Timothy Session 12 | Sanctity of Human Life | Confronting False Teachers 6:3-5 Big Ideas: · Walking in Love=Truth + Grace · What does the Bible say? Walking in Love=Truth + Grace Doctrine 14: The Sanctity of Human Life We believe in the sanctity of human life and that God determines the boundaries of life and holds in His hands the two fragile ends of human experience. He is active in the conception of life and the conclusion of life, in birth and in death. This Truth imparts extraordinary value to every life, independent of gender, race, socioeconomic position, age or health status. Those who hold to biblical creation must attach great worth to human life and stand in its defense. We believe the sanctity of human life as established by God, the Creator, and believe that such sanctity extends to all people, including the child not yet born, the mentally and physically challenged and those who are at the conclusion of their lives on Earth. Life is a gift from God and should be afforded to Him. All human life, including life developing in the womb, is created by God in His image and is, therefore, to be nurtured, supported, and protected. From the moment of conception, a child is a human being with all of the developing characteristics of human life, and this life is dependent on the mother for its continued development. Therefore, we believe that human life must be respected and protected from the moment of conception. Therefore, the church calls for persons to practice the ethic of the New Testament as it bears upon human sexuality and to deal with the issue of abortion by placing it within the larger framework of biblical principles that provide guidance for moral decision making. We strive to offer biblical solutions to anyone who has experienced the pain of the devaluation of human life in our culture. Catalyst Church also recognizes that many have been affected by the tragedy of abortion. Each local congregation and individual believer is urged to offer the message of forgiveness by God for each person who has experienced abortion. Our local congregations are to be communities of redemption and hope to all who suffer physical, emotional, and spiritual pain as a result of the willful termination of a pregnancy. Romans 3:23 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits. Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts. Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 1 John 1:8-2:2 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. What does the Bible say? Gallop pole on the bible: 49% inspired by God but not all to be taken literally. 29% a collection of fables, legend, history, and moral concepts. 20% literal word of God 1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. Picture The bible prohibits many behavioral practices for our safety and protection. When we step outside the law of God, we are susceptible to the consequences that God tries to protect us from. Sexuality Drunkenness Love of money Relationships Etc.. A child is not a consequence. All throughout the Bible God gives and declares children as a blessing. Jeremiah 5:25 Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you. Romans 1:18-32 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. “The bible nowhere condemns abortion or mentions it.” Are you saying whatever the bible does not expressly condemn is permissible by God? (nuclear weapons, bible, grandfather) Let’s assume nowhere does the bible condemn abortion, nowhere does the bible expressly say that the unborn are human, I can still argue the bible is prolife. Premise 1-the bible teaches that all humans have value because they bare the image of God. Genesis 1 old covenant and James 3 in the new Premise 2-because all humans bear the image of God, the shedding of innocent blood (meaning the intentional killing of an innocent human being) is strictly forbidden. (Exodus 23:7, Proverbs 6:16-19, Matthew 5). How does God relate to those made in his image? Genesis 9 death for those who take innocent life. There is a difference between punishment for a crime of bloodshed and taking innocent life. There is a difference between murder and self-defense or war death. Psalm 106:37-42 37They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons, 38 and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood. 39Thus they were defiled by their own works, and played the harlot by their own deeds. 40Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people, so that He abhorred His own inheritance. 41And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles, and those who hated them ruled over them. 42Their enemies also oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their hand. Joel 3:19 19“Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom a desolate wilderness, because of violence against the people of Judah, for they have shed innocent blood in their land. Jeremiah 7:31-32 (esv) And they have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, which I did not command, nor did it come into my mind. The next question you need to answer is, are the unborn human? The science of embryology is very clear that from the earliest stages of development (one cell stage) you are a distinct living whole human being. The topic of abortion is not a women’s rights issue as much as it’s a human rights issue. Science has once again proven the Bible correct when the argument that once said the fetal tissue is not a human life now we know differently. (The new argument is human vs personhood) If the bible and science agree that the unborn clump of cells is human then: It’s ok to kill a human in the womb when…? (we will look deeper into this next week) Psalm 8:3-9 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? 5For You have made him a little lower than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7all sheep and oxen—Even the beasts of the field, 8The birds of the air, and the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas. 9O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth! Genesis 1:26, 27 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God’s people are pro-life and practive civil disobedience. The godless Egyptian government commanded infanticide of the Hebrew boys, but Godly, pro-life women practiced civil disobedience and are honored by God for doing so. Exodus 1:16-17 and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive. Genesis 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Psalm 22:9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. Acts 17:25, 26 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings. When does life begin? (God tells us at conception) Genesis 25:22 But the children struggled together within her; and she said, “If all is well, why am I like this?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. (The word for children in this passage is the normal old testament word for ‘sons’. This Hebrew word appears over 4900 times in the old testament and is translated son, sons, or children.) Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” Luke 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 36-37-Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. A preborn child is known by God Psalm 71:6 By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. my praise shall be continually of You. Job 31:15 Did not He who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same One fashion us in the womb? A preborn child has a soul Ecclesiastes 11:5 (esv) As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. What about Numbers 5 and Exodus 21? Take Away: 1. Clarify the Issue-What exactly is being discussed when it comes to the topic of sanctity of human life? We can have a broader conversation then simply one issue by understanding the biblical value that God puts on human life in all forms. 2. Be intellectually honest and challenge your listeners to do the same. 3. Learn to defend your pro-life stance with biblical, scientific, and philosophical arguments.