Abortion - Made In God's Image

Abortion June 5th 2022

The intention of the sermon today is bring clarity to what God’s Word says about life in the Womb as it applies to abortions of convenience.

My intention is not to shame, but to inform and challenge.

Today as we address abortion, when I talk about abortion I am specifically referencing abortions of convenience. The killing of an unwanted child who is in the womb.

-Not abortion to save the mothers life, which God does allow.

-Before we go any further lets go to the Lord in prayer.

Pray

In the state of Georgia there are approximately 36,000 abortions that take place each year.

In our nation there are about 950,000 abortions each year.

The latest numbers I could find on abortion were shocking.

In Georgia Jefferson county is ranked the 6th highest in abortions per capita out of 159 counties.

The numbers show that in our county over 25% of pregnancies end in abortions.

Jefferson county’s percentages per capita are very close to Fulton county.

If you are a child in the womb and you live in Jefferson county, (as a baby in the womb) you are in one of the most dangerous counties to live.

To be honest, you would be in one of the most dangerous counties in the nation only to be outdone by major metro areas like Miami.

Jefferson County is a deadly place to live for the unborn.

1 in 4 are murdered in our county.

This county is in the midst of a fetal Holocaust.

It is very likely that you know someone who has had an abortion and you don’t even realize it.

When it comes to abortion, there are hurting people all around us that we are unaware of.

Let’s be clear. Even among those who think abortion is morally OK. The women who have had the abortions and the men who have encouraged & supported the abortions do not feel good about it. There is a secret weight of remorse or grief that many of these individuals carry.

Transition - When it comes to abortion, God’s Word teaches something that is unique to Christian faith, this teaching is not found in any other religion, and that is that humankind is made in the “Image of God” - The Imago Dei.

Imago Dei

Being made in God’s Image enlightens me to value of all human life.

This Word “Imago Dei” is a fancy theological word. It’s latin...

Imago Dei - it just means made in God’s image.

Read Genesis 1:27

Genesis 1:27 ESV

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You see, nothing in all of God’s creation is like human beings.

Our sin has spoiled how we reflect God’s image. None the less we are made in God’s image.

Animals, As much as we love them (and as intelligent as some are), do not bare God’s image.

-God has crowned humankind with glory and honor.

-We are the crown, the Apex of creation, no created being has a soul and is like humankind.

-Humankind communicates with great complexity, invents and creates with great imagination and great detail, and humankind worships with great passion.

The Redeemed worship God as Savior.

Nothing else in all creation worships with intention and specificity like a Christ Follower.

-Humankind is not only a physical being, but humankind has a soul. Humankind is spiritual. When our bodies fail us and die, the soul lives on forever. Human’s are the only being in all creation to have a soul.

-Similar to you having children in your own likeness, humankind was made in the likeness of God.

-We are image bearers.

-You are made in the Imago Dei.

-Humankind is unique and like no other part of creation.

Let me take a small detour in our focus on abortion.

Application - The Imago Dei is also, why racism is wrong and sexism is wrong.

Black people, Hispanic People, Middle Easterners, & women are made in the exact same image of God that you are.

-As a white person you do not have a corner on being made in God’s image.

-When you are unloving or you disregard someone who is a different race or different gender, you are showing disrespect to God Almighty - because that person is made in the same Imago Dei as you.

-That person is just as much an image bearer as you.

BUT! - When you look into the eyes of someone who is different than you - even though you don’t understand their culture - and you love them for simply being a human being made in the image of God.

You honor God as the creator. You honor God as the one who has given another His image.

You honor the worth and the value that person has - that God has placed on them.

Your love for others who are different than you is an act of worship to God.

If you are married - The Imago Dei is part of why we don’t scream at each other and why we don’t call each other names.

When disagreements and intense feelings arise we may raise our voice (but we don’t yell at and treat each other like they are an animal), as much as your spouse may make you mad - they are made in the image of God and have innate value. Even when they sin, and you rebuke them, you treat them with respect.

Because they are made in the image of God, you respectfully disagree, even in your hurt and anger.

The marriage of a Christ Follower is different than the unsaved.

Parents - It is similar with our children. Sometimes our children can push our buttons at the worst of times. But - because our children are image bearers of God we don’t scream at them. We don’t call our kids names. We don’t call them brats, jerks, bully or idiot. We don’t shame them, like we do our dog.

Instead, we describe their behavior - “you are doing this… and that hurts your sister.” You are doing this … and I am really tired and can’t take that right now.”

You tell them, “When you teased your sister or took that from your sister or disrespected your parents, you were wrong and that was a sin.”

You do this without screaming at them.

Yes, Our voice may be raised and it may be intense, but we are under control.

When disciplining our kids -

We don’t beat our children like an animal. They are image bearers.

-When we spank it is very controlled, counted, it is limited, and intentional.

-When we ground or place in time-out, the punishment fits the crime and it fits what someone their age can handle.

Summary, The Imago Dei, The Image of God theology applies to many places in our life.

-We value human life, because all human beings are made in God’s image.

Transition - Someone might ask, “At what point were you made in His image?” When did being in His image begin? Was it in the womb or at birth?

Personhood begins in the Womb

Job 31:15 , Tells us “15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?”

But Psalm 139 goes further adds more ...

Psalm 139:13-16 “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.”

Each person is made with purpose by God in the womb of their mother.

In Psalm 139, when was the psalmist’s days determined? vs 16 - Before he was born.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 “Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 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.””

Jeremiah tells us that before the womb that the child’s purpose was determined.

The Child in Utero has been given a different life purpose than the mother.

The child in the womb is precious to God. He has been given purpose and a future.

-The child in the womb has different DNA than the mother, sometimes a different blood type than the mother, the child has a different personality than the mother, different intelligence than the mother, different potential than his mother, different strengths and weaknesses than the mother. A different purpose and future than the mother. And most importantly, a different soul than the mother.

Illustration?

When Marry was pregnant with Jesus she went and visited her older Aunt? Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist…, the moment Mary saw Elizabeth, John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb because He was in the presence of Christ in Mary’s womb.

-Even as a baby in Elizabeth’s womb, John the Baptist had awareness.

-No product of conception or fetal tissue has awareness.

The pro-abortion culture has attempted too define the Child in the Womb as a “Product of Conception” or “Fetal Tissue”, as just another part of the mother’s body.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Summary - The Child in the womb is an individual person who is made in the image of God. This child has been given a unique purpose in life. Most importantly this child has been given a soul. Children in the womb have unique personhood and value.

Application - Will you speak up for the rights of the people who cannot speak up for themselves?

Will you speak up for the holocaust that is happening on unborn babies here in your county?

Transition - Because human life has great value ,God makes it clear that He is the only one who has the authority to take life.

This is where we see the Bible speak to the...

Morality of Abortion

And here is what you will see in scripture.

Abortion of convenience is sin.

Only God has the authority to take life, or give approval for taking life (like in a just war).

I Samuel 2:6-7 “6 The Lord kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. 7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich; he brings low and he exalts.”

It is only God who has the authority to give life and take life. He alone has ultimate authority over life.

Job a godly man who lost all of his children to sudden tragedy said this about God and death.

Job 1:21 “21 And he [Job] said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave [life], and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.””

-It is only God who has authority to give and take life.

God says this about himself when it comes to death.

Deut 32:39 ‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.”

God’s authority over life and death is clear.

The 10 Commandments make it clear.

Ex 20:13 “13 “You shall not murder.”

My friends, The intentional taking of a baby’s life because of the inconvenience it will bring to you - is murder.

As a side note -

Before a simpleton says, All killing is murder. It is not.

God gives permission to defend oneself to the death.

God gives governments authority to declare just war.

God gives authority to the government to carry out the death penalty.

God allows a doctor to take the life of a baby in the womb when the mother’s life is in danger.

God does not give anyone the right take the life of child because they decide they do not want that person.

That is murder.

In the case of abortion, it is a murder of convenience.

Transition - Believe it or not, abortion is not the root of the problem.

Abortion is a symptom of false beliefs. (X 2)

As I think, so I act.

Just as many of you try to have a Biblical Mindset and a biblical worldview - that informs you how to live life...

Most of the people of our nation have a secular worldview - an unbiblical secular belief system - that informs them that abortion is OK. That belief system is called humanism.

The Worldview of Secular Humanism approves of abortion.

In the US today, we are so practically minded, that the average person doesn’t question the principles on which their values are based.

Most do not even know what their set of principals are.

Theology of the non-Christian -

The unbeliever believes - If there is a God, He is not involved in life. He is watching from a far. Many do not believe in God at all. Or Atheism, Agnostic Deism

If God is disengaged or does not exist how did we humans get on this earth? Answer. Evolution

The Biological view of the unbeliever - Evolution

If we evolved and God is not really interested in us, how do we determine right from wrong?

Evolution allows you to determine your own path. It leaves life without meaning - so, you determine your own meaning. And you determine your own morality.

Morality/Ethics of the unbeliever - Ethical relativism, humankind decides what is right and wrong based on the situation. There is no set right and wrong.

Authority - 2 authorities, myself and the state. God is not an authority. The Bible is just an old worthless book.

What does that leave you with?

No bases for moral truth, no divine authority except government and self, little value for human life, and complete spiritual lostness.

When you give up the authority of God, Truth of the Bible, and Human value found in the Imago Dei, you have set yourself on a trajectory where any sin can be called good & abortion is perfectly acceptable.

Secularism leads to sin, God’s Word is for the win.

Without God, without Christ, we are a people that is lost at spiritual see in a sinking boat with, no life raft, no direction and no engine.

Pause

Transition - What if I’ve had an abortion?

If you have had an abortion

-Confess your sin to God

-Receive His forgiveness.

I John 1:9 “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

-There is hope for your future. You are not a second class citizen in God’s Kingdom. God can still use you.

-Your greatest ministry will come out of the struggles in life you have had to overcome. You can have a ministry to moms struggling with the decision to keep their baby. You can minister to those who made the same mistake you did.

-Seek counseling, I would love to talk to you and encourage you in your journey.

How can I make a difference?

-Love those who have had an abortion.

That person made a mistake, and their is hope for them found in Jesus. Share with them the forgiveness they can have. Love them like Jesus has loved you.

-Help families in need. We all know that until a child can eat table food and gets out of diapers, the expense is high.

-Reach out to those who have young children and support them.

-Give to children's homes and orphanages.

-These places are filled with children who’s parents did not abort.

-Celebrate adoption

-When I see a family who has adopted, it is so encouraging to see the love poured out and how those children are genuinely part of the family.

-Adoption is to be celebrated.

Vote your conscience on the issue- Don’t let your vote go to waste. This is an important issue.

Pray - This is a spiritual issue. Pray our nation and our county repents from being pro-abortion.

Close

-One reason we celebrate the adoption of children because as believers we know what it is to be adopted.

-John 15:9, Tells us that, “Just as the Father has loved me [Jesus], so I [Jesus] love you.”

-The Christ Follower is loved by Jesus as the Father loves Him.

-That is the most powerful eternal love that has ever existed and will ever existed.

Romans 8:14–15 ESV

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Invitation -