The Gift Of Life

The Gift Of Life

Title: The Gift of Life
Descript.: On the Sanctity of Life

Text: Selected
Tracing: Preached January 17, 1993 AM at SDCC.

1. INTRO

   Twenty years ago this week began a new period of American History

   • a period which I believe will be revealed, from the perspective of heaven, to be the blackest episode in our history and the downfall of our nation unless we repent of it. Twenty years ago this week the decision was handed down which allowed us to begin killing our unborn children at the rate of more than a million each year.

     While it may be disputed whether it is cause or effect, this same period of time has seen an overall devalueing of life — and so, it is appropriate that we spend this week in an examination of the value God places on Life.

2. BODY — The Value of Life
   1. Life is a gift of God

      At creation God breathed in us the breath of life. Because of Sin, we were sentenced to death, but God sent Jesus called the Word of life, the Bread of Life, the Author of Life, the way, the truth, and the Life to give us the gift of life and lead us on the path of life so we might be found in the book of life and recieve a crown of life and eat from the tree of life!

      Sounds like an issue God is concerned about, doesn’t it?

   2. Human Life is Sacred to God
      1. It belongs to Him, not to us. Ps 24:1 Ez 18:4
      2. God values even the handicapped and deformed

         Think of how Jesus ministered among the handicapped, afflicted and deformed — can you imagine Him EVER denying someone life on the basis of a “quality-of-life” ethic? God has a plan for everyone, even the handicapped as He had to remind Moses (Ex 4:11)!

      3. The Taking of Innocent Human Life is Sin.

         Surely we can agree on that! For convenience, “quality of life”, lack of finances, etc. — it doesn’t matter, it is sin! As early as Cain, this principle is made clear. Then, crystal clear in the commandments: THOU SHALT NOT MURDER!

         The question is: Does abortion constitute the taking of innocent human life? If it doesn’t then we have no further objection to it. If it does, then all of the rationalizations of the pro-choicers ring hollow and fall short.

      4. We are expected to protect the vulnerable. Ps 82:2-4, Pr 24:11-12 31:8-9
   3. When Life Begins
      1. God views the preborn as persons.
         1. “brephos” is used in the NT to refer to newborns, infants, and children — but also the preborn (Luke 1:41,44). Similarly, “yeled” is used in the OT to refer to both children and the preborn. God makes no distinctions.
            2) John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit even “from

            his mother’s womb” (Lk 1:15) and by that Spirit, recognized Jesus three months before birth (Lk 1:44)!

      2. God creates and deals with the preborn as individuals.
         1. Ps 139:13-16
         2. Ge 25:22-24 Already God knew the different destinies of Jacob & Esau
      3. Science is unequivocal — Human Life begins at conception,

         despite semantical games with the concept of “personhood”.

3. CONCLUSION

   What we need to do:

   1. Celebrate Life, rejoice in it, learn to value it in the same way God does.
   2. Promote this understanding in our contacts with the world. Demolish arguments, taking every thought captive for Christ (2Co 10:5)
   3. Repent of our apathy and toleration of this atrocity.
   4. Work tirelessly for change. Many descendents of WWII era Germans now look back in shame at Grandparents who know of the atrocities and did nothing to resist. How will you answer your grandchildren’s questions, “What did you do to stop the killing?”
4. COMMENTS

   Prepared by Scott L. Purcell Minister of Stokelan Drive Christian Church

   1501 Stokelan Drive Malden, MO 63863 (314) 276-2343

Reproduce, modify, and use freely for the glory of God and the Growth of the Kingdom! If these outlines are of some benefit to you, a note, postcard, or phone-call would be most welcome!