Lutherans for Life

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This study lists five statements often used to justify abortion and examines them in the light of God’s Word.

I. “A fetus is not a person

Isaiah 49:1 Listen to me, you islands; hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the LORD called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.

Isaiah 49:5 And now the LORD says — he who formed me in the womb to be his servant.

Jeremiah 1:5 “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.”

Psalm 139: 13-16 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. 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.

In light of the above question, what is the relationship between God and the unborn?

In the following quotations, the Biblical writers, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, all used the Greek word brephos for the words in bold below:

Luke 1:41,44 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit…As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.

1 Peter 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

Acts 7:19 He dealt treacherously with our people and oppressed our forefathers by forcing them to throw out their newborn babies so that they would die.

2 Timothy 3:15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

According to the Bible then, what is the difference between the person of the fetus, the newborn, or the infant?

II. “Every woman has a right to control her own body”

Every woman: Since we have established that, Biblically, the unborn is a person from conception, the thing that is wrong about these two words, “every woman,” is that the unborn women does not presently have a right to control her own body. Only God has absolute rights. The only rights we have are privileges God allows us to posses out of grace.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Romans 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.
What then is our “right” (responsibility) regarding our bodies?

The preborn babe is not part of the mother’s body. The baby’s placenta (which is fetal tissue, not maternal tissue) counteracts the natural tendency of the mother’s, body to reject the “foreign tissue” of the unborn baby.

III. “Every child, a wanted child”

In calling the child wanted or unwanted, you don’t describe the child, but rather the emotions and feelings of the parents. How does the example of the Father’s love and Christ’s love compare to the statement, “I will love this, child if he is convenient, if he is compatible with my chosen lifestyle, and if he contributes to my plans?”

Ephesians 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.

IV. “I wouldn’t have an abortion myself, but I support the right of others to choose”

Freedom is not the liberty to do what we want to do, but to do what love for God should motivate us to do — what God determines, directs and demands.

Proverbs 24:11-12 Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can
they hear without someone preaching to them?

Deuteronomy 30:19 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.

What does God determine, direct, and demand we should do regarding the “right” of people to choose abortion?

V. “In cases or rape, incest, or an abnormal fetus, abortion is acceptable”

Exodus 23:7 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.

Proverbs 6:16-17 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood.

Who are the “Innocent” in a pregnancy resulting from rape or incest? Is abortion justifiable?

Exodus 4:11 The LORD said to him, “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?

Luke 14:13-14 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.

Matthew 25:40 The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Why then is “abnormality” not a justifiable reason for abortion?

As Christians, what should be our attitude and action toward the abnormal?

VI. What can we do about abortion…

in our prayer life?
in our life as a witness
to those considering abortion?
to those promoting abortion?
to someone who is pregnant because of rape or incest or who knows her baby will be abnormal?
to someone who has had an abortion and is burdened with guilt? Or feels no guilt?
In our life as a Christian citizen in a country that allows legal abortion-on-demand?

NOTE: This Bible study is part of the Life Studies series published by Lutherans for Life