SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY

Introduction

Good morning Life church. Let’s stand and read together God’s word to us today.

Psalm 139:13–16 NASB95

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.

TODAY WE CELEBRATE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE.

When I say Sanctity of Life what do I mean.

Sanctity - the state of being sacred or holy to God.

This word means to be set apart for God, to be His and therefore to be Holy His, Sacred to Him.

So, when I talk about the sacredness of Life, I am not just saying human life is sacred to me, I am saying to God, human life has been set apart by Him and for Him and thus is Holy!

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AS CHRISTIANS WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN LIFE.

We hold that all human life is sacred from conception to the grave.

Yes, sinful but still sacred to God.

Yes potential for evil but still conceived and born in the image of God.

IF YOU WILL ALLOW ME TO SHARE A BIT OF CHURCH AND HUMAN HISTORY FOR YOU TO COMPARE.

The Didache, written before the year 150 and the earliest written Discipleship chatachism for the Gentile converts, says,

“There are two ways, a way of life and a way of death; there is a great difference between them…in accordance with the precept of the teaching ‘You shall not kill,’ you shall not put a child to death by abortion nor kill it once it is born. The way of death is this; they show no compassion for the poor. They do not suffer with the suffering. They do not acknowledge their Creator, they kill their children and by abortion cause God’s creatures to perish; they drive away the needy, oppress the suffering; they are advocates of the rich and unjust judges of the poor; they are filled with every sin. May you be ever guiltless of all these sins!”

FROM THE START THE CHURCH VIEWED LIFE AS SACRED, FROM CONCEPTION TO THE GRAVE.

THIS VIEW OF LIFE WAS HOWEVER VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE PAGAN WORLD CHRISTIANITY WAS BORN INTO.

Rodney Starks, author and historian of Ancient Near Eastern Society and Roman Life writes of the pagan mindest of Rome and the surrounding gentile nations.

Children were described like plants rather than humans or animals.

In Rome a child’s father had the legal right to kill his children for any reason until they became adults.

Exposer was a cruel method for dealing with unwanted children – A baby is born and then left out in the elements to die.

Some children were rescued by slave drivers, who would raise the children to be sexual slaves to the rich.

Abortions were also common among the wealthy.

THIS IS THE WORLD CHRISTIANITY WAS BRON INTO AND MAKES THE WRITING OF THE DIDACHE ALL THE MORE POWERFUL AND BEAUTIFUL.

From the start the Church not only preached the Gospel to save souls but also discipled their people to live redeemed from the curse of death and to reject the way of death.

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ONE HAS TO ASK WHY WAS THE CHURCH DETERMINED TO LIVE AS THOUGH HUMAN LIFE WAS SACRED?

The answer to that question is in their view of the sacred text we call the Bible.

They viewed the scriptures, Old and New as the Divine Word of God, that is the logic, wisdom, and law of God meant for human flourishing and freedom from the tyrant of death and judgment.

ALLOW ME TO SHARE JUST A FEW WITH YOU.

Genesis 1:27–28 NASB95

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Genesis 9:6 NASB95

“Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.

Jeremiah 1:5–6 NASB95

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.”

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THE SACREDNESS OF MAN IS CARRIED OVER INTO THE NT AND IS PART OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF REDEMPTION.

THE INCARNATION -

The very act of God joining His divine nature to human nature speaks not of our worth but of His desire to secure the salvation of His Sacred creation.

GOD DEEMS HUMANITY LOVED AND SACRED.

John 3:16 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

GOD REVEALS TO US HIS LOVE AND DESIRE FOR ALL HUMANITY IN THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS -

HE WHO KNEW NOW SIN BECAME SIN

Luke 12:6–7 NASB95

“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

We could go on but I believe you get the point. Human Life is sacred not because of its value and worth to us but, because God created all human life sacred to Him.

To reject the sacredness of Life is to reject His desire and therefore Him as God.

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WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE SACREDNESS OF LIFE AND ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.

Proverbs 31:8 NLT

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed.

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CONCLUSION

HOW CAN YOU AND I FOLLOW GOD’S LEAD AND CELEBRATE THE SANCTITY OF LIFE AS WELL AS PROTECT THE SANCTITY OF LIFE ESPECIALLY IN THE VULNERABLE AND VOICELESS?

Christians, have as many children as possible.  Fill the world with image bearers of God.

Adopt and foster – from the womb to the grave life is sacred.  Fill the void, offer hope to the hopeless – When I was sick, homeless, hungery, in prison you visited me. 

When we adopt and foster we are in fact worshipping Jesus.

Love and celebrate your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  Through your love make them aware of how God sees them, loves them, and desires to be in relationship with them.

Stand for the most vulnerable. The newly conceived baby is the most vulnerable human in the world today.

Give hope and resources to pregnant moms, especially the vulnerable ones. (We have to care for the poor, single, windowed, and abused momma.)

Empower men to step up and father their children with love and courage.

Participate in political decisions that affect human life.

Raise your children and grandchildren in the Church!  If life is sacred, why would you withhold the sacredness of God and His Church from them?

Disciple your children towards obedience to Christ – if you do not the world will disciple them away from Christ. (Not just politics and social issues – but give them the word, teach them how to apply it in daily life, lead them to Jesus.)

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WORSHIP TEAM COME ON UP.

During this last song, if you brought a gift to be donated to mommas and babies, I would like for you to bring it to the altar table and place them below and to the sides. I want you to realize your gift today is a gift to Jesus, it is an act of worship. For as you give to the most vulnerable you are giving to Him.