PROLIFE:
Scripture & the Sanctity of Life: Bible Study
Creation
Genesis 1:1
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
Revelation 21:1-2, 5 New creation: "I am making everything new."
John 1:3 Jesus identified as Creator: "Through Him all things were
made . . ."
2 Corinthians 5:17 "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation."
God as Creator
is fundamental to the Christian faith. We worship Him (Isaiah 45:9; Romans
9:21; Psalm 95:6), and recognize His authority to rule and govern our
lives based on His prior work of creation. Any attack on God as Creator
is an attack on His authority and His worthiness to be worshipped.
Satan's
Attempt to Usurp God's Authority as Creator
Jesus came
to save, restore, and renew life. Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
John 3:16-17; 8:44; 10:10
The most
dramatic picture of Satan's declared war against the offspring: Revelation
12:1-17
"Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to make war
against the rest of her offspring - those who obey God's Commandments
. . ."
Demonic worship
in the Old Testament often involved child sacrifice. Jeremiah 19:4-5;
Psalm 106:36-38 (See God's reaction in Ezekiel 16:20-22: "You slaughtered
My children . . .")
The births
of both Moses and Jesus were accompanied by a massive slaughter of the
innocents. Satan has generated widespread infanticide in an attempt to
eradicate the people of God. Exodus 1:15-15; Matthew 2:13-18
"All
who hate Me love death." Proverbs 8:36b
The Humanity
of the Pre-born in the Old Testament
God had plans
for us before we were born. Jeremiah 1:4-5; Isaiah 49:1, 5
David discusses
the spiritual state he was in before he was born (his personhood began
at conception). Psalm 51:5
Jacob and
Esau were distinct individuals before birth. Genesis 25:22-28
Scripture
gives identity to unborn human life. Psalm 139 - notice the spiritual
relationship the psalmist has while in the womb "The psalmist surveys
his life in four stages: Past, present, future, and before birth, and
in all four refers to himself as 'I.' He who is writing as a full-grown
man has the same personal identity as the fetus in his mother's womb."
(John R.W. Stott)
Samson's
mother is told to alter her diet while pregnant because Samson, the child
in her womb is to be consecrated unto the Lord. Here we have a direct
concern for the life of the preborn. Judges 13:2-5
These verses
do not distinguish between "potential life" and "actual
life" when referring to the pre-born. Genesis 16:11; Isaiah 46:3-4;
Psalm 22:9-10 (Notice in Psalm 22:10. "From my mother's womb you
have been my God.")
Old Testament
Law and the Sanctity of Life
Human life
is valuable. Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:4-5
There is
a serious punishment for anyone who takes an innocent human life. Exodus
20:13; 21:12.
R.C. Sproul writes. "The punitive measures against murder underscore
the gravity of the crime precisely because of the value of the victim.
Life is regarded as so sacred that it must never be destroyed without
just cause."
Homicide
is "an implicit attempt to murder God." Genesis 9:5-6
R.C. Sproul comments, "This test is not a prophecy. It is not saying
simply that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Rather,
the passage is a divine mandate for capital punishment in the case of
murder. The significant point is that the moral basis for capital punishment
in Genesis is the sanctity of life. The Biblical ethic is that because
man is endowed with the image of God, his life is so sacred that any malicious
destruction of it must be punished by execution. Note that this Scripture
implies that an assault against human life is considered by God an assault
against Himself. To murder a person is to attack one who is the image-bearer
of God. Homicide is regarded by God as an implicit attempt to murder God."
(Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue, p 33.)
The pre-born
are protected in Old Testament Law. Exodus 21:22-25
Permitting
the murder of innocents pollutes the land. Numbers 35:33-34
Believers
are charged with defending life. Proverbs 24:11-12
God hates
those that shed innocent blood. Proverbs 6:16-17
Cursed is
the man who accepts money to kill an innocent person. Deut. 27:25
One of the
sins of Ammon that resulted in God's wrath was killing pre-born children.
Amos 1:13
It is worse
to kill the innocent in a protected place. 2 Sam. 4:11: "How much
more - when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and
on his own bed - should I not now demand his blood from your hand and
rid the earth of you!" (John MacArthur comments in a sermon. "How
can you tell me that isn't a description of an unborn child. A righteous
person in his own house upon his bed . . . Sure it means a good man, but
if it means a good man it certainly would imply a protected child.")
The Humanity
of the Pre-born in the New Testament
Paul was
set apart from his mother's womb. Galatians 1:15
Jesus is
spoken of in the womb. Matthew 1:20-21 (Note: The incarnation is the most
compelling Christian apologetic for the sanctity of unborn human life.
To argue that life does not begin at conception must lead one to assume
that the human Christ was at one point a "potentially human"
Christ. Those who say that life does not begin at conception are in direct
opposition to the Apostles' Creed and in almost certain agreement with
an early heresy, "adoptionism." which claimed that Jesus became
God at some later point in life. The early church refuted this, and affirmed
in the Apostles' Creed that the eternal Son became incarnate in Mary's
womb, choosing the phrase, "conveived by the Holy Ghost." That
which was conceived by the Holy Ghost was not an "it," a "potential
human," or a "blob of tissue." It was our Lord and Saviour,
Jesus Christ.)
John the
Baptist is spoken in the womb. Luke 1:15-17 - Filled with the Holy Spirit
from the womb. Luke 1:39-44. John's reaction to the pre-born Christ entering
the room. (Note that Luke 1:36 tells us Elizabeth was six months along
when Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb. Verse 56 tells us that Mary stayed
with Elizabeth for three months until Elizabeth gave birth to John the
Baptist. This means that Mary was literally in the first weeks or even
days of her pregnancy when she approached Elizabeth, was called the mother
of the Lord, and carried the embryo Christ who elicited John's leap in
the womb.)
The Greek
word brephos (lit. "babe" or "baby") is used to describe
the pre-born and the born. Born: Luke 2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; 1 Peter 2:2.
Pre-born: Luke 1:41, 44.
The Value
of Human Life in the New Testament
Human life
is more valuable than animal life. Matthew 6:26; Matthew 10:29-31
God's work
invests human life with value. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; John 3:16
Jesus cared
for people who had a poor "quality of life" rating. Matthew
4:23-25; 8:1-3; 9:1-8
Jesus valued
little children. Matthew 18:1-14
We should
have a Biblical attitude toward poor children. James 1:27; 2:5-9
Children
The first
charge given to men and women was to be fruitful and multiply. Genesis
1:27-28
Children
are a blessing. Psalms 113:7-9; 127:3; Deuteronomy 7:12-14
"Spiritual
adoption" is a model for physical adoption. Ephesians 1:5; Romans
8:15;9:4-8; Galatians 4:4-5
Jesus loved
children. Matthew 18:1-14; 19:13-15
The "Hard
Cases" and Christian Decision-Making
One basis
for Christian action is love. Matthew 22:36-40 (See also John 13:34-35,
Romans 13:8-10, and Galatians 5:14.) Can a decision in favour of abortion,
by Christian standards, ever be an act of love?
We are to care for and respect the disabled. Exodus 4:10-12; Leviticus
19:14; Isaiah 45:9-12
Regarding
abortion in the case of rape: Children should not be put to death for
the sins of their fathers. Deuteronomy 24:16
Incest and
adultery in Christ's bloodline: God can redeem even the tragic events
of sin. Genesis 38 (incest of Judah and Tamar); 2 Samuel 11 (adultery
between David and Bathsheba)
Responding to "freedom of choice:" Christians should not use
freedom to cover-up evil. 1 Peter 2:16
We do not
have an "unqualified right" to our bodies. Ezekiel 18:4; 1 Corinthians
3:16-19; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16-17.
"Do not follow the crowd in doing evil." Exodus 23:2
Daniel includes himself in confession, though he did not personally participate
in the sin mentioned. Daniel 9:4-11
"Blood-guilt"
is on a land that sheds innocent blood. Numbers 35:33; Leviticus 20:2,4,5;
Deuteronomy 21:7-8
We have a
responsibility to speak out. Ezekiel 33:8; Proverbs 31:8-9
We should
respond to needs with ministry (not just prayer). Luke 10:25-37
Encouragement
for Those Facing a Crisis Pregnancy
"Blessed
is the man who perseveres under trail, because when he has stood the test,
he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love
Him." James 1:12
"And
we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him,
who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28
"You
intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is
now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20
Life Principles
| 1. |
God
created life, making man in His own image and likeness to rule over
the rest of creation. (Genesis 1:26-28) |
| 2. |
God
loves and cares for human life, including the pre-born, transferring
His image to them. (Psalm 139) |
| 3.
|
Jesus,
in His incarnation, identified fully with humanity, sanctifying conception
through His participation in it. (Hebrews 2:14) |
| 4. |
Man
was made to live forever. Death is the result of, and the punishment
for, sin, and was never offered by God as a solution to problems.
(Genesis 2:15-17) |
| 5.
|
Human
life is precious to God. Its wanton destruction is forbidden by God
and invites His wrath. (Genesis 9:5-6; Revelation 21:8) |
| 6. |
Child
sacrifice is particularly abhorrent to God, combining the shedding
of innocent blood and idolatry. (Psalm 106:37-38) |
| 7. |
Man
is commanded by God to reflect His view of human life by protecting
it from wanton destruction. (Proverbs 24:11-12) |
| 8. |
Man
is obligated to use law to reflect God's love and justice, providing
alternatives to the destruction of human life. (Jeremiah 22:1-3; Matthew
22:37-40) |
| 9. |
Children
are a gift from God for blessing the family, the Church and the world.
(Psalm 127 and Psalm 128) |
| 10.
|
God
is in control of the "hard cases," using them for our good
and His glory. (Exodus 4:10-12; Isaiah 45:9-12; John 9:11-13) |
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more information and resources contact:
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