Christian Living

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ABORTION

The term "abortion" does not appear in the Bible. However, the Bible contains numerous passages that relate to the topic of "life before birth" and God's special relationship with the unborn child. If you are contemplating an abortion, you should consider these scriptures carefully. If you have had an abortion, the Bible points to God's abiding love and forgiveness for all those who repent.

SYNOPSIS

Almighty God is the creator of all things,(1) including all human life.(2,3) We exist, because He exists.(4) A mother's womb is not a secret place to our heavenly Father; the unborn baby is not hidden from God's sight.(5) The creation of human life from the union of egg and sperm is a miraculous process made possible by God's creative power.(6)

Human beings are made in God's image.(7) From the moment of conception, and throughout the entire nine months of prenatal development, God's hands form us and mold us according to the purposes He has planned for us in life.(8-12) Without question, God is actively and intimately involved in the formation of babies from the point of conception until birth.(13)

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, went through the process of human development in His mother's womb, just like all other ba­bies in the history of mankind. Following His miraculous concep­tion by the Holy Spirit,(14) Jesus grew as an unborn baby in Mary's womb until she gave birth to Him in Bethlehem.(15) From the point of conception onward, Jesus was fully human and fully God. The history of Jesus' life on earth begins at the point of conception.

The word "fetus" does not appear in the Bible. Instead, the un­born baby in the womb is referred to as a "baby,"16 "child,"(17) or "infant."(18) These terms imply the existence of a separate human being. For example, when Mary became pregnant with Jesus, she was said to be "with child."(17) Using similar terminology, the prophet Job referred to a stillborn baby who died before birth as an "infant" who never saw the light of day."(18)

At certain stages of development, it is clear that babies in the womb perceive their environment, are capable of movement independ­ent of their mothers, and experience emotions. While Mary was still pregnant with Jesus, she visited her sister, Elizabeth, who was also pregnant with a son who would be named John the Baptist. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (John the Baptist) "leaped for joy," in his mother's womb when he came into the presence of Jesus.(19)

The mother's womb is sacred; God sometimes assigns a very spe­cial role to babies while they are still in the womb. For example, before the prophet Jeremiah was born, while he was still in his mother's womb, he was appointed by God to be a prophet to the nations.(20) The prophet Isaiah also received his calling before he was born-while still being formed by God in his mother's womb.(21)

The Bible condemns murder22 and the killing of the innocent.(23) The Tenth Commandment proclaims: Thou shall not murder."(24) The Lord hates "hands that shed innocent blood."(25)

God's Guidance

Abortions are typically "secret" endeavors; but nothing in all crea­tion is hidden from God's sight.26 He is aware of all we do and considers whether our actions are good or evil.(27,28) Without the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, God would bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing that we have done.(29,30)

Fortunately, if we believe in Jesus and repent of our sins, for­giveness is possible for all sins, even abortion.(31,32) Once we confess our sins and are forgiven, our sins are never counted against us.(33) They are removed "as far as the east is from the west."(34) Once for­given, God does not even remember our sins any more.(35)

The main theme of the Bible is God's unfailing love for us, His children, whom He created.(36) He loved us so much he sent His only Son to die for us.(37) Because He first loved us,(38) we are to love one another deeply from the heart.(39) We are to do unto others what we would have others do unto us.(40) These commands are vitally important and relevant when considering the act of abortion.


SCRIPTURES (NIV Version)

1. For you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.
(Revelation 4:11)

2. The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
(Genesis 2:7)

3. In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.
(Job 12:10)

4. For in him we live and move and have our being.
(Acts 17:28)

5. 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, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
(Psalm 139:15-16)

6. For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11:36)

7. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
(Genesis 1:27)

8. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
(Psalm 139:13-14)

9. Your hands shaped me and made me...You gave me life and showed me kindness.
(Job 10:8,12)

10. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.
(Isaiah 64:8)

11. Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived...I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
(Isaiah 46:3-4)

12. Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?
(Job 31:15)

13. This is what the Lord says--he who made you, who formed you in the womb.
(Isaiah 44:2)

14. This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 1:18)

15. While they were there, the time came for the baby [Jesus] to be born, and she gave birth to her first-born, a son.
(Luke 2:6-7)

16. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
(Luke 1:41)

17. Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.
(Luke 1:30-31)

18. Or why was I not hidden in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day?
(Job 3:16)

19. As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears,the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
(Luke 1:44)

20. Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
(Jeremiah 1:5)

21. Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name...And now the Lord says-he who formed me in the womb to be his servant...
(Isaiah 49:1,5)

22. Jesus replied, "Do not murder."
(Matthew 19:18)

23. Have nothing to do with a false charge, and do not put an innocent or honest person to death, for I will not acquit the guilty.
(Exodus 23:7)

24. You shall not murder.
(Exodus 20:13)

25. There are six things the Lord hates...hands that shed innocent blood.
(Proverbs 6:16,17)

26. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
(Psalm 94:9)

27. From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind;from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth-he who forms the hearts of all,
who considers everything they do.
(Psalm 33:13-15)

28. My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.
(Jeremiah 16:17)

29. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
(2 Corinthians 5:10)

30. God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
(Romans 5:8)

31. Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
(Acts 10:43)

32. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)

33. God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.
(2 Corinthians 5:19)

34. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
(Psalm 103:12)

35. Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.
(Hebrews 10:17)

36. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
(John 15:12)

37. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
(John 3:16)

38. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
(1 John 4:11)

39. Love one another deeply, from the heart.
(1 Peter 1:22)

40. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7:12)

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