All Lives Matter

William H. Banegas June 7, 2015

Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1-3; 9:6; Mark 12:13-17; Acts 17:26; Romans 5:12; James 3:7-12; 4:1

Theme: All Lives Matter

Introduction: Following the events that erupted in Ferguson, MI and New York City in which an encounter with law enforcement prompted questions about the current state of relations between the police force and the African American community, I heard on the news that some protestors were using a sign which read “Black Lives Matter”. I believe that the intent behind the statement is to call attention to the fact that African American lives are just as important as anyone else, in other words the sign should read “Black Lives Matter Too”. Or maybe that is an assumption on my part. This prompted me to think why, in general, would they even have to make up such a sign. Additionally, what about other lives? Chinese, European, South American, Hispanic, etc. What about the unborn? Or even those who have a life-dominating disability? Do their lives matter? It is my conviction that God’s Word makes it very clear: All Lives Matter. Today in particular we are going to not only understand why All Lives Matter but that such a belief demands at least three responses.

Transition: With that in mind, I invite you to read with me in Genesis 1:26-27 …

All Lives Matter because All Human Lives are created in God’s Image and Likeness. (Genesis 1:26-27 “And 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 fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”)

Context:

The Genesis 1 creation passage is so incredibly beautiful describing the literal 24 hrs periods in which God created the entire universe.

The passage moves in such a way as the big moment in all of creation is God’s creation of mankind in His Image and Likeness.

It’s almost as if the whole created universe is waiting for this one moment.

God’s Intentionality

God’s choice of words significantly differs from the other acts of Creation noting His deeply personal involvement with creating mankind.

Previously God would begin creating by saying "Let there be" or "Let the waters" or "Let the earth”.

Here there is a pause for some deliberation or some thinking.

This notes the highly intentional and deeply involved process of God in creating people.

The word translated “make” is a word packed with meaning.

The word emphasizes God’s activity everywhere as well as His sovereign control, “over history, [His] cosmic activity, and [His] activity in individual lives.”

A God Who is deeply involved.

Not a God Who is distant as some would have us to believe.

Furthermore, the word also denotes in certain contexts the need for special skill in order to undertake the making/creation.

These help us to understand God’s unique power in creation and His sovereign control.

God’s creating ability sets Him apart in that He alone can create what no other can!

God’s Gift

This was God’s choice to give people something that sets them apart from the rest of creation!

As this is God’s Image and Likeness it follows that it’s something that only He can give since it is His to begin with!

Since it was God’s to give it’s not something that can be acquired independently of God, therefore only He can give it!

Essentially God has given to people a unique gift that places their value far above the rest of creation.

Equal Possession

The image of God isn’t just in men or just in women but rather both possess it.

Therefore neither is ever justified in physically or verbally abusing the other.

Additionally, neither is ever justified in thinking that one gender is better than the other.

Human Worth

In the list of what people have dominion over conspicuously lacks any reference to having dominion over other people!

God says that humankind created in His Image and likeness have dominion over these pairs …

Dominion carries with the idea of being put under foot or entire control and domination.

Therefore, such conditions in which a person is forced into life-dominating slavery like human trafficking or sex trafficking are wrong and we must stand against them!

Everyone here today has God’s Image and Likeness and not only has worth to God but must be respected as having God’s Image and Likeness.

Don’t look at people and evaluate them based on their differences in skin shade or where they came from.

We are one human race all descended from Adam created in God’s Image.

To those of you gathered today and you question your worth, your value, your purpose - God’s Word is abundantly clear - you have Worth as you are made in God’s Image and Likeness.

God’s Image, the Universal Condition

Passed on to Adam’s offspring (Genesis 5:1-3 “This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:”)

This verse affirms that the first two people were created in God's Image, which the key word.

Adam fathered a son after his image which was the Image of God.

As Adam was created in God’s Image and Likeness, so Adam’s children possessed God’s Image and Likeness.

Furthermore, the implication that Seth passed along God’s Image and Likeness to his offspring also.

Possessed by all of Adam’s offspring (Acts 17:26 “And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;”)

Context: While in Athens, Paul took advantage of the many religious observances to point everyone to the one-true God.

In emphasizing the unity of all people, Paul declares that every person ever born is descended from Adam, the very first man.

While some may want to speak of the different races, the Bible is very clear there is only one race of people - the human race spanning the globe and various cultures - all created in God’s Image and Likeness!

Transition: While I wish that everyone recognized the inherent worth of human life because we’re all created in God’s Image, the reality is many of us don’t. In fact the reason why we don’t is a very personal one.

Because of our sin nature, we will always face the temptation to disregard human life.

Folks, we’ve got a problem with our desires/lusts. (James 4:1 “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”)

We began the service referencing the events of Ferguson.

Why would those events turn so violent?

Why did similar events in Baltimore turn so violent?

Those actions and many others are the expressions of a big problem with our desires; they are corrupt.

This problem was inherited from the same individual through whom we received God’s Image and Likeness: Adam. (Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”)

Unfortunately both Adam and Eve chose to disobey God bringing distortion to the Image of God in people. (Romans 3:23)

We are all born with a sin nature and our desires are for sin, to do sin.

The only solution to this is a total transformation from the inside out, one that only Jesus is equipped to accomplish. (2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”)

You see folks God is on a mission to restore the perfection of His creation before the fall of man into sin.

He is accomplishing this through Jesus in those who have put their faith in Jesus and will ultimately finish this work.

Transition: What I’d like to discuss next is very controversial in contemporary society. However, because it is controversial does not mean that we as the church should shy away from it but I want to provide you with a Biblical principle which should inform and influence our opinion about the following topics.

Because All Lives Matter, protect life. (Genesis 9:6 “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”)

Context:

Unfortunately the wickedness of people became so great that God had no choice but to destroy nearly all of the people through a worldwide flood.

God preserved one family, Noah and his wife and their sons and their wives, 8 people in addition to the animals God chose.

Noah and his family have recently disembarked from the ark of God's salvation for not just the animals but for all of humanity; Do you realize that if it were not for God saving Noah and his family we would not be here today?

God has some instructions for them because thing have changed, how the animals respond and now He institutes capital punishment.

Protecting life demands that we stand against and punish murder.

Murder is the intentional taking of life of another individual

Though very controversial in contemporary society, the Scriptures give clear testimony to the government’s authority to exact capital punishment in cases of murder. (Romans 13:3-4 “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: 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.”)

There is a high price for assaulting God's Image.

Protecting life demands that we stand for the unborn against abortion.

Abortion Facts:

1993, 1.6 million abortions.

1979, China mandated abortions for population control.

Abortions in third world countries are usually botched procedures that end up taking the life of the mother.

The testimony of Scripture is clear, abortion is murder.

These verses emphasize the unique personhood of the child in the womb and therefore being created in God's Image.

Psalm 139:16 “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

Jeremiah 1:4-5 “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.”

Luke 1:44 “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”

We must not only take a stand against abortion but seek to comfort those who have made this choice with the Word of God and the hope of Salvation through Jesus Christ.

Protecting life demands that we stand up for the aged, diseased and disabled against euthanasia (or the intentional murder of the aged, diseased and disabled because they don't meet a certain criteria of usefulness).

Unfortunately there are certain individuals who believe that once you've reached a certain age, certain level in your disease or have a certain debilitating disability that you're more of a burden to society and should be terminated.

The Scripture make it clear that we are to respect and honor the aged in our midst. (1 Timothy 5:1-2 “Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”)

God still forgives failure to protect life. (Galatians 5:21 “Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:24 “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”)

Jesus Christ brings the change.

Only through Jesus can we find forgiveness for these failures.

Transition:

Because All Lives Matter, bless life. (James 3:7-12 “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”)

Context:

The half brother of Jesus and church leader has some things to say about the tongue

Animals can be tamed but not the tongue

The word bless actually means to speak a good word

To emphasize the utter ridiculousness of using our mouth to both speak good of God and evil of others he highlights several impossible situations.

Bless life and put off gossip. (Proverbs 20:19 “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”)

Unfortunately folks gossip is a horrible evil which divides and we must put off.

When you hear someone say, “I probably shouldn’t be telling you this …” then politely excuse yourself.

Bless life and put away lying. (Ephesians 4:25 “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”)

Truthful speaking is the mark of a genuine Christian.

The unity which believers find in Jesus Christ prompts them to always speak the truth with others, particularly Christians!

Bless life and put off deceit. (Proverbs 4:24 “Put away from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.”)

Deceit comes in many forms like withholding part of the truth because we think it’s not advantageous to us to share the whole truth.

As emphasized previously, we are to speak the truth with others, particularly in love. (Ephesians 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”)

Bless life and use words that build up. (Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”)

The word edify literally means to build up or use words which would encourage others.

I challenge you to before you say something which would hurt take a moment and think about how you can encourage that person and speak that word instead.

Bless life and offer prayers for others rather than insults. (1 Timothy 2:1 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”)

Transition:

Because All Lives Matter, live a God-dedicated life. (Matthew 22:15-22 “Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Caesar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”)

Context:

Big mistake to try to test Jesus Christ.

Jesus turns this on its head and says let Caesar keep his little copper coins but give God what belongs to Him.

What belongs to Him are all those lives that are created in God’s Image and Likeness.

Live a God-dedicated life loving God fully. (Matthew 22:37-38 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.”)

Live a God-dedicated life loving others selflessly. (Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”)

Live a God-dedicated life always. (Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”)

Conclusion: Folks, All Lives Matter, because all people are created in God’s Image and Likeness and therefore we must protect life, bless life and live a God-dedicated life.