God & Life radio message
God is Sovereign over all life
example one
One of the most poignant Bible passages demonstrating God's sovereignty over the continuum of life is found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. This passage comes in the context of a song which is sung by Moses near the end of his life. God has been speaking to Moses about blessings and cursing in regard to the new nation of Israel. God has been affirming his covenant with his people. God spoke these things face to face with his servant Moses, a prophet of God. In Deuteronomy chapter 32 Moses sings a song which encompasses the first 39 verses of that chapter. Within that song are these words:
De 32:39 See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.
God is showing the people of Israel that He, God alone is in charge of establishing and ending all life on earth. When God says that he begins and ends life it also implies that He is in charge of everything in between.
example two
God the Father of all creation shows an example of his sovereignty over unborn children in the siring his own son Jesus Christ through the body of Mary. In this example we see that Mary is the vessel God used to bring the Son of God to the earth in bodily form (incarnate). Mary was used as a special vessel to nurture and bring to maturity this child within her womb. God also shows us in this example that he created the laws or physical processes of human conception and that he can alter these processes to suite his own divine purposes. In Matthew chapter 1 we read the words that were recorded by the Apostle Matthew.
18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
In honor to God and in obedience to God Mary chose to turn over the free-will of her mind and body to the divine purposes of God almighty. God confirms this most unique miracle with Mary's future husband Joseph.
Beginning in verse 19 it says:
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
A similar account of this supernatural event is confirmed in the book of Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20. In this account from the book of Luke we read that Mary is so elated at the prospect of carrying the child who would be the Messiah that she broke out into singing. The song she sung has become known as the "Magnificat", the name in Latin Vulgate for the first word of her song.
God the architect and planner of life
When a builder constructs a house, a set of plans is prepared and then followed to construct the building. These plans and specifications cover many different aspects of the construction of the building. The building may be chosen to be made of wood, steel or concrete. The plans and specifications give detail information on these things as well as the location and types of lighting, plumbing and electrical fixtures that will be used in the building. All of the information needed by the many different building trades are included in these plans and specifications.
God's creation also has a set of plans contained within it. Every person, living plant and animal that God has created has a unique set of instructions contained within it, him or her. In fact, every cell within each living creature that God has created has a set of plans contained in it. People have about one hundred million, million cells in them. In each and every one of these cells is contained a complete set of God's plans for each and every person, animal and plant.
In recent years science has discovered this code of life which God created in all living organisms. Man has given God's set of plans and specifications the generic name genome. Each person's genome is found in the center of the cell which is called the nucleus. In the nucleus is contained what is known as a dna code. Scientists have found that it looks like a spiral ladder with rungs on it. Some of these rungs contain this special and unique code for life. When conception takes place between a man and a woman a strand of this code is mingled with the woman's code to form a new and unique code for the new child to be born. What an amazing God we have.
The prophet Jeremiah who lived thousands of years ago spoke about these things before man understood how any of these physical processes take place.
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
The passage tells us that God is not only the architect of his creation, but that he planned the lives and purposes of people he would create long before they were born.
This concept of God being a long range planner of the lives of people he creates in confirmed in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul. In this passage Paul is speaking to the people in Athens Greece about who God is. He says this in Acts 17 beginning in verse 24
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
So here we hear that God planned ahead of time the length of days people would live and what the geographical boundaries of their existence would be.
God the maker of Life
Here are some additional Bible passages which confirm that God is the author and creator of life.
Ec 11:5 As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
Job 31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Children as blessings from God
Here are a couple of passages which show that God views children as a blessing to a family.
Ps 127:3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.
Lu 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
Who owns our bodies
One of the frequent arguments we hear from people who favor abortion is that they want freedom, they want control of their bodies, they do not want laws imposed on their bodies. This is a most natural reaction of mankind. This line of reasoning is certainly popularized by Frank Sinatra's
famous song, "My Way". But sometimes our well meaning thoughts of independence will bring opposition to the laws of God's creation. Where this happens no amount of legal freedom will free us from the separation of God's law.
For those who want true freedom it will come only through Jesus Christ. No legal system or religious system will free us from the love, freedom and responsibility that comes through Jesus Christ. When and if we do accept the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our personal lives we also accept the fact that we died with Jesus Christ. We celebrate this in baptism. We die with Christ and we also are raised to new life with Christ. Let's review some of these passages.
Romans 6:
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:
Colossians 2:
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And so we who identify with Christ are made new creatures in Him. As such Christ has paid for our lives with his life. He now owns us including our bodies our minds and our souls. The apostle Paul even goes so far as to say that he is a slave Christ, albeit a very willing one.
Here are some Bible passages which reflect these thoughts:
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
So we see if we truly accept what Jesus did for us we no longer own our own bodies. We were literally ransomed by Jesus Christ. As long as we have touched on this topic let's see confirmation of this. In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was ransomed by God for other foreign peoples, a very dramatic concept.
This first few passages shows this concept in somewhat of a general way.
Pr 21:18 The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Jer 31:11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he.
Isa 51:10 [Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This next passage is very explicit in showing exactly who was paid for as a ransom for the nation of Israel.
1 ¶ But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. isaiah 43.
This next passage shows that no person on earth can pay for the ransom of a soul other than God.
7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious and it ceaseth for ever:) ps 49
In the New Testament we also see this same concept being brought forward through the New and better covenant of Christ.
Mr 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
1 Tim 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
If we wanted to take the time we could also look at passages which use the word "redeem". This is a similar word which conveys the concept the God has bought and paid for our lives. This concept is likewise carried consistently through the Old Testament and into the New Testament. We are familiar with the word redeem being used in the redeeming of a coupon
example one
One of the most poignant Bible passages demonstrating God's sovereignty over the continuum of life is found in the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy. This passage comes in the context of a song which is sung by Moses near the end of his life. God has been speaking to Moses about blessings and cursing in regard to the new nation of Israel. God has been affirming his covenant with his people. God spoke these things face to face with his servant Moses, a prophet of God. In Deuteronomy chapter 32 Moses sings a song which encompasses the first 39 verses of that chapter. Within that song are these words:
De 32:39 See now that I, [even] I, [am] he, and [there is] no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither [is there any] that can deliver out of my hand.
God is showing the people of Israel that He, God alone is in charge of establishing and ending all life on earth. When God says that he begins and ends life it also implies that He is in charge of everything in between.
example two
God the Father of all creation shows an example of his sovereignty over unborn children in the siring his own son Jesus Christ through the body of Mary. In this example we see that Mary is the vessel God used to bring the Son of God to the earth in bodily form (incarnate). Mary was used as a special vessel to nurture and bring to maturity this child within her womb. God also shows us in this example that he created the laws or physical processes of human conception and that he can alter these processes to suite his own divine purposes. In Matthew chapter 1 we read the words that were recorded by the Apostle Matthew.
18 ¶ Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
In honor to God and in obedience to God Mary chose to turn over the free-will of her mind and body to the divine purposes of God almighty. God confirms this most unique miracle with Mary's future husband Joseph.
Beginning in verse 19 it says:
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
A similar account of this supernatural event is confirmed in the book of Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20. In this account from the book of Luke we read that Mary is so elated at the prospect of carrying the child who would be the Messiah that she broke out into singing. The song she sung has become known as the "Magnificat", the name in Latin Vulgate for the first word of her song.
God the architect and planner of life
When a builder constructs a house, a set of plans is prepared and then followed to construct the building. These plans and specifications cover many different aspects of the construction of the building. The building may be chosen to be made of wood, steel or concrete. The plans and specifications give detail information on these things as well as the location and types of lighting, plumbing and electrical fixtures that will be used in the building. All of the information needed by the many different building trades are included in these plans and specifications.
God's creation also has a set of plans contained within it. Every person, living plant and animal that God has created has a unique set of instructions contained within it, him or her. In fact, every cell within each living creature that God has created has a set of plans contained in it. People have about one hundred million, million cells in them. In each and every one of these cells is contained a complete set of God's plans for each and every person, animal and plant.
In recent years science has discovered this code of life which God created in all living organisms. Man has given God's set of plans and specifications the generic name genome. Each person's genome is found in the center of the cell which is called the nucleus. In the nucleus is contained what is known as a dna code. Scientists have found that it looks like a spiral ladder with rungs on it. Some of these rungs contain this special and unique code for life. When conception takes place between a man and a woman a strand of this code is mingled with the woman's code to form a new and unique code for the new child to be born. What an amazing God we have.
The prophet Jeremiah who lived thousands of years ago spoke about these things before man understood how any of these physical processes take place.
Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, [and] I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
The passage tells us that God is not only the architect of his creation, but that he planned the lives and purposes of people he would create long before they were born.
This concept of God being a long range planner of the lives of people he creates in confirmed in the New Testament by the Apostle Paul. In this passage Paul is speaking to the people in Athens Greece about who God is. He says this in Acts 17 beginning in verse 24
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
So here we hear that God planned ahead of time the length of days people would live and what the geographical boundaries of their existence would be.
God the maker of Life
Here are some additional Bible passages which confirm that God is the author and creator of life.
Ec 11:5 As thou knowest not what [is] the way of the spirit, [nor] how the bones [do grow] in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.
Isa 44:2 Thus saith the LORD that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, [which] will help thee; Fear not, O Jacob, my servant; and thou, Jesurun, whom I have chosen.
Isa 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I [am] the LORD that maketh all [things]; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Isa 46:3 Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne [by me] from the belly, which are carried from the womb:
Job 31:15 Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?
Children as blessings from God
Here are a couple of passages which show that God views children as a blessing to a family.
Ps 127:3 Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward.
Lu 1:42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed [art] thou among women, and blessed [is] the fruit of thy womb.
Who owns our bodies
One of the frequent arguments we hear from people who favor abortion is that they want freedom, they want control of their bodies, they do not want laws imposed on their bodies. This is a most natural reaction of mankind. This line of reasoning is certainly popularized by Frank Sinatra's
famous song, "My Way". But sometimes our well meaning thoughts of independence will bring opposition to the laws of God's creation. Where this happens no amount of legal freedom will free us from the separation of God's law.
For those who want true freedom it will come only through Jesus Christ. No legal system or religious system will free us from the love, freedom and responsibility that comes through Jesus Christ. When and if we do accept the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ in our personal lives we also accept the fact that we died with Jesus Christ. We celebrate this in baptism. We die with Christ and we also are raised to new life with Christ. Let's review some of these passages.
Romans 6:
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also [in the likeness] of [his] resurrection:
Colossians 2:
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
And so we who identify with Christ are made new creatures in Him. As such Christ has paid for our lives with his life. He now owns us including our bodies our minds and our souls. The apostle Paul even goes so far as to say that he is a slave Christ, albeit a very willing one.
Here are some Bible passages which reflect these thoughts:
1Co 6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Co 7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
So we see if we truly accept what Jesus did for us we no longer own our own bodies. We were literally ransomed by Jesus Christ. As long as we have touched on this topic let's see confirmation of this. In the Old Testament the nation of Israel was ransomed by God for other foreign peoples, a very dramatic concept.
This first few passages shows this concept in somewhat of a general way.
Pr 21:18 The wicked [shall be] a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
Jer 31:11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of [him that was] stronger than he.
Isa 51:10 [Art] thou not it which hath dried the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over?
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
This next passage is very explicit in showing exactly who was paid for as a ransom for the nation of Israel.
1 ¶ But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called [thee] by thy name; thou [art] mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I [will be] with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. isaiah 43.
This next passage shows that no person on earth can pay for the ransom of a soul other than God.
7 None [of them] can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:
8 (For the redemption of their soul [is] precious and it ceaseth for ever:) ps 49
In the New Testament we also see this same concept being brought forward through the New and better covenant of Christ.
Mr 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
1 Tim 2:5 For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
If we wanted to take the time we could also look at passages which use the word "redeem". This is a similar word which conveys the concept the God has bought and paid for our lives. This concept is likewise carried consistently through the Old Testament and into the New Testament. We are familiar with the word redeem being used in the redeeming of a coupon
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