Ukraine based Nigerian Pastor, Sunday Adelaja, has explained why God permitted killing of any kind in the Old Testament.
In a recent message titled, “God loves witches and wizard”, Adelaja said, the reason there was killing in the Old Testament is because Jesus had not come to pay the price for sin.
“The wages of sin is death. Since Jesus had not paid the price for sin, those who contravened the laws of God and who did not obey his instructions met instant judgement. That is why he said we should not suffer a witch to live. There was no sacrifice yet for sin as at that time.’ he said.
He explained further “that since Jesus had come to pay the price for sin, he had suffered the consequences that disobedient people should suffer. He paid for it.
“So killing is no longer the equation. He loves the entire world and he died for the world even when we were yet sinners. So Christians are not permitted to hate anybody because Jesus had paid the price for the sin of the entire world.’
Adelaja who pastors one of the largest churches in East Europe, said if God asked us to love our enemies that means He also loves those enemies. It is not allowed for a Christian to be hateful. Nobody should be hated.’ he said.
He, however, noted that the message of love is not well understood in many churches in Africa. ‘God allowed the children of Israel to kill their enemies because there had not been the redemption of man
‘But once Jesus had paid the price there is no basis again for that. He has carried away all our iniquities. That is why we can’t hate anymore. It is antichrist to preach death for enemies.’