Matt says...
The two are in harmony not in conflict; for me to accept your rendering of Gen 9 would be to create a conflict that should not be there - and in fact isn't there at all.
I agree with Pastor Larry's (and others) exegesis of Genesis 9.
I also agree with your statement that the supposed conflict "isn't there at all".
Because I agree with others that the blood-for-blood retribution is at the level of government.
So, although I as an individual Christian as a citizen of a nation in the inhabited world may not personally support the death penalty for murder, I know and understand that it is still God's standing mandate at the level of government.
Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
Words and phrases such as "terror", "be afraid", "sword", "revenger" and "execute wrath" along with the historical evidence of an enforced death penalty recorded in the NT indicate to me that Genesis 9 was then and still is God's general mandate (blood for blood).
1 Peter 2
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
There is no conflict within Pastor Larry's view.
A personal conflict may arise when the State requests that you cross over into the governmental level and sit on a jury for murder.
Here in the USA, for those states which uphold the death penalty you may refuse by expressing your individual opposition to the death penalty at jury selection time.
The questions involve not only if you support the death penalty but if you as a jury member could impose the sentence. You can say "yes" to the first and then "no" to the second or simply "no" to the first and either way be eliminated.
HankD