Pro-Life
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https://albertmohler.com/2023/01/09/briefing-1-9-23
INTRO
Big Idea of the Message: What does God think about abortion? What doe s the Bible say about abortion?
The word “Abortion” is not in the bible at all
The concept of the sanctity of life however is
Ethical and moral difference between abortion and unfortunate life saving procedures that result in infant death.
Big Idea of the Message: What does God think about abortion?
PRAYER
A - God we praise you for your wisdom and beauty revealed to us in creation. From thunder storms to sunsets, from honey bees to hippopotamus, and certainly in the majesty of human life from conception all the way to coffin. We praise your name.
C - Lord we confess that we do not pray enough for our country and leadership, we do not pray enough for our state and its leadership. We confess that while we hold your word in high esteem that we often struggle to apply it in the best ways in our own lives.
T - But we thank you for your longsuffering, for your grace and mercy. We thank you for your Spirit of truth. We ask that you would be with us now and help us to apply your word today.
S - Give us your heart, grant us wisdom and discernment. Help us to form a biblical view of life and help us to apply this view to our interactions with one another as well as a lost and hurting world around us.
MESSAGE
The Sanctity of Human Life
The Sanctity of Human Life
Life Proceeds From God
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
He is the creator we are the creation
Colossians 1:17 “17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Every breath we have is form God
Our lives are not unto ourselves
Life Is Precious To God
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
He cares for each and every one of us
He knows us individually
He died for us individually
God cares for the ugly / dirty / stinky
God cares for the dems / repubs / coms / anarchist
God cares for the prisoner / addict / prostitute / etc…
believe it or not God even cares for you !!
Life Is Protected By God
5 And for your lifeblood I will require a reckoning: from every beast I will require it and from man. From his fellow man I will require a reckoning for the life of man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
God prohibits & punishes unlawful taking of life
you shall not murder!
Death is by God’s appointment
Ecc 3.2 “2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;”
Heb 9.27 “27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,”
Protected by Him also
Daniel in the lions den!!
Ps 91.10 “10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent.”
Job 5.19 “19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.”
The Sanctity of The Unborn
The Sanctity of The Unborn
Children Are Planned By God
13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
Predestined —> salvation (Rom 8.29-30)
God has His fingerprint on every human life
The mandate of humans to reproduce in Gen 1-2.
Children Are To Be Treasured & Protected
3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.
10 “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.
2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.
Throughout history / scripture children are a blessing
Child sacrifice forbidden = Pagan wicked nations around Israel
Jonah - sparing of the little ones in the city of Nineveh
The Sanctity of the Aged
The Sanctity of the Aged
The Elderly Are To Be Respected
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord.
1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.
Long life is a sign of Gods blessing… especially before modern healthcare!
Grey hair is a sign of wisdom and a crown of glory
The Elders of Israel are those who are to be consulted
Job 12.12 “12 Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.”
The Elderly Are To Be Cared For
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent.
4 even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.
4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Old folks homes did not exist… Social Security did not exist
Ruth / Naomi
Ruth 4:15 “15 He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.””
Jesus’ care for his mother
Jhn 19.26-27 “26 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.”
Big Idea of the Message: In the eyes of God the Creator, all creation—and all human life—is valuable.
What does the Bible say about abortion?
Abortion is murder
5 As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
Created in God’s image
What does the Bible say about those who have had an abortion?
They have allowed their child to be murdered and are therefore culpable
They can receive forgiveness in Christ !!
What does the Bible say about those who have performed an abortion?
They have commited murder
They can receive forgiveness in Christ !!
How should the church respond to those who are considering abortion?
In love, encouraging and teaching, in hopes to care for her and the baby in whatever means necessary.
How should the Church respond to an organization / government that is unashamedly pursuing the practice of abortion?
It is our duty to respond according to the word of God
Pro 24.10-12 “10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. 11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?”
CLOSE
Big Idea of the Message: What does God think about abortion? In the eyes of God the Creator, all creation—and all human life—is valuable.
Application Point: Being pro-life is about more than abortion. As believers, we should live in a way that honors the dignity of all humans, regardless of political policy or societal norms.
Group Questions
What is one thing that stood out to you from this week’s message?
In your opinion what does it mean to be pro-life?
Is abortion more a political issue or a theological issue? Why do you think so?
What do you think of Jeremiah 1:5 telling us that a persons existence is known to God even before their birth?
How do you see God reflected in other people? What does it mean to be an image bearer?
How does God view children?
Whom do you struggle to view as an image bearer? What influences how you feel about that person or people group (fear, lack of understanding, anger)?
Have you ever felt overwhelming guilt or shame because of sin in your life? How were you able to let God in and accept his forgiveness? How does that help you offer grace to others?
What practical steps can you take to support women who are considering abortion?
How might Proverbs 31:8-9 inform your answer?
How can we pray for you?