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PROLIFE:
Scripture & the Sanctity of Life: Bible Study Creation God
as Creator is fundamental to the Christian faith. We worship Him (Isaiah 45:9;
Romans 9:21; Psalm 95:6), and recognize His authority to rule and govern our lives
based on His prior work of creation. Any attack on God as Creator is an attack
on His authority and His worthiness to be worshipped. Satan's
Attempt to Usurp God's Authority as Creator The most dramatic picture of Satan's declared war against the
offspring: Revelation 12:1-17 Demonic worship in the Old Testament often involved child sacrifice. Jeremiah 19:4-5; Psalm 106:36-38 (See God's reaction in Ezekiel 16:20-22: "You slaughtered My children . . .") The births of both Moses and Jesus were accompanied by a massive slaughter of the innocents. Satan has generated widespread infanticide in an attempt to eradicate the people of God. Exodus 1:15-15; Matthew 2:13-18 "All who hate Me love death."
Proverbs 8:36b The Humanity of the Pre-born
in the Old Testament David discusses the spiritual state he was in before he was born (his personhood began at conception). Psalm 51:5 Jacob and Esau were distinct individuals before birth. Genesis 25:22-28 Scripture gives identity to unborn human life. Psalm 139 - notice the spiritual relationship the psalmist has while in the womb "The psalmist surveys his life in four stages: Past, present, future, and before birth, and in all four refers to himself as 'I.' He who is writing as a full-grown man has the same personal identity as the fetus in his mother's womb." (John R.W. Stott) Samson's mother is told to alter her diet while pregnant because Samson, the child in her womb is to be consecrated unto the Lord. Here we have a direct concern for the life of the preborn. Judges 13:2-5 These verses do not distinguish between "potential
life" and "actual life" when referring to the pre-born. Genesis
16:11; Isaiah 46:3-4; Psalm 22:9-10 (Notice in Psalm 22:10. "From my mother's
womb you have been my God.") Old Testament
Law and the Sanctity of Life There is a serious punishment for anyone who takes an innocent human life. Exodus 20:13; 21:12. R.C. Sproul writes. "The punitive measures against murder underscore the gravity of the crime precisely because of the value of the victim. Life is regarded as so sacred that it must never be destroyed without just cause." Homicide is "an implicit attempt to murder God." Genesis 9:5-6 R.C. Sproul comments, "This test is not a prophecy. It is not saying simply that those who live by the sword will die by the sword. Rather, the passage is a divine mandate for capital punishment in the case of murder. The significant point is that the moral basis for capital punishment in Genesis is the sanctity of life. The Biblical ethic is that because man is endowed with the image of God, his life is so sacred that any malicious destruction of it must be punished by execution. Note that this Scripture implies that an assault against human life is considered by God an assault against Himself. To murder a person is to attack one who is the image-bearer of God. Homicide is regarded by God as an implicit attempt to murder God." (Abortion: A Rational Look at an Emotional Issue, p 33.) The pre-born are protected in Old Testament Law. Exodus 21:22-25 Permitting the murder of innocents pollutes the land. Numbers 35:33-34 Believers are charged with defending life. Proverbs 24:11-12 God hates those that shed innocent blood. Proverbs 6:16-17 Cursed is the man who accepts money to kill an innocent person. Deut. 27:25 One of the sins of Ammon that resulted in God's wrath was killing pre-born children. Amos 1:13 It
is worse to kill the innocent in a protected place. 2 Sam. 4:11: "How much
more - when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his
own bed - should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of
you!" (John MacArthur comments in a sermon. "How can you tell me that
isn't a description of an unborn child. A righteous person in his own house upon
his bed . . . Sure it means a good man, but if it means a good man it certainly
would imply a protected child.") The Humanity
of the Pre-born in the New Testament Jesus is spoken of in the womb. Matthew 1:20-21 (Note: The incarnation is the most compelling Christian apologetic for the sanctity of unborn human life. To argue that life does not begin at conception must lead one to assume that the human Christ was at one point a "potentially human" Christ. Those who say that life does not begin at conception are in direct opposition to the Apostles' Creed and in almost certain agreement with an early heresy, "adoptionism." which claimed that Jesus became God at some later point in life. The early church refuted this, and affirmed in the Apostles' Creed that the eternal Son became incarnate in Mary's womb, choosing the phrase, "conveived by the Holy Ghost." That which was conceived by the Holy Ghost was not an "it," a "potential human," or a "blob of tissue." It was our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.) John the Baptist is spoken in the womb. Luke 1:15-17 - Filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb. Luke 1:39-44. John's reaction to the pre-born Christ entering the room. (Note that Luke 1:36 tells us Elizabeth was six months along when Jesus was conceived in Mary's womb. Verse 56 tells us that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months until Elizabeth gave birth to John the Baptist. This means that Mary was literally in the first weeks or even days of her pregnancy when she approached Elizabeth, was called the mother of the Lord, and carried the embryo Christ who elicited John's leap in the womb.) The Greek word brephos (lit. "babe"
or "baby") is used to describe the pre-born and the born. Born: Luke
2:12, 16; Acts 7:19; 1 Peter 2:2. Pre-born: Luke 1:41, 44. The
Value of Human Life in the New Testament God's work invests human life with value. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; John 3:16 Jesus cared for people who had a poor "quality of life" rating. Matthew 4:23-25; 8:1-3; 9:1-8 Jesus valued little children. Matthew 18:1-14 We should have
a Biblical attitude toward poor children. James 1:27; 2:5-9 Children Children are a blessing. Psalms 113:7-9; 127:3; Deuteronomy 7:12-14 "Spiritual adoption" is a model for physical adoption. Ephesians 1:5; Romans 8:15;9:4-8; Galatians 4:4-5 Jesus loved children. Matthew 18:1-14; 19:13-15 The
"Hard Cases" and Christian Decision-Making We are to care for and respect the disabled. Exodus 4:10-12; Leviticus 19:14; Isaiah 45:9-12 Regarding abortion in the case of rape: Children should not be put to death for the sins of their fathers. Deuteronomy 24:16 Incest and adultery in Christ's bloodline: God can redeem
even the tragic events of sin. Genesis 38 (incest of Judah and Tamar); 2 Samuel
11 (adultery between David and Bathsheba) We do not
have an "unqualified right" to our bodies. Ezekiel 18:4; 1 Corinthians
3:16-19; 1 Corinthians 6:18-20; 2 Corinthians 6:16-17. "Blood-guilt" is on a land that sheds innocent blood. Numbers 35:33; Leviticus 20:2,4,5; Deuteronomy 21:7-8 We have a responsibility to speak out. Ezekiel 33:8; Proverbs 31:8-9 We
should respond to needs with ministry (not just prayer). Luke 10:25-37 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28 "You intended
to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done,
the saving of many lives." Genesis 50:20 Life
Principles
Text provided by: Christian Action
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