WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT ABORTION?
David Estes

1. Why should we value life?

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (NAS)

And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:27 (NAS)

He created every race of men of one stock, to inhabit the whole earth’s surface. He fixed the epochs of their history and the limits of their territory. Acts 17:26 (NEB)

Know that the Lord Himself is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Psalm 100:3 (NAS)

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb, “I, the Lord, am the maker of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself, and spreading out the earth all alone. . . .” Isaiah 44:24 (NAS)

For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 (NAS)

But now, O Lord, Thou art our Father, we are the clay, and Thou our potter; And all of us are the work of Thy hand. Isaiah 64:8 (NAS)

2. Who is the creator of the preborn?

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(NIV)

Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. Job 10:8-12 (NIV)

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book
they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalm 139:13-16 (NKJ)

3. How is God concerned with the preborn?

Listen to Me, O islands, and pay attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called Me from the womb; from the body of my mother He named me. Isaiah 49:1 (NAS)

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJ)

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, . . . Galatians 1:15 (RSV)

Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me. Isaiah 49:16 (NAS)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for giving us through Christ every possible spiritual benefit as citizens of Heaven! For consider what he has done-before the foundation of the world he chose us to become, in Christ, his holy and blameless children living within his constant care. Ephesians 1:3-4 (PME)

4. Who is responsible for life and death?

The Lord brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up. 1 Samuel 2:6 (NIV)

Then God spoke all these words, saying, . . . “You shall not murder.” Exodus 20:1,13 (NAS)

(Matthew 5:21*, Matthew 19:18*, Romans 1:29*, James 2:11*, Revelation 21:8*, Revelation 22:15–NAS)

Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; . . .Matthew 5:19 (RSV)

. . . shed not innocent blood . . . Jeremiah 7:6 (KJV)

(Jeremiah 22:3* and 22:17*, Exodus 23:7* KJV)

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live . . . . Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV)

5. Is man permitted to take life before birth?

If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely but there is no serious injury, the offender must be fined whatever the woman’s husband demands and the court allows. But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise. Exodus 21:22-25 (NIV)

Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, Because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead . . . .” Amos 1:13 (NKJ)

Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Matthew 18:14 (NKJ)

Never despise one of these little ones; I tell you, they have their guardian angels in heaven, who look continually on the face of my heavenly Father. Matthew 18:10 (NEB)

6. Should a child conceived as a result of rape or incest be aborted?

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall children be put to death for their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16 (NKJ)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28 (NAS)

Thank God at all times for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:20 (PME)

7. Should a child who might be born deformed or retarded be aborted?

So the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?” Exodus 4:11(NKJ)

Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, “What are you making?” Does your work say, “He has no hands.”? Woe to him who says to his father, “What have you begotten?” or to his mother, “What have you brought to birth?”

This is what the Lord says–the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? Isaiah 45:9-11 (NIV)

On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this?,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use, and another for common use? Romans 9:20-21 (NAS)

So tremendous, however, were the revelations that God gave me that, in order to prevent my becoming absurdly conceited, I was given a physical handicap–one of Satan’s angels to harass me and effectually stop any conceit. Three times I begged the Lord for it to leave me, but his reply has been, “My grace is enough for you: for where there is weakness, my power is shown the more completely.” Therefore, I have cheerfully made up my mind to be proud of my weaknesses, because they mean a deeper experience of the power of Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (PME)

Yet, to shame the wise, God has chosen what the world counts folly, and to shame what is strong, God has chosen what the world counts weakness. 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV)

8. Should a woman have control over the life in her own body?

Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Psalm 127:3 (NAS)

Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die. Ezekiel 18:4 (NAS)

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NAS)

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV)

9. Is abortion the solution to crisis pregnancies?

Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Isaiah 49:15 (NAS)

All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. Isaiah 53:6 (NAS)

Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight. Isaiah 5:21 (NIV)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 14:12 (NKJ)

10. Does God forgive those who have had abortions?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NKJ)

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…. Ephesians 1:7 (NAS)

I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Isaiah 43:25 (NAS)

11. What does the Bible say to those who perform abortions?

Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen. Deuteronomy 27:25 (KJV)

But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing oppression and extortion. Jeremiah 22:17 (NAS)

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. Proverbs 8:36 (KJV)

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged around his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Luke 17:2 (KJV)

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NKJ)

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. Hebrews 4:13 (NIV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9(NKJ)

12. What is a Christian’s responsibility under God, to the preborn, and the woman in crisis?

Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth . . . And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Genesis 9:1,5 (NIV)

Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Proverbs 24:11-12 (NKJ)

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?” And the King will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:34-40 (RSV)

And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, and your gloom will become like midday. Isaiah 58:10 (NAS)

Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 (NAS)

Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 (RSV)

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (RSV)

13. What are the responsibilities of His People, the body of Jesus Christ, His Church?

And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Ephesians 1:22-23 (NIV)

. . .from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love. Ephesians 4:16 (NAS)

We know love by this, that He laid down His life for US; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:16-18(NAS)

. . .that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:27 (NAS)

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:13-14 (NAS)

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. Revelation 4:11 (NIV)

Scriptural Assurances and Encouragement

Au scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (RSV)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 (NIV)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. . . . Romans 12:10-13(NIV)

Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 1 Peter 2: 16-17 (NIV)

(NAS): New American Standard
(NIV): New International Version
(NKJ): New King James
(RSV): Revised Standard Version
(KJV): King James Version
(NEB): New English Bible
(PME): Phillips Modern English

These questions and scriptures were compiled out of concern for the thousands of lives of both women and children who face abortion every day. (1.5 million per year.)

*Similar to or identical Scriptures

(The above material was prepared and published by Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, CO.)

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