single person living in Egypt by sending the plagues? Pharoe was not personally harmed by that. Were all his people compliant with Pharoe's disobedience and therefore worthy of punishment? I doubt it.
Was every soldier in agreement with their ruler's wishes and deserved to perish? I doubt it also.
The reality is that we don't know God's wishes, His reasonings, and motives for His actions. That's because we don't deserve to know. He let some people perish in what seems to us to be unfair justice. That's His priviledge and not ours to question.
Had you said this - it would have been an understandable answer. But to say we all deserve to die because we've all sinned etc ... whilst true, does not address the sentiments behind the question asked.
Thanx.
Well, the question, as I understand it, seems to be asking, "Why do these people die while those people live?"
First of all, "deserve" has nothing to do with it. In the time of Noah, EVERYONE deserved to die. Including Noah. It was simply God's good pleasure to save Noah and his family. Period. He gives life, he has the right to take it as he sees fit. He sees all ends, and he saves who he will for his own reasons.
Exodus 33:19- "...I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion." (NASB)
What you seem to be denying in your post here is that ALL are guilty, all the time. Everyone on earth is deserving of judgement, always. If God waits longer on this person than that person, that's his business.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 12:09:13 PM
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rawr.ben
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JStucki76
It was simply God's good pleasure to save Noah and his family.
Exodus 33:19- "...I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion to whom I will show compassion." (NASB)
What you seem to be denying in your post here is that ALL are guilty, all the time. Everyone on earth is deserving of judgement, always. If God waits longer on this person than that person, that's his business.
I agree. Like I said earlier . . . it's not so much about God killing, in my eyes, but about God preserving his righteous remnant.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 12:24:02 PM
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SovereignIsHe
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quote:
ORIGINAL: WesP
Exactly! Everyone has a choice. If you choose other than God, He still has His plan, and you WILL fit into it whether you like it not.
So if everyone went to one side of the ship so to speak that would still fit into the plans of God?
_____________________________
John
Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 4:17:16 PM
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ironsharpensiron
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quote:
I think this is an important question in the world today that needs an answer. In the old testament he told the israelites to kill men, women, and children. Why?
If you read the O.T. you will see that the reasons to destroy not only the people (men, women, and Children), but the animals as well, is because they could and would become a stumbling block for the righteous. The children would grow up, begin to practice their 'fathers' ways, thus leading God's people into idolatry. Of course we know they did it anyway, but that was one of the purposes for total destruction of all unclean, unholy persons, animals, and things.
God meant for the children of Israel to be set apart, a holy people; and in being human easily fell prey to outside influences.
Another question somewhere was why didn't God kill them Himself...well, He did, even in the Israelite camp He cause the earth to open up and swallow whole families along with their animals and belongings so that no trace would ever be found.
God wants to eradicate all unholiness; He is Good, and Holy, anything unclean He will justly destroy because it is not of Him or what He had intended.
Matthew
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 4:19:59 PM
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WesP
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quote:
ORIGINAL: SovereignIsHe
quote:
ORIGINAL: WesP
Exactly! Everyone has a choice. If you choose other than God, He still has His plan, and you WILL fit into it whether you like it not.
So if everyone went to one side of the ship so to speak that would still fit into the plans of God?
I do not see how you get that interpretation of what I said. No one can go against God's will. He will make you fit into His plan however He needs to.
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Wes
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/13/2009 5:37:56 PM
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bob97
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Man is forever attempting to place God within their own box..God tells us He is going to see things differently than we are. It is after all Gods will not ours that counts.
Bob
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/14/2009 7:40:45 AM
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awepro
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What I can glean is this: Old Testament people didn't have Jesus in their time. They either had to show sacrifices to God or do their own good works of their lives to impress God. Salvation could not wash away their sins in lack of Jesus so God had to punish sinners accordingly.
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RE: Why did God kill people in the Bible? - 3/14/2009 10:32:43 AM
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rawr.ben
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quote:
ORIGINAL: awepro
What I can glean is this: Old Testament people didn't have Jesus in their time. They either had to show sacrifices to God or do their own good works of their lives to impress God. Salvation could not wash away their sins in lack of Jesus so God had to punish sinners accordingly.
Are you suggesting that Grace and Mercy were not evident in the OT?
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