Created in God's Image (Gen. 1:26-27)

Introduction

· Today is Sanctity of Life Sunday, and as such I would like to talk with you about the life of the unborn. Our subject is a difficult one this morning, but we simply cannot ignore it. I will try to be as discreet as possible.

· I would like to begin this morning by reading to you the personal testimony of a girl named Gianna:

· My name is Gianna Jessen. I was aborted, and I did not die. My biological mother was 7 months pregnant when she went to Planned Parenthood in southern California, and they advised her to have a late-term saline abortion. [side note: the solution of salt saline has a similar effect to acid, and has been compared to the effect of napalm on war victims].

· [Gianna continues,] I remained in the solution for approximately 18 hours and was delivered ALIVE in a California abortion clinic. ... When [the staff] saw me the abortionist was not yet on duty and had me transferred to the hospital. Due to a lack of oxygen supply during the abortion I live with cerebral palsy. When I was diagnosed with this, all I could do was lie there. They said that was all I would ever do!

· Through prayer and hard work by my foster mother, I was walking at age 3 ½ with the help of a walker and leg braces. At that time I was also adopted into a wonderful family. Today I am left only with a slight limp. I no longer have need of a walker or leg braces. Death did not prevail over me and I am so thankful!

· Gianna was very fortunate. God’s hand of protection was over her, and her life was spared against tremendous odds. Sadly, most children do not survive the abortion procedure.

A Little Background on Abortion

· The statistics of abortions are absolutely staggering:

- In the US alone, abortion kills nearly:

- 4,000 innocent children every single day (by comparison, 3,000 were killed on 9/11 from the terrorist attacks)

- 25k a week

- 1.3 million a year

- Since 1973, over 40 million human beings have lost their lives to abortion. These children never lived to see a sunrise, or sing a song, or receive a hug.

· Most of us would agree right now that abortion is wrong, but could you explain why?

· You see, most women don’t have abortions because they enjoy inflicting pain or want to commit murder. They usually do it out of a sense of panic or fear: fear that a child will interfere with work or with school. Fear that pregnancy will bring shame. Fear about being a single parent, or fear that they won’t be able to provide for the child.

· Purpose: This morning, I want to explain to you why abortion is wrong - why it breaks the heart of God - and why we should seek to vigorously oppose it with love and compassion.

Created in God’s image

Rd. Gen. 1:26-27; cf. 2:7

· Unique to humans, and shared by all humans (regardless of age, gender, race, health)

· Resemble God. Image = likeness. A similarity or resemblance. Cf. MRI “magnetic resonance imaging” or “spitting image”; not physical, but mental and spiritual abilities. By sharing in many of His attributes: ability to think, make rational decisions, experience emotions, moral goodness. BKC: life, personality, truth, wisdom, love, holiness, justice

· Rule over creation

· Represent God. An injury done to man is done against God Himself. “Sanctity of life” becomes reason to punish murder – Gen. 9:6

· >>But when does life begin? There is overwhelming evidence that life begins at conception.

Life begins at conception

· Biblical evidence

& Psalm 139:13-18 [written by David] 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. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.

& Luke 1:15 “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.

Luke 1:41-44 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she cried out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! “And how has it happened to me, that the mother of my Lord would come to me? “For behold, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy.

· Scientific evidence

- At the time of fertilization, a new life begins. You no longer have a daddy’s sperm cell and mommy’s egg cell. You suddenly have a new and unique human being with 46 chromosomes and all his future characteristics are present in this new child’s DNA: gender, eye color, fingerprint pattern, adult shoe size, level of intelligence, etc.

- Early development – see bulletin

- Viability generally begins at 21-weeks (barely 1/2 of full gestation) when a baby has a 15% chance of survival outside the womb.

- New technology makes it obvious even to us lay people

· Psychological evidence

the ‘ick’ factor, long-term guilt

· Putting it all together: IF all human life is sacred, and IF an unborn child is a human life, THEN that life is sacred, AND abortion is murder and dishonoring to God.

What if it’s already too late?

· Perhaps you’re thinking, “it’s too late”

· Abortion is a terrible sin with tragic consequences

· Every sin is heinous in God’s eyes

· He specializes in saving sinners like you and me

& Romans 4:6-8 … [Paul explains how God credits righteousness apart from works; quotes David:] “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, And whose sins have been covered. “Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will not take into account.”

& Colossians 2:13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

· Jesus: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”

· He can forgive you and embrace you through the blood of Christ

Three ways to get involved

· Pray for the unborn, and for those who are working to protect life.

· Vote for leaders who will protect and expand the rights of the unborn.

· Give through your donations and your service toward a local pregnancy center that is helping families in need.