Why was death the penalty for almost every possible sin in the Old Testament, without prior chance?

When reading the Old Testament, especially the book of Leviticus, we can see that for almost every possible sin, the sinner had to be put to death, by stoning or by fire. In the Law, there was no second chance. Whether it was cursing, non-biblical sexual activities, doing magic, eating unclean food, etc., death was always the punishment.

Why was God so strict towards people in the Old Testament, punishing them with death (or commanding their death by stoning or fire) for their sin; knowing they were sinners and were likely to commit those sins in their life?

Why isn't death penalty the punishment in the New Testament, and today?

If the answer is "because of Jesus' death, everything is finished"; well I thought that the purpose of the sacrifice of Jesus' death was to save us from the spiritual death (Hell); not the physical death (ex: capital punishment required for many sins in the Old Testament).

Clarify • Share • Report • Asked November 27 2013 • Samuel Bourassa