WHAT
THE
BIBLE
HAS
TO
SAY
From the very first chapter of the
first book of Genesis to the very last chapter of the last book of
Revelation, the scriptural teachings of the Bible reveal the close harmony between
the heart of Jesus Christ and the sanctity of every human life.
Opponents of the lives or our unborn are
often known to tell Christians that the Bible is silent concerning
abortion – that, indeed, the word “abortion” cannot even be found in scripture.
Yet even a cursory reading of scripture
reveals that the overriding subject of the Bible and the very purpose
of Christ’s ministry reveals His love and sacrifice for his greatest
creation – human life.
God In
Creation “Let There Be Light” – Genesis 1
1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The
earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the
deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4
And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from
the darkness.
God The
Creator Of Human Life – Genesis 1
26
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of
the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creeps upon the earth." 27 So God created
man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said
to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;
and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air
and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."
Choose Life
– Deuteronomy 30:15-20
15
See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.
16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk
in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will
live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you
are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and
you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other
gods and worship them, 18 I declare to you this day that you
will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are
crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. 19 This day I call
heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you
life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and
your children may live 20 and that you may love the LORD your
God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your
life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to
your fathers…
Our Bodies
Individually Formed By God In The Womb – Psalm 139
11
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night
around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the
night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in
my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and
wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret
place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16
your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were
written in your book before one of them came to be.
He Made All
Life From The Beginning – John 1
1In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through
him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not
understood[1]
it.
Jesus Is
The Bread Of Life – John 6
33For
the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world." 34"Sir," they said, "from now on give us this bread."
35Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes
to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be
thirsty.
39And
this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that
he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40For my
Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him
shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
47I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.
48I am the bread of life. 57Just as the living Father
sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me
will live because of me. 63The Spirit gives life; the flesh
counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they
are life.
We Will Not
Walk In Darkness – John 8
12When
Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light
of life."
That They
Might Have Life – John 10
10The
thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they
may have life, and have it to the full.
His Command
Leads To Eternal Life – John 12
50I
know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just
what the Father has told me to say."
Jesus Is
The Way And The Life – John 14
6Jesus
answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.
Life: No
Greater Gift –
John 15
9"As
the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.
10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just
as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I
have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be
complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have
loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay
down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do
what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a
servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you
friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known
to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and
appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the
Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is
my command: Love each other.
Jesus Has
Authority Over Life – John 17
1After
Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 2"Father,
the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For
you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal
life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal
life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom
you have sent.
Jesus: The
Creator Of Life And Nations – Acts 17
22Paul
then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens!
I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I
walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even
found an altar with this inscription:|sc TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you
worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 24"The
God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and
earth and does not live in temples built by hands. 25And he
is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he
himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26From
one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole
earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places
where they should live. 27God did this so that men would seek
him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far
from each one of us. 28'For in him we live and move and have
our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'
29"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not
think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone--an image
made by man's design and skill. 30In the past God overlooked
such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
31For he has set a day when he will judge the world with
justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all
men by raising him from the dead."
God Rescues
The Perishing – Romans 11
3"Lord,
they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only
one left, and they are trying to kill me"
13I
am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the
Gentiles, I make much of my ministry 14in the hope that I may
somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them. 15For
if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their
acceptance be but life from the dead?
Call To
Courage For The Church In Defense Of Life – 2 Corinthians 4
1Therefore,
since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do
not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary,
by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is
veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4The god of
this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see
the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord,
and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6For God, who
said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"[1]
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 7But we have this
treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from
God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but
not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but
not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always
carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are
always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may
be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work
in us, but life is at work in you.
We Each
Have An Important Part To Play In Defending Life – Ephesians 4
11It
was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to
prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ
may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 14Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of
men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the
truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head,
that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.
Living
As Children Of Light – Ephesians 4
17So
I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer
live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They
are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God
because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their
hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given
themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of
impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20You, however, did
not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him
and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to
put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful
desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds;
24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true
righteousness and holiness. 25Therefore each of you must put
off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all
members of one body. 26"In your anger do not sin…
Hold Out
The Word Of Life – Philippians 2
14Do
everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may
become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked
and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
16as you hold out the word of life--in order that I may boast
on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
He Is The
Source Of All Life – 1 Timothy 6
12Fight
the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you
were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many
witnesses. 13In the sight of God, who gives life to
everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius
Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14to keep this
command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ…
Take Hold
Of Life – 1 Timothy 6
17Command
those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put
their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in
God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command
them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and
willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for
themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may
take hold of the life that is truly life.
He
Destroyed Death & Brought Life And Light – 2 Timothy 1
8…But
join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who
has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we
have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given
us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has
now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who
has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel.
Our
Children Share In His Eternal Life – Hebrews 2
12He
says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the
congregation I will sing your praises."] 13And
again, "I will put my trust in him." And again he says, "Here am I, and
the children God has given me." 14Since the children have
flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he
might destroy him who holds the power of death--that is, the devil--
15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by
their fear of death. 16For surely it is not angels he helps,
but Abraham's descendants.
The Source
Of Life & His Call To Respond To His Word – James 1
16Don't
be deceived, my dear brothers. 17Every good and perfect gift
is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who
does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us
birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of all he created. 19My dear brothers, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
angry, 20for man's anger does not bring about the righteous
life that God desires. 21Therefore, get rid of all moral
filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word
planted in you, which can save you. 22Do not merely listen to
the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone
who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who
looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at
himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But
the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and
continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he
will be blessed in what he does.
What Is
Life? What Shall We Do With His Teachings? – James 4
13Now
listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city,
spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14Why,
you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead,
you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or
that." 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is
evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and
doesn't do it, sins.
Prepare To
Act; Love One Another – 1 Peter 1
13Therefore,
prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully
on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14As
obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you
lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy,
because I am holy." 17Since you call on a Father who judges
each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in
reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable
things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way
of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with
the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He
was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these
last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and
hope are in God. 22Now that you have purified yourselves by
obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love
one another deeply, from the heart.
Called To A
Blessing Of Inheritance – 1 Peter 3
8Finally,
all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as
brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil
with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you
were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,
"Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from
evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11He must turn from
evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12For the
eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to
their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."
13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?
He’s
Provided Everything We Need For Life – 2 Peter 1
1…To
those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ
have received a faith as precious as ours: 2Grace and peace
be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord. 3His divine power has given us everything we need for
life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own
glory and goodness.
Jesus Is
The Very Word Of Life – 1 John 1
1That
which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this
we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared;
we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal
life…
How Much
Does He Love Life? – 1 John 3
14We
know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our
brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone
who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has
eternal life in him. 16This is how we know what love is:
Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.
He’s
Written Our Names In The Book Of Life From The Foundation Of The World –
Revelation 13
8All
inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast --all whose names have
not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was
slain from the creation of the world. 9He who has an ear, let
him hear.
The Book Of
Life – Revelation 20
12And
I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books
were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The
dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the
books. 13The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death
and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged
according to what he had done. 14Then death and Hades were
thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.
15If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he
was thrown into the lake of fire.
Who Will
Inherit His Kingdom – Revelation 21
6He
said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from
the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will
inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But
the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all
liars--their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is
the second death."
The
Provision Of His Eternal Word For Eternal Life – Revelation 22
1Then
the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal,
flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the
middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood
the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit
every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the
nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of
God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve
him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their
foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need
the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give
them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. 6The angel
said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true…
7"Behold,
I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy in
this book."
18I
warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If
anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described
in this book. 19And if anyone takes words away from this book
of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life
and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
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