TOPIC: Sanctity of Life;
TITLE: A TALE OF TWO FIG LEAFS – Sanctity of Life Sunday
TEXT: Genesis 1:1-13
Life is precious – Jesus healed and raised people – He valued life.
But "value" of life and "sanctity" of life are different. Value means something has worth … and life does! But sanctity says it's sacred, holy, and related to God somehow.
God gives life and ends life ….
The sanctity of human life speaks of the issues related to life in general but more importantly to the taking of life.
The issue isn't whether we should allow abortion or euthanasia or not, or whether or not it is even right or wrong … the issue is …
You simply cannot stop the symptom of the problem unless you attack the cause of it first.
The "Evolution - Creation" controversy! The cornerstone of our faith is dependent on our view of the Word of God: IS IT INERRANT AND WHOLLY APPLICABLE TO YOUR LIFE … OR ISN'T IT?
For the believer, the Word must be the defining quality of the Rock of his faith and trust and hope. Turn to – James 1:13-16.
For the believer life begins at conception! WHY? Because the Word says it does...
What of Jeremiah, of John the Baptist?
This message is to all of us; not just to those who have taken a life. Let me speak to your hearts of three kinds of life, each threatened by unnecessary death.
The three faces of eve ... all three are rooted in "UNBELIEF"
Unbelief (as in my case) can get us to …
FACTS:
Like Adam and Eve, we are bitten by the father of lies. Like them, we deny the Creator and lust after ourselves and the puny work of our hands and minds.
But like Adam and Eve we too are offered a way out. God so loves us that He offers us a way to recover, to be restored to a right relationship, a newness of life. Christ is the Redeemer of all in all situations.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN IF YOU ASK … SO ASK! HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD YOUR MAKER.
CHALLENGE: But you know there is a greater loincloth at work in the world ... we stand by, deny the Word of God, and let the souls of thousands slide slowly and surely into hell ... what is the greater evil . . .
TITLE: A TALE OF TWO FIG LEAFS – Sanctity of Life Sunday
TEXT: Genesis 1:1-13
Life is precious – Jesus healed and raised people – He valued life.
But "value" of life and "sanctity" of life are different. Value means something has worth … and life does! But sanctity says it's sacred, holy, and related to God somehow.
God gives life and ends life ….
“GOD … GIVES LIFE TO ALL THINGS”Jesus said the greatest gift we could give to a brother is our life … and I suppose it is even a greater gift that we can lead them to the giver of eternal life. After all, didn't He say He was "the Life"?1 Timothy 6:13
“HE … GIVES TO ALL LIFE AND BREATH”Acts 17:25
“IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE”John 6:63
The sanctity of human life speaks of the issues related to life in general but more importantly to the taking of life.
The issue isn't whether we should allow abortion or euthanasia or not, or whether or not it is even right or wrong … the issue is …
WHETHER OR NOT WE KNOW THE WILL, OF GOD AS WELL, AS WHETHER OR NOT WE INTEND TO OBEY THAT WILL.You see the issue is sin; the manifest rebellion of the creature against the creator. Peter said it all and best when he told the Sanhedrin, “It is better to fear God than man!”
You simply cannot stop the symptom of the problem unless you attack the cause of it first.
The "Evolution - Creation" controversy! The cornerstone of our faith is dependent on our view of the Word of God: IS IT INERRANT AND WHOLLY APPLICABLE TO YOUR LIFE … OR ISN'T IT?
For the believer, the Word must be the defining quality of the Rock of his faith and trust and hope. Turn to – James 1:13-16.
For the believer life begins at conception! WHY? Because the Word says it does...
What of Jeremiah, of John the Baptist?
This message is to all of us; not just to those who have taken a life. Let me speak to your hearts of three kinds of life, each threatened by unnecessary death.
The three faces of eve ... all three are rooted in "UNBELIEF"
Unbelief (as in my case) can get us to …
But, just as Eve, I was shown a way of recovery and reconciliation with God. So too has Eve II. And so too has Eve III.
- The Eve who encourages another to take a life or encourages another to disbelieve God in another area [drinking, smoking, lying, cheating, adultery, gossip, tithing, church attendance]
- The Eve who aids in the taking of a life or aids in the committing of any number of other equally God denying sins
- The Eve who directly causes the taking of a life or deliberately rebel in another area of sinful disobedience
FACTS:
1. sin is sin; all sin is rooted in unbeliefAPPLICATION: The "rights" we hold so dear are simply our selfish and transparent loincloths, our pathetic effort at hiding from God, and our silly attempt at elevating ourselves to equality with God.
2. God's never surprised or shocked by our sins
3. some sin incurs harsher judgment [Proverbs 6:27-28; Hebrews; James 3:1]
4. God desires recovery and restoration IF –5. Satan desires to hold you ...a. WE CONFESS OUR SINS, HE IS FAITHFUL TO FORGIVE US1 John 1:9b. HE WHO CONCEALS HIS SINS WILL NOT PROSPER, BUT HE WHO CONFESSES AND FORSAKES THEM WILL FIND COMPASSIONProverbs 28:13
c. we, like David, ask to be cleansed and restored
d. we SUBMIT TO GOD, RESIST THE DEVIL FOR HE WILL FLEE FROM [US]James 4:7a. You can't undo the past, don't try … go on with life.
b. don't quit, keep trying
c. don't be an Ostrich
d. fellowship till it hurts (2 or 3 are better than one)
Like Adam and Eve, we are bitten by the father of lies. Like them, we deny the Creator and lust after ourselves and the puny work of our hands and minds.
But like Adam and Eve we too are offered a way out. God so loves us that He offers us a way to recover, to be restored to a right relationship, a newness of life. Christ is the Redeemer of all in all situations.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN IF YOU ASK … SO ASK! HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD YOUR MAKER.
CHALLENGE: But you know there is a greater loincloth at work in the world ... we stand by, deny the Word of God, and let the souls of thousands slide slowly and surely into hell ... what is the greater evil . . .
You decide … come now and acknowledge the Spirit’s convicting power. Which fig leaf is your fig leaf? What are you hiding behind yours?
- the fall in the Garden, with its contamination of the souls of all the human race; or
- the killing of kids one at a time, knowing that heaven is filled with the sweet sounds of millions of tiny voices as a result, or
- the one who knows the truth and stands silent as the screams of billions echoes from the canyon walls of hell?
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