Abortion: The Wrong Choice (Part 1 of 3) by John M. Duvall
(http://www.TruthFactor.com/)
Introduction.
A. Consider the following statistics:
1. In 1994, an estimated 1.4 million abortions took place.
2. Why are children aborted? There are three main reasons given
by women for choosing to abort their pregnancy.
a. 3/4 say a baby would interfere with work, school or other
responsibilities.
b. "About 2/3 say they cannot afford a child."
c. "1/2 say they do not want to be a single parent or are
having problems with their husband or partner."
(The above statistics came from Alan Guttmacher Institute, www.agi-usa.org/abortion
)
3. "Each year, an estimated 50 million abortions occur world-wide.
Of these, 30 million procedures are obtained legally, 20 million
illegally." (Ibid.)
4. "Women who report no religious affiliation are about
4 times as likely as women who report some affiliation to have
an abortion." (Ibid.)
5. American War Casualties compared to the casualties of the
war on the unborn.
a. The combined death toll of the Revolutionary War, Civil War,
World War I and II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War is 1,160,591.
b. The war on the unborn child from 1973-1994 has yielded 31,000,000
legal abortions. (Ibid.)
B. It can truly be said that the most dangerous place to live in America is in a mother's womb.
C. It is tragic that a country that was started over the fight for religious freedom and independence now strips unborn babies of their right to live.
D. This lesson will show five reasons why unborn babies should
not be aborted.
1. There is life before birth.
2. Abortion is murder.
3. We have the responsibility to care for the helpless.
4. A baby possesses all the attributes of a living and autonomous
human being.
5. The Bible refers to the unborn baby and the born baby with
the same word.
6. One's right to choose does not take precedence over another
person's right to life.
I. There Is Life Before Birth.
A. An unborn baby has the "breath of life" within
it. (Gen. 2:7)
B. The unborn child is a possessor of a spirit.
1. Ecclesiastes 12:7 reads, "Then the dust will return
to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who
gave it." (NKJV)
2. When a child is conceived by a woman, the child is the off-spring
of a human, making the child a human. Although the baby is still
growing inside the womb, it is still a "man" or human.
According to the scriptures, if that baby was to die before being
born or after being born, the baby's spirit would return to God.
C. In the case of Isaiah, God had plans for Isaiah while
Isaiah was still in the womb. While Isaiah was in the womb, God
considered Isaiah a living person with potential. (Isa. 49:1)
D. John the baptizer, while still in his mother's womb, was
filled with the Holy Ghost. (Luke 1:15)
E. According to the evidence found in the scriptures, there
is life inside the womb.
II. Abortion Is The Taking Of Another Human Life.
A. Since an innocent life is taken willfully in the act of abortion,
a murder is being committed. Consider what the Bible says about
murderers.
1. No murderer will enter into Heaven. (Gal. 5:21)
2. All murderers will have their part in the "lake which
burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
(Rev. 21:8, NKJV)
3. These passages make you wonder how many doctors, nurses,
mothers, and fathers are headed to this lake of fire. We must
also consider the number of those who have had a hand in supporting
abortions. If these people do not repent and change before it
is too late, then they will spend eternity in the "lake which
burns with fire and brimstone."
B. Solomon teaches us that God hates the "hands that shed
innocent blood." (Prov. 6:17)
C. Although God has given a husband and wife the right to bring
a baby into this world, He has not given them the right to take
the life of the child. From the very beginning God's word has
been, "Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall
be shed; for in the image of God He made man." (Gen. 9:6)
Copyright 1999, John M. Duvall, Truth Factor.
"In None Other Is There Salvation" Acts 4:12 by Dan Richardson (From The Expository Files: http://www.flash.net/~wberkley/effeb03.html)
"And in none other is there salvation; for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, wherein we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) This story begins in Acts 3:1, when Peter and John heal a lame man "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth (3:5) at the door of the temple. Attracting a multitude, Peter had opportunity to preach Jesus (3:11-26). They were seized and brought before the high court of the Jews for interrogation (4:1-7). Peter's defense before the tribunal was to proclaim the power in Jesus' name, by which this lame was healed, but more importantly, by which all are saved from sin (4:8-12). From Peter's sermon (3:11-26), we note these facts pertaining to Jesus.
1) He Is The Glorified Servant (13-18). The Jews crucified Jesus, but the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - their God - glorified His Servant by raising Him from the dead. He was despised and rejected, bearing our griefs and afflictions which only we deserved because of our sin (Isa. 53:3-9). His sacrifice was no accident, nor the result of man thwarting heaven's will, but it was accomplishing God's eternal purpose to redeem sinful man in His Son: "Yet it pleased Jehovah to bruise him; he hath put him to grief; when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Jehovah shall prosper in his hand" (Isa. 53:10). Jesus was glorified because He accomplished what the Father sent Him to do - be a sacrifice for sin (John 17:4-5).
2) He Is The Prophet Like Moses (22-24). Through Jesus, God speaks to us today (Heb. 1:2). His message can be known (John 8:32); Peter said, "to Him shall ye hearken" (3:22a). His word is complete, all-sufficient to accomplish its divine purpose; man must obey "in all things whatsoever he shall speak unto you" (3:22b; Isa. 55:10-11; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). And, His gospel is authoritative - those who don't "hearken" will be destroyed (3:23). It is God's power to save the sinner (Rom. 1:16; James. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:22-23).
3) He Is The Seed Of Abraham (25-26). God promised Abraham
He would bless all nations in his "seed" (Gen. 22:18).
The inspired apostle Paul would later explain this as having reference
to the blessings for mankind in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:16) - blessings
which are:
a) universal - for "all the families of the earth (25a; Gal.
3:28);
b) spiritual - "in turning away every one of you from your
iniquities" (3:26); and c) conditional - because they were
commanded to "repent... and turn again, that your sins may
be blotted out" (3:19; cf. Acts 2:38).
God's assurance to us of our salvation in Christ is founded
in the truth of His resurrection from the dead (26). This fact
is substantiated by:
1) The miracle worked on the lame man, confirming the truthfulness
of the sermon preached (cf. Mk. 16:18, 20).
2) Eyewitness testimony (15). The apostles had seen the risen
Savior (Acts 1:21-22).
3) The testimony of Old Testament scripture (24-25; cf. John 5:39).
Truly, in none other is there salvation. Have you obeyed Him?
IN THE WORLD (Selected from The Beacon)
An article in the Houston Chronicle reported on a recent survey
showing that 80% of those who responded believe the Bible to be
the most influential book in human history. 90% of those surveyed
said they owned a Bible, and 75% said they had more than one.
But 19% admitted that they never read the Bible and 26% more said
they rarely read it.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God,
a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth."
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Our weekly services are held at 1318 Griffin Road, Leesburg, Florida
34748.
Phone: (352) 365-9946 for times of services.
Web site: http://www.careydillinger.com/cocbs/cocbshp.htm
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: 1 and 2 Kings; 1 and 2 Chronicles
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS
BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and
visitors to, the Church of Christ at Beverly Shores, Leesburg,
Florida, USA.
Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
address or via e-mail: webmaster@careydillinger.com