The Sanctity Of Life Series

Thinking Biblically about: The Sanctity of Life

A Walk Through Scripture

This morning we are starting a new series called “Putting the pieces together.” As people who claim to be followers of Jesus, are we really allowing the Bible to form our beliefs and direct actions? Do we think Biblically? This series will help us know why we believe what we do and why. We need to know what our convictions are based upon, and we need to be able to give an answer to anyone who asks us questions about our beliefs. We will be looking at issues within our society, our church, our families and ourselves and how the Bible should direct our thinking, beliefs and actions.

This morning, we will be examining the most important issue of our day, and what our Biblical world view should be about life. The view that we have about life intertwines with virtually every other issue we face today. The world view that most people have been taught within our secular culture says that life occurred by chance. This teaching says that there is not a creator that ordered our world and hence, man is not accountable or answerable to a creator. In fact, our current government is actively working to replace our Judeo-Christian belief system with a Darwinist belief system that cheapens life and is void of any moral base. The only way to counter the flood of the politically correct and radical teachings is to know and stand up for truth – Biblical truth.

As we walk through scripture, our journey begins in Genesis Chapter one. “In the beginning,” God created everything that there is by speaking them into existence. As we look over this first chapter, notice with me that after each day of creation, God pronounced that what he had made was good. Then in verse 26 God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” After God formed man, in verse 31 He pronounced, “It is very good.” All of creation culminated with the making of man. Man was the reason for the creation from the beginning. Man is why God created the heavens and the earth. God had us in mind from the beginning. Only after man was created did God say that his creation was “very” good. You and I were not an accident, but we were planned! We are not objects of random chance, but people of destiny and purpose. Notice in Genesis 2:7 how man was made: “the LORD God formed the man [a] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” The very breath that you and I have is a gift from God. Life is a gift and it is precious. This is where a Biblical World View begins – God is the creator of all life and every life has purpose and meaning.

Within our culture and society today, this Biblical understanding is rejected more than any other in reference to the unborn. What is the scriptural teaching about the unborn? Follow with me as we go through the bible.

In Genesis 16 we read about a woman named Hagar and her unborn son. Hagar was the mistress to Sarah before she became the mother of Isaac. The promise had been given to Abraham that he would have a son but years went by and Sarah never became pregnant. One day, she went to Abraham and encouraged him to have a child by her servant Hagar as she was “part of the family.” Abraham agreed and Hagar became pregnant. Once Hagar was pregnant, Sarah became very jealous and made Hagar’s life miserable. In Genesis 16, Hagar runs away and falls under a bush and asks God to take her life, but God speaks to her about her son.

“ 11 The angel of the LORD also said to her:

"You are now with child

and you will have a son.

You shall name him Ishmael, [a]

for the LORD has heard of your misery.

12 He will be a wild donkey of a man;

his hand will be against everyone

and everyone’s hand against him,

and he will live in hostility

toward [b] all his brothers."

God knew everything about this child yet to be born. He also called him by name and knew the history of Ishmael before he was even born. God knows the unborn completely before they are born. Who they are and what they will do.

Turn to Genesis 25:23. Here, Rebekah, Isaac’s wife becomes pregnant. She is concerned because of the strong movement within her so she prays to the Lord and asks him what is happening. “23 The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb,