Historical Posts
Proverbs 12:5-6 – Thoughts of Righteous and Wicked – Audio
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Text: Proverbs 12:5-6: “The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” but the mouth of the upright will deliver them.”
Thoughts are revealed, not hidden. Are they righteous or wicked?
Sometimes we think before we speak (or so we should); other times words just roll off of our tongues. Based upon what we say, others can tell if we are righteous or wicked. See where your words fall and what they reveal of the thoughts that in your mind.
I. What are the thoughts of the righteous (Philippians 4:8)?
A. Whatever things are true
B. Whatever things are noble
C. Whatever things are just
D. Whatever things are pure
E. Whatever things are lovely
F. Whatever things are of good report
II. What are the counsels of the wicked?
A. Every thought of man’s heart was only evil continually (Genesis 6:5).
B. The imagination of his heart was evil from his youth (Genesis 8:21).
C. They lie in wait to shed blood, lurking secretly for the innocent without a cause (Proverbs 1:10-11).
III. What are the words of the wicked?
A. “Lie in wait for blood (Proverbs 12:6).”
B. The LORD hates hands that have shed innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-19).
IV. What does the mouth of the upright do?
A. It delivers them (Proverbs 12:6).
B. Jesus prayed, “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13).”
Wicked individuals think wicked thoughts and say wicked things, leading to wicked actions. Righteous individuals think good thoughts, say good things, and do good deeds. The wicked will enter eternal destruction (Revelation 21:8), while the righteous will enter into eternal life (Matthew 25:46).
What are we thinking, saying, and doing? Where will we spend eternity? Is change needed? Start by aligning your thoughts with God’s Word, then accept His salvation.
Salvation: Hear - Believe - Repent - Confess - Be Baptized - Live Faithfully
Content by Richard Dillon
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Proverbs 17:04 – Lying – audio
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Text: Proverbs 17:4
Introduction
A. Lying is huge problem today.
1) Some say things that are not true
2) Others say one thing and do another.
B. Lying has been known to hurt many relationships.
C. The wise man wrote, “An evildoer gives heed to false lips; a liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue (Proverbs 17:4).”
D. Liars love to hear untruths and pass them along to others.
E. A lie is false, untrue, erroneous, deceitful, or wicked. Thus, a liar is one who speaks or does any of these things.
Body
I. Who does not lie?
A. It is impossible for God to lie (Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19).
B. Christ does not lie (1 Peter 2:21-23).
C. Christians should no longer lie (Ephesians 4:25; Colossians 3:9).
D. John describes Heaven as a place where there will be no lies (Revelation 21:27).
II. What should be the proper attitude to lies?
A. God hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-17).
B. The Psalmist hates and abhors lying (Psalm 119:163).
C. The righteous man should hate lying (Proverbs 13:5).
III. Who does lie?
A. Jesus said the devil is a liar, and the father of it (John 8:44).
B. Who do we make a liar?
1) We make God a liar if we say we have not sinned (1 John 1:10).
2) We make Christ a liar if we do not believe the testimony God gave of Him (1 John 2:22; 5:10).
3) Since we have sinned (Romans 3:23) and God did give His son (John 3:16 et. al.), we would be lying to deny it!
C. “…Let God be true but every man a liar (Romans 3:4)…”
D. One lies if he exchanges the truth of God (Romans 1:25).
E. One lies if he claims fellowship with Christ but walks in darkness (1 John 1:6-7).
F. We lie if we claim to know Christ but do not keep His commandments (1 John 2:4-6).
G. We lie if we claim to love God but hate our brother (1 John 4:20-21).
H. Satan entered the heart of Ananias and Sapphira, who lied to the Holy Spirit and God (Acts 5:1-4).
IV. What would be the end result of lies?
A. As Satan does lying wonders, those who believe such lies will perish (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
B. ALL liars will have their part in the lake of fire and brimstone, which is the second death (Revelation 21:8).
Conclusion
A. If we have lied in the past or are lying now, we must repent.
B. We should not heed those who lie, and correct lies with truths from God’s Word.
C. If we are not lying now, let us not be tempted to start!
Content by Richard Dillon
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Proverbs 01:10-19 Beware Evil Companions
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Text: Proverbs 1:10-19
Introduction
1. In our study of Proverbs thus far, we have seen that wisdom requires…
a. Fearing the Lord, so that we heed His Word – Proverbs 1:7
b. Respecting our parents, so that we listen to their advice – Proverbs 1: 8-9
2. What about our friends…?
a. Our peers with whom we spend so much time?
b. Might they not be a source of good counsel, i.e., wisdom?
[Indeed they can (cf. Proverbs 27:9). But the wrong kind of friends must be avoided. This is illustrated in our text for this study (Proverbs 1:10-19) which contains…]
Body
I. FATHERLY WARNING CONCERNING EVIL COMPANIONS
A. DO NOT CONSENT TO THEIR COUNSEL…
1. A father’s advice: “If sinners entice you, do not consent” – Proverbs 1:10
2. Especially when they seek to entice you to do evil – Proverbs 1:11-12
3. When they tempt you with promises of easy gain – Proverbs 1:13-14
— The example is enticement to murder and robbery
B. DO NOT WALK WITH THEM…
1. Keep away from such “friends” who are quick to do evil – Proverbs 1:15-16
2. Their efforts are ultimately in vain – Proverbs 1:17
3. Eventually they will pay with their own lives – Proverbs 1:18-19
— Such is the way of greed; it destroys those who possess it
[While the example in our text pertains to murder and robbery, the principle holds to true to all kinds of sinful conduct. So let’s expandon the lesson to be learned here…]
II. THE DANGER OF EVIL COMPANIONS
A. THEY PERSUADE THROUGH ENTICEMENT…
1. Like the serpent tempted Eve, sinful friends will appeal to:
a. The lust of the flesh (“good for food”)
b. The lust of the eyes (“pleasant to the eyes”)
c. The pride of life (“desirable to make one wise”) – cf. Genesis 3:6
2. Evil friends will offer easy gain
a. Such as wealth without work
b. Such as pleasure without commitment
c. Such as companionship without cost
— It sounds so good and easy, doesn’t it?
B. THEY IGNORE THE COST OF SIN…
1. That sin destroys those who possess it
a. So called “friends” will eventually turn on one another
b. If they will sin with you, how do you know they won’t sin against you?
c. They will be friends only as long as it benefits themselves
2. That sin eventually exposes those who continue in it
a. “Be sure your sin will find you out” – Numbers 32:23
b. Sin requires lies and deception; eventually one gets caught in their web of lies
c. Sin often carries a physical price that cannot be hidden
1) Addiction (drugs)
2) Disease (STDs)
3) Unwanted pregnancy
— Evil companions never talk about the cost of sin, do they?
[Finally, let’s glean from our text what is…]
III. THE SOLUTION TO EVIL COMPANIONS
A. DON’T LISTEN TO THEM…
1. “Do not consent…” – Proverbs 1:10
2. What they promise they cannot really deliver, at least for long
3. The truly blessed man does not walk in their counsel – Psalm 1:1
— Be wise enough not to heed their enticing words
B. STAY AWAY FROM THEM…
1. “Do not walk in the way with them, keep your foot from their path” – Proverbs 1:15
2. Do not let them be your companions – Proverbs 13:20
3. Especially if they are unbelievers – 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
— Be even wiser to avoid letting them become your companions
Conclusion
1. This is not to say that we cannot try to save them…
a. We must be separate from the world, but we cannot isolate ourselves – cf. 1 Corinthians 5:9-11
b. Even Jesus was a friend to sinners – Matthew 11:19
2. But we must be honest with ourselves…
a. Do we influence them more than they do to us?
b. If not, then we should stay away until we are strong enough to be a positive influence
3. What we have studied in Proverbs 1:10-19 perhaps is best summarized by the apostle Paul:
a. Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” – 1 Corinthians 15:33
b. To be wise, we must know who to listen to (God, parents, and good friends), and who not to listen to (anyone who would entice us to do evil)…
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Proverbs 01:20-33 The Call of Sophia
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Text: Proverbs 1:20-33
Introduction
1. We have seen that wisdom requires…
a. Fearing the Lord, so that we heed His Word – Proverbs 1:7
b. Respecting our parents, so that we listen to their advice – Proverbs 1:8-9
c. Not heeding friends who have us join them in doing evil – Proverbs 1:10-19
2. At this point, Solomon personifies wisdom as a woman…
a. A motif used several times in the first nine chapters – e.g., Proverbs 8:1-5; 9:1-6
b. A virtuous woman, later contrasted with the foolish woman who leads astray – Proverbs 9:13-18
[In Greek, the word for wisdom is sophia.]
To emphasize wisdom’s personification as a woman, we’ll use the name “Sophia” as we examine the text for our lesson (Pro 1:20-33). Notice first of all…
Body
I. SOPHIA’S PLEA
A. MADE PUBLICLY… (Proverbs 1:20-21)
1. She calls aloud outside, in the open squares
2. She cries in the streets, at the gates of the city
— Wisdom is not hidden, but reaches out to all who will listen – Proverbs 8:1-5
B. TO THOSE WHO NEED HER… (Proverbs 1:22)
1. Simple ones, who love simplicity – the morally naive, easily influenced by others
2. Scorners, who delight in their scorning – the cynical and defiant, prone to ridicule others
3. Fools, who hate knowledge – those hardened to the point of hating that which is good
— People caught up in varying degrees of hardness of heart – e.g., Ephesians 4:17-19
C. BE FILLED WITH HER WISDOM… (Proverbs 1:23)
1. Turn at her rebuke – respond to her warning, and repent
2. She will pour out her spirit on them, she will make known her words to them
— Wisdom stands ready to forgive and bless those who open their hearts and minds, much like God is for those who repent and turn – cf. Acts 3:19
[The grace of God is clearly seen in Sophia’s plea for all to heed her call for wisdom. Those caught up in varying degrees of hardness of heart are given opportunities to repent. But such opportunities do not last forever. Thus we now read of…]
II. SOPHIA’S WARNING
A. DIRECTED TO THOSE WHO REFUSED TO HEAR… (Proverbs 1:24-25)
1. Who refused her call, disregarded her outstretched hand
2. Who disdained her counsel and refused her rebuke
3. Just like Israel rejected her prophets – cf. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16
— Will we be like those who refuse to heed the Lord’s wisdom and warnings?
B. THERE WILL BE NO HELP WHEN CALAMITY COMES… (Proverbs 1:26-30)
1. She will laugh and mock when terror and destruction comes like a storm
2. Despite their cries for help, it will be too late
3. Because they hated knowledge when they had the opportunity
4. They did not choose the fear of the Lord (the beginning of wisdom)
5. They had rejected her counsel and despised her rebuke
— Heed wisdom is when it is being offered, not when it is too late! – Isaiah 55:6-7
C. THEY WILL SUFFER THE FATE OF THEIR FOLLY… (Proverbs 1:31)
1. They will eat the fruit of their own way
2. They will be full of their own fancies (foolish counsel)
— Contrast of the righteous in times of trial to that of the wicked – Proverbs 3:25-26; Proverbs 10:24-25
[Too many people wait until it is too late to do any good. To benefit from the value of wisdom, we need to learn from her while we still have time. Finally, let’s consider…]
III. SOPHIA’S SUMMARY
A. DESTRUCTION COMES UPON THE SIMPLE AND FOOLS… (Proverbs 1:32)
1. Because they turn away from the true wisdom God has to offer
2. Because they allowed their complacency (regarding wisdom) to destroy them
— Will we be naive and foolish when it comes to receiving God’s wisdom?
B. SAFETY AND SECURITY ARE FOR THOSE WILLING TO HEAR… (Proverbs 1:33)
1. Who are willing to listen to wisdom – cf. Proverbs 8:32-35
2. Whose fear of the Lord will enable them to fear no evil – Proverbs 3:21-26
— Are we willing to listen and heed the wisdom God offers?
Conclusion
1. From lady “Sophia”, we learn that wisdom is a lot like the grace of God…
a. Opportunity to obtain it does not last forever
b. The time will come when it is too late
2. Today is the day to learn wisdom from God…
a. Just like today is the day of salvation – cf. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2
b. Who will we be like: those who are simple and fools? Or those willing to hear God’s wisdom?
3. How we respond to “Sophia” reveals our true character and ultimate end…
“How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” – Proverbs 1:22-23
4. Will You Heed The “Call of Sophia”?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Proverbs 02:01-22 Benefits of Diligently Seeking Wisdom
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Text: Proverbs 2:1-22
Introduction
1. In chapter one of Proverbs, we began our study by noting…
a. The prologue, stating the purpose of the book – Proverbs 1:1-6
b. The theme of Proverbs, how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge – Proverbs 1:7
c. The value of listening to one’s parents – Proverbs 1:8-9
d. The danger of evil companionship – Proverbs 1:10-19
e. The importance of listening to wisdom (Sophia) while there is opportunity – Proverbs 1:20-33
2. The second chapter describes the benefits of seeking after wisdom…
a. With an admonition to search for wisdom with diligence – Proverbs 2:1-4
b. With a list of benefits that will come from such a search – Proverbs 2:5-22
[The benefits of seeking after wisdom are found only if we seek with the proper disposition…]
Body
I. QUALITIES OF A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR WISDOM
A. AS EXPLAINED BY SOLOMON THEN…
1. It requires a willingness – Proverbs 2:1
a. To be receptive to the words of others
b. To treasure (highly value and remember) commands of wisdom
2. It requires an engagement – Proverbs 2:2-3
a. Of the ear (willing to hear wisdom)
b. Of the heart (willing to understand)
c. Of the mouth (willing to cry out for discernment and understanding)
3. It requires a high estimation – Proverbs 2:4
a. Seeking and searching
b. With the same fervor as seeking for silver and other hidden treasures
— Thus a diligent search for wisdom requires an “all out” effort on our part
B. AS EXPERIENCED BY CHRISTIANS TODAY…
1. It requires hearing the Word of God
a. Note: “incline your ear to wisdom” – Proverbs 2:2
b. Listening to preachers and teachers carefully (with all readiness) – Acts 17:11
c. Studying the Bible on your own (searched the Scriptures daily) – Acts 17:11
2. It requires meditating upon the Word of God
a. Note: “apply your heart to understanding” – Proverbs 2:2
b. Taking time to reflect and ponder on the Word – cf. Ph 4:8
c. Like the Psalmist sung of his meditations – cf. Psalm 119: 97-100
3. It requires diligent prayer for wisdom
a. Note: “cry out for discernment…lift up your voice for understanding” – Proverbs 2:3
b. We must ask in prayer with faith – James 1:5
c. We must persist in our asking – cf. Matthew 7:7-11
4. It requires the same effort others expend seeking for material wealth
a. Note: “seek her as silver…as for hidden treasures” – Proverbs 2:4
b. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge – Colossians 2:3
c. Here’s a simple test to see if you are expending the proper effort to seek wisdom:
1) If you worked as hard for your employer as you do seeking for God’s wisdom…
2) …would you have your job very long?
— Finding God’s wisdom today requires the same diligence it did in Solomon’s day
[Is the effort worth it? Let’s go now to Proverbs 2:5-22 and find out what are the…]
II. BENEFITS OF A DILIGENT SEARCH FOR WISDOM
A. KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS PROTECTION…
1. You will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God
a. That fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge – Proverbs 2:5a; cf. Proverbs 1:7
b. That knowledge of God, whose storehouse of wisdom and understanding He gives to the upright – Proverbs 2:5b-7a
2. You will have God’s providential protection guiding your life
a. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly – Proverbs 2:7b; cf. 30:5
b. He guards the paths of justice (which the righteous take) – Proverbs 2:8a; cf. Psalm 23:3
c. He preserves the way of His saints – Proverbs 2:8b; cf. Psalm 121:5-8
— What a blessing to go through life with God at your side!
B. MORAL DISCERNMENT FOR LIVING…
1. You will have great understanding
a. Of righteousness and justice – Proverbs 2:9a
b. Of equity (fairness) and every good path – Proverbs 2:9b; cf. David’s prayer, Psalm 143:8-10
2. You will have great discretion
a. Once wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to you – Proverbs 2:10
b. They will preserve and keep you – Proverbs 2:11; cf. 6:22-23
— What a blessing to go through life with God’s wisdom at your disposal!
C. DELIVERANCE FROM EVIL MEN…
1. Who speak perverse things – Proverbs 2:12; e.g., Acts 20:30
2. Who leave upright paths, walk in the ways of darkness – Proverbs 2:13; e.g., 2 Peter 2:20-22
3. Who rejoice in doing evil, delight in the perversity of the wicked – Proverbs 2:14; cf. 10:23
4. Whose ways are crooked, and devious in their paths – Proverbs 2:15; e.g., 1:10-19
— Wisdom can deliver us from evil men and their evil ways!
D. DELIVERANCE FROM IMMORAL WOMEN…
1. The seductress flatters with her words – Proverbs 2:16; e.g., 7:5-21
2. The adulteress who forsakes her husband and covenant with God – Proverbs 2:17; cf. Mal 2:14
3. Whose house and paths lead to death, and the place of no return – Proverbs 2:18-19; cf. 9:13-18
— Wisdom can deliver us from immoral women and their destructive ways!
E. ENABLEMENT FOR RIGHTEOUS LIVING…
1. To walk in the way of goodness and keep to righteous paths – Proverbs 2:20; cf. Psalm 23:3, 6
2. To be upright and blameless, to dwell and remain in the land – Proverbs 2:21; cf. Psalm 37:3
3. Unlike the wicked and unfaithful, cut off and uprooted from the earth – Proverbs 2:22; cf. Psalm 37:37-38
— Wisdom can empower us to live more blessed, if not longer, lives on this earth!
Conclusion
1. Are not the benefits of wisdom worth the effort necessary to obtain it…?
a. To know God and enjoy His providential care?
b. To obtain discernment for making the right moral choices?
c. To be delivered from the shenanigans of evil men?
d. To be delivered from the seductions of immoral women?
e. To be able to walk in goodness and righteousness, living lives blessed by God?
2. And what is the effort required to obtain God’s wisdom…?
a. To hear the word of God (“incline your ear to wisdom”)
b. To meditate on the word of God (“apply your heart to understanding”)
c. To ask in faith for wisdom (“cry out for discernment…lift up your voice for understanding”)
d. To highly value its worth (“seek her as silver…as for hidden treasures”)
With such effort, one will not only find wisdom for daily, practical living, but will also find Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:3
He is indeed the greatest benefit of diligently seeking wisdom!
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Proverbs – The Wisdom Guide
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(The Christian’s Guide To Wisdom)
Introduction
1. The walk of the Christian is to be with “wisdom” as we go through life – Ephesians 5:15-17
a. Because time is fleeting, and the days are evil, we must make the best use of our time
b. Too many people today are wasting both their time and their lives by failing to exercise wisdom in their daily lives
2. Since the Word of God claims to equip man unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
a. It is only natural to assume that it provides us with sound advice concerning daily living
b. And indeed it does, especially in “The Book of Proverbs” found in the Old Testament
3. The purpose of this series is to…
a. Introduce “The Book Of Proverbs” as a source of great wisdom
b. Encourage Christians to utilize this source in their efforts to walk wisely
Body
I. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
A. CLEARLY STATED IN THE FIRST SIX VERSES OF THE BOOK…
1. “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding”
2. “To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity”
3. To give to the…
a. Simple (naive) – “prudence”
b. Young man – “knowledge and discretion”
c. Wise man – “increased learning”
d. Man of understanding – “wise counsel”
B. THE BOOK IS THEREFORE DESIGNED…
1. To make a person wise!
2. To learn how:
a. To act wisely and righteously
b. To treat others with fairness
3. To give…
a. To the ignorant, common sense
b. To the young, sound advice
c. To the wise, even more wisdom
[At this point, it might be appropriate to ask: “What exactly is wisdom, and why is it so valuable?”]
II. THE DEFINITION AND VALUE OF WISDOM
A. DEFINING WISDOM…
1. “Wisdom…may be defined as a realistic approach to the problems of life…” – 20th Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
2. Homer Hailey offered this definition of wisdom: “Wisdom is INSIGHT into the underlying causes and significance or consequence of things, which INSIGHT enables one to apply to the best end the knowledge which he has.”
3. To illustrate:
a. You are yelled at by your boss, wife, or brother in Christ…
1) You could react in different ways
a) You could strike back physically, or verbally
b) You could do nothing
c) You could react with a soft, kind reply – cf. Proverbs 15:1
2) Wisdom is that insight which helps you to decide what is the best thing to do
b. Someone makes sexual advances towards you…
1) Again, you could react in several different ways
2) But wisdom will enable you to react in the proper way
B. THE VALUE OF WISDOM…
1. The first nine chapters of “The Book Of Proverbs” are actually discourses extolling the value of wisdom
2. The virtue of wisdom is seen in the prosperous life it can produce – Proverbs 3:13-18
3. Wisdom’s value is also found in guarding us against many pitfalls that are out there – Proverbs 3:21-26
4. Some of the “pitfalls” that are frequently warned against in “The Book Of Proverbs”:
a. Evil companionship – Proverbs 1:10-19
1) They want you to join them in their wrong doing
2) But if you do, you will be caught up with them in their own self-destruction
3) Wisdom would preserve you from this
b. The immoral woman – Proverbs 5:1-14
1) An “affair” might appear exciting and harmless
2) But immorality is one of the quickest ways to destroy one’s self physically, emotionally, and spiritually!
3) The exercise of wisdom would spare one from total ruin
c. Laziness – Proverbs 6:6-11
1) It may be good to do nothing
2) But sloth guarantees failure and poverty
3) Wisdom provides a much better way of life
[Certainly we should see that wisdom is of great value. But let’s go one step further and notice in particular the value of “The Book Of Proverbs” in regards to having wisdom…]
III. THE VALUE OF “THE BOOK OF PROVERBS”
A. WISDOM IS NORMALLY GAINED THROUGH ONE OF TWO SOURCES…
1. Through years of “trial and error”
a. This is the source when a person chooses to listen only to one’s own experiences
b. But there are disadvantages to gaining wisdom this way:
1) Much of one’s lifetime can be wasted trying to learn through trial and error
2) One is forced to live with the consequences of their “errors”
c. Sadly, this is the only way many people gain wisdom, and that only if they survive their “errors”!
2. Through the proven experience of others
a. This is possible only if one is willing to heed the advice of others
b. There are clear advantages to gaining wisdom this way:
1) You can avoid wasting years of your life through trial and error, thus living life to its fullest measure!
2) You experience life unburdened with the consequences of earlier mistakes
c. Certainly this method of gaining wisdom is far superior!
B. THE SUPERIOR WAY OF GAINING WISDOM IS WHAT MAKES “THE BOOK OF PROVERBS” SO VALUABLE!
1. Instead of wasting our short time here on earth trying to discover wisdom through the process of trial and error, we can go straight to “The Book Of Proverbs”
2. There we can find wisdom that is:
a. Divinely inspired by God!
b. Proven to be true by generations of righteous men and women who lived out their lives by the teachings found in it
c. Expressed concisely in ways easy to remember (Proverb: “a short sentence based on long experience” – Cervantes in Don Quixote)
3. Yes, the value of “The Book Of Proverbs” is that it provides the wisdom of God Himself!
a. This is not to say that it takes little effort to glean from this wisdom – cf. Proverbs 2:1-6
b. But for those who will look to God through His Word and prayer (cf. James 1:5-8), the promise of God is that wisdom will be granted them
c. And this is a far better way to find wisdom than the way most people do it!
Conclusion
1. I hope this introductory lesson has made you want to study “The Book Of Proverbs” in order to glean it’s treasures of wisdom waiting for us
2. In succeeding lessons, we will survey “The Book Of Proverbs” by considering the wisdom it offers pertaining to various relationships we have in this life (e.g., with family, work, God)
3. Of course, no discussion concerning wisdom can be complete without mentioning Jesus Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:3
a. Without Jesus Christ in your life, there is no way to be truly wise.
b. Have you come to Christ…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Proverbs 01:07 The Theme of Proverbs
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Text: Proverbs 1:7
Introduction
1. In our previous study we considered the purpose of the book of Proverbs…
a. To know wisdom, perceive words of understanding – Proverbs 1:2
b. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity – Proverbs 1:3
c. To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion – Proverbs 1:4
d. To increase learning for a wise man, to give counsel to a man of understanding – Proverbs 1:5
e. To understand proverbs and enigmas, the words of the wise and their riddles – Proverbs 1:6
2. In this study, we shall focus our attention on the theme of the book…
a. Found in Proverbs 1:7 (read)
b. Stated in the form of antithetical parallelism
c. In which the repeated terms of a poetic couplet are opposite in meaning
d. Typical of thought rhyme (as opposed to word rhyme) found in Hebrew poetry
Body
I. THE BEGINNING OF KNOWLEDGE
A. THE FEAR OF THE LORD EXPLAINED…
1. The term yara’ (fear) is the common word for fear in the OT and has a basic three-fold range of meanings
a. Dread, terror – Deuteronomy 1:29; John 1:10
b. To stand in awe (in reference to a king) – 1 Kings 3:28
c. To revere, to respect (in regards to parents) – Leviticus 19:3
2. Notice when God descended upon Sinai amid geophysical convulsions – cf. Exodus 20:18-20
a. Moses encouraged the Israelites to not be afraid of God arbitrarily striking them dead for no reason (“Do not fear!”)
b. He informed them that the Lord revealed Himself in such a terrifying manner to scare them from sinning (“God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.”)
3. Thus there is also a place for such fear of the Lord in the life of a Christian
a. We should fear God, not man – Matthew 10:28
b. The early church walked in the fear of the Lord – Acts 9:31
c. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling – Philippians 2:12
d. We should be fearful of apostasy, serving God with godly fear – Hebrews 10:26-31; Hebrews 12:28-29
— The fear of the LORD is expressed in reverential submission to his will
B. THE FEAR OF THE LORD ESTEEMED…
1. From the book of Proverbs we learn concerning the fear of the Lord:
a. It is the beginning of knowledge – Proverbs 1:7
b. It will cause one to hate evil – Proverbs 8:13
c. It will prolong life – Proverbs 10:27
d. It provides strong confidence and is a fountain of life – Proverbs 14:26-27
e. It prompts one to depart from evil – Proverbs 16:6
f. It leads to a satisfying life, and spares one from much evil – Proverbs 19:23
g. It is the way to riches, honor, and life! – Proverbs 22:4
2. Thus without the fear of the Lord:
a. We deprive ourselves of the treasures of God’s wisdom and knowledge
b. We will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it
c. Our lives are likely to be shortened by our refusal to heed God’s word (e.g., suffering sexually transmitted diseases if we do not heed His Word on sexual relationships)
d. We will not come to know the love of God that gives us assurance and confidence of our salvation
e. When fallen into sin, we will not be motivated to repent and turn to God!
f. We will not be motivated to truly “work out our own salvation”
— The fear of the Lord should be a highly regarded and sought after trait to develop!
[The fear of the Lord serves as the beginning or principal part of becoming truly wise. Now let’s notice the second half of Proverbs 1:7 which reveals…]
II. THE WAY OF FOLLY
A. THE FOOLISH DESPISE WISDOM…
1. The Hebrew word evil (fool) refers to a person characterized by moral folly
2. It is an adjective meaning foolish in the sense of one who hates wisdom and walks in folly, despising wisdom and morality
3. This foolish disdain for wisdom expressed elsewhere in Proverbs – Proverbs 1:22; Proverbs 17:16; Proverbs 18:2
— For one to despise the wisdom of God (such as found in this book) is truly foolish!
B. THE FOOLISH DISREGARD INSTRUCTION…
1. Not interested in wisdom, they are unwilling to heed the counsel of others
2. As expressed by the voice of wisdom herself – cf. Proverbs 1:25, 30
3. Lack of such counsel leads to defeat and failure – Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22
4. The fool listens only to his own heart – Proverbs 12:15
5. But wisdom and delight can be attained through the counsel of others – Proverbs 19:20; Proverbs 27:9
— In the book of Proverbs, the fool is characterized mostly by his or her unwillingness to listen to the advice of others (God, parents, friends, etc.)
Conclusion
1. Here then is the underlying theme throughout the book of Proverbs…
a. Develop the fear of the Lord if you desire to become truly wise
b. Discount the warnings and counsel of others and you will be a fool!
2. As Christians, let us be truly wise by developing the fear of the Lord…
a. For His knowledge has given us great and precious promises – 2 Peter 1:2-4
b. It behooves us to perfect holiness in the fear of God – cf. 2 Corinthians 7:1
Shall we be wise, or shall we be fools…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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An Introduction to Proverbs – Proverbs 01:01-06
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Text: Proverbs 1:1-6
Introduction
1. There is a great need for wisdom in our society today…
a. Lack of wisdom is destroying the lives of many young people, and making fools out of some who are older
b. Marriages are destroyed, friendships lost, souls doomed for lack of wisdom
2. The walk of the Christian is to be with wisdom as we go through life… – Ephesians 5:15-17
a. Because time is fleeting, and the days are evil, we must make the best use of our time
b. Too many today are wasting both their time and their lives by failing to exercise wisdom in their daily lives
3. The Word of God equips man unto every good work… – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
a. It is only natural to assume that it provides us with sound advice concerning daily living
b. Indeed it does, especially in The Book of Proverbs found in the Old Testament
4. The book begins by identifying Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, as the author…
a. Who was granted wisdom by God – 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
b. Who became famous for his wisdom, and wrote over 3,000 proverbs – 1 Kings 4:29-34
5. The book also contains proverbs and wisdom from other sources…
a. The words of Agur the son of Jakeh to Ithiel and Ucal – Proverbs 30:1-33
b. The words of King Lemuel, taught him by his mother – Proverbs 31:1-31
Body
I. THE PURPOSE OF THE BOOK
A. STATED IN THE FIRST SIX VERSES…
1. “To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding”
2. “To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity”
3. To give to the…
a. Simple (naive) – “prudence”
b. Young man – “knowledge and discretion”
c. Wise man – “increased learning”
d. Man of understanding – “wise counsel”
B. THE BOOK IS DESIGNED…
1. To make a person wise!
2. To learn how to:
a. Act wisely and righteously
b. Treat others with fairness
3. To give…
a. The ignorant, common sense
b. The young, sound advice
c. The wise, even more wisdom
II. THE DEFINITION AND VALUE OF WISDOM
A. DEFINING WISDOM…
1. “Wisdom…may be defined as a realistic approach to the problems of life…” – 20th Century Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge
2. Homer Hailey offered this definition of wisdom: “Wisdom is insight into the underlying causes and significance or consequence of things, which insight enables one to apply to the best end the knowledge which he has.”
3. To illustrate:
a. You are yelled at by your boss, wife, or brother in Christ…
1) You could react in different ways
a) Strike back physically, or verbally
b) Do nothing
c) React with a soft, kind reply – cf. Proverbs 15:1
2) Wisdom is that insight which helps you to decide what is the best thing to do
b. Someone makes sexual advances towards you…
1) Again, you could react in several different ways
2) But wisdom will enable you to react in the proper way
B. VALUATING WISDOM…
1. The book of Proverbs teaches the value of wisdom
2. The virtue of wisdom is seen in the prosperous life it can produce – Proverbs 3:13-18
3. Its value is also found in guarding us against many pitfalls – Proverbs 3:21-26
4. Some “pitfalls” frequently warned against in The Book Of Proverbs:
a. Evil companionship – Proverbs 1:10-19
b. The immoral woman – Proverbs 5:1-14
c. Laziness – Proverbs 6:6-11
III. THE VALUE OF THE BOOK
A. WISDOM COMES FROM TWO SOURCES…
1. Trial and error (personal experience)
a. One’s own experiences can certainly be a source of wisdom
b. But there are disadvantages to gaining wisdom this way:
1) Much of one’s lifetime can be wasted learning through trial and error
2) One must live with the consequences of their errors
c. Sadly, this is the only way some gain wisdom and that only if they survive their errors!
2. Counsel from others (proven experience)
a. This is possible if one is willing to heed the advice of others
b. There are clear advantages to gaining wisdom this way:
1) You avoid wasting years through trial and error, thus living life to its fullest measure!
2) You experience life unburdened with the consequences of earlier mistakes
B. THIS MAKES THE BOOK OF PROVERBS VALUABLE…
1. Instead of wasting our short time here on earth trying to discover wisdom through the process of trial and error, we can go straight to The Book Of Proverbs
2. There we can find wisdom that is:
a. Divinely inspired by God!
b. Proven true by generations of righteous people who lived out their lives by it
c. Expressed concisely in ways easy to remember (Proverb: “a short sentence based on long experience” – Cervantes in Don Quixote)
3. Yes, the value of The Book Of Proverbs is that it provides the wisdom of God Himself!
a. This is not to say that it takes little effort to glean from this wisdom – cf. Proverbs 2:1-6
b. But for those who will look to God through His Word and prayer, the promise of God is that wisdom will be granted them – cf. James 1:5-8
c. And this is a far better way to find wisdom than the way most people do it!
Conclusion
1. I hope this introductory lesson has made you want to study The Book Of Proverbs in order to glean its treasury of wisdom
2. In succeeding lessons, we will examine The Book Of Proverbs more closely by considering the wisdom it offers pertaining to various themes (family, work, God, etc.)
Our next study will focus on the theme of the book of Proverbs… The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. – Proverbs 1:7
Of course, no discussion concerning wisdom can be complete without mentioning Jesus Christ…
“in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” – Colossians 2:3
3. Without Jesus Christ in our lives, there is no way to be truly wise.
Have you come to Christ through obedience to His gospel…?
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Abortion – Proverbs 06:17
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(Abortion Sermons presented in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013)
Text: Proverbs 6:17
Introduction
1. Illustration
A Florida man was fined $108,800.00 for poaching 1088 turtle eggs froma Florida State Park. The public defender argued that a turtle isn’t a turtle until it hatches. The prosecutor affirmed that though they had not hatched, they were still turtles. The judge agreed with the prosecutor.
Too bad babies don’t hatch! Swipe 1000 turtle eggs and get fined $1,000 for each egg. Kill 1000 babies and be rewarded with tax money and be lauded as a champion of reproductive freedom!
2. Abortion is one of the most controversial moral dilemmas of our day.
3. Abortion affect millions of Americans. Social scientists today estimate that abortion is the most frequently performed surgery on adults in America.
4. In fact, one out of three babies conceived in the United States is deliberately aborted, and since 1973, 40 million babies have been aborted in the U.S.
5. However, the question that should concern us most about this issue is whether or not this action is moral. Does God approve or disapprove of abortion?
Body
I. A Brief History Of Abortion
A. Contrary to what many may believe, the debate over abortion is not a recent phenomenon.
B. Many cultures (Assyrian, Babylonian, Sumerian, Hittite) considered abortion a serious crime.
C. A portion of the Hippocratic Oath stated, “I will not give a woman a pessary to produce an abortion.”
D. However, Plato and Aristotle thought that deformed children should be exposed and left to die.
E. Closer to the time of Christ, Josephus wrote against abortion saying, “The Law commanded to raise all children and prohibited women from aborting or destroying seed; a woman who does so shall be judged a murderess of children”
F. The Didache said, “Do not murder a child by abortion or kill a newborn infant.”
G. Athenagoras, a second century Christian, wrote to the emperor, Marcus Aurelius, saying, “We say that women who induce abortions are murderers, and will have to give an account of it to God…The fetus in the womb is a living being and therefore the object of God’s care.”
H. Augustine, a 4th century “Church Father” criticized husbands and wives for “preferring that their offspring die before it lives, or if it was already alive in the womb, to kill it before it was born.”
I. In the U.S., laws against abortion were in effect until 1967, when a few states began to liberalize their laws. By the end of 1970, 18 states had passed laws that allowed abortion in “exceptional circumstances.” However, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court handed down its Roe-v-Wade decision, which permitted abortion on demand.
II. Abortion Methods
A. Below is a listing of the methods used by doctors to perform abortions. I won’t spend time discussing these methods, but wanted to present them to you so that you can read and better understand what is involved in an abortion.
B. Dilation and Curettage or “D&C.”
C. Suction Aspiration – used in 80% of abortions.
D. Saline Injection or salt poisoning.
E. Prostagandin.
F. Hysterotomy.
G. Dilation and Extraction or “Partial Birth Abortion.”
III. What Does The Word Of God Say About Abortion?
A. The Bible, in principle addresses all our needs and answers all our moral questions.
B. (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
C. First of all, life is valuable.
1. (Genesis 1:26-31).
2. (Exodus 20:13; Matthew 5:21-22).
D. Second, life begins at conception.
1. Doctors testify to this fact:
a. Ashley Montague, Professor at Harvard & Rutgers (who is not at all sympathetic to the pro-life cause) – “The basic fact is simple: life begins not at birth, but conception.”
b. Dr. Bernard Nathanson, who has performed over 60,000 abortions -“Modern technologies have convinced us that beyond question, the unborn child is simply another human being, another member of the human community, indistinguishable in every way from any of us.”
2. The Scriptures testify to this fact:
a. (Jeremiah 1:5).
b. (Psalm 139:13-16).
c. (Luke 1:41,44).
d. (Job 3:11).
e. (Exodus 21:22-23).
f. (Proverbs 6:17).
IV. Pro-Abortion Rhetoric
A. “Every woman has a right to control her own body.”
1. “Every woman” – half the babies aborted are female.
2. “Has a right” – society does not recognize absolute right over one’s body (e.g. public nudity, drunkenness, etc.).
3. “To control” – control could have prevented the pregnancy.
4. “Her own body” – pregnancy involves two bodies.
B. “Abortion is every woman’s legal right.”
1. Legal rights and moral/biblical rights are not always the same (Acts 5:29).
C. “The fetus is mere tissue and not a person.”
D. “Abortion is the best solution to a crisis pregnancy.”
1. What if Mary, the mother of Jesus, had embraced such a view?
2. Abortions involving rape and incest comprise only 1% of all abortions performed, and while I do not wish to minimize the trauma of such situations, harming an innocent person is not the proper response.
V. What Can We Do About The Moral Problem Of Abortion?
A. Show compassion.
1. It’s not a sin to have a baby outside of marriage, it is a sin to have sex outside of marriage.
2. We must condemn sin but lovingly help and support those who have committed sin and help them to bear up under the consequences.
B. We need to speak out what God’s word says.
1. We can’t expect people to live godly lives who do not know what godliness entails.
C. Social involvement and support of pro-life organizations.
D. Vote.
E. Pray (James 5:16).
Conclusion:
1. People may and probably will continue to argue about this issue.
2. Nevertheless, God has shown us that life is precious and he is highly offended when we harm his little ones (Proverbs 6:17; Matthew 18:3-5; 19:14).
3. Friends, make yourself a voice for the voiceless, and defend the innocent and helpless. You know your Lord would.
What Was I Supposed To Be?
As Jesus walked upon the earth, on the shores of Galilee, He’d say to his disciples, “Let the little children come to me.”
I wonder if up in heaven, do you suppose you’ll see, Little children asking, “What was I supposed to be?” “What was I supposed to be?”
“What were my eyes supposed to see?” “Why did I taste of death, Before I even drew a breath, Or lay my head on my mother’s breast to sleep?”
“Oh, Jesus, what was I supposed to be?” “Was I to be a prophet used in the ministry?”
“A doctor who would find a cure, for some terrible disease?”
“Even if I had been born imperfect why couldn’t my parents see ‘d have been made perfect, when you came back for me?”
“Oh Jesus, what was I supposed to be?” “Jesus, What was I supposed to be?”
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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Proverbs 24:11-12 Abortion – audio
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(Abortion Sermons presented in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2013)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
(Presented in 2012. Also see the 2005 sermon, 2006 sermon and 2008 sermon)
Text: Proverbs 24:11-12 (reading by Andy Anderson)
Introduction
This is a day that will truly live in infamy to steal a phrase from Franklin Roosevelt. He was speaking about Pearl Harbor where 2,402 men were killed on December 7,1941.
Thirty-nine years ago today, on January 22, 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion in the infamous Roe v. Wade decision. Aproximatly 50 million babies have been killed since 1973. There are 11.3 million people living in Ohio.
As Christians, we need to remember that what is legal is not necessarily moral in God’s sight. Morality is not determined by popular or judicial opinion, but by what the Bible says. So I want us to look at what the Bible says about abortion.
Some argue that since the New Testament does not directly address the matter, we should not be dogmatic about it. They say that it is a “difficult moral issue,” where we need to allow room to differ and not impose our personal views on others. Many preachers refrain from speaking on the subject because it is controversial and potentially divisive.
I believe that the Bible gives us God’s absolute moral standards that apply to every culture and every age. Furthermore, the Bible warns that God will judge every person based on His righteous standards (Acts 17:31; Revelation 20:11-15). We cannot plead ignorance as an excuse for disobedience or apathy (Proverbs 24:11-12). God holds us accountable to the standards of His Word, whether we know those standards or not. We dare not be uninformed!
Also, our consciences need to be informed by Scripture, not by popular opinion or slogans. There are professing Christians who have been influenced by the popular pro-abortion rhetoric. For example, the slogan, “Pro-family, Pro-child, Pro-choice” makes perfect sense to some, or it wouldn’t be plastered on bumper stickers. But stop and think, “What is the choice that they are advocating?” The answer is, the choice to kill your baby! So that bumper sticker is about as logical as saying, “I’m pro-women, pro-rape”! It is utter nonsense!
Another bumper sticker reads, “Against abortion? Don’t have one.” That assumes that abortion is a personal preference, not a moral issue. Imagine a bumper sticker, “Against rape? Don’t commit one”! That’s fine if rape is just a preference, but if it is a heinous crime, that’s ludicrous! Another slogan says, “Keep your laws off my body!” In other words, “We can’t legislate morality.” But we do have laws against rape, incest, child abuse, theft, and murder. Those are moral issues, all of which stem directly from the Bible! One of the main purposes for law is to protect the innocent and the weak. Laws about abortion relate directly to these matters.
Before we look at what the Bible says about abortion, let me briefly comment on what abortion is and on what the Supreme Court decision was all about. Abortion is the extraction or expulsion of the immature human fetus from the mother’s womb with the intent to end the life of that fetus prior to natural birth. Fetus is a perfectly good medical term, as long as you remember that it refers to a developing human baby. But you will never hear abortion advocates speak of it as a baby or child. Sometimes they even call it the “product of conception,” or a piece of tissue! Have you noticed how often the news refers to anti-abortion activists (not pro-life activists), and refers to those advocating baby-killing as pro-choice or defenders of abortion rights? How did we ever come to think that we have an inherent right to kill our children?
Of course many abortion advocates argue that it is not a human baby that they are killing, but science is against them. Before conception, there is not a new human life. But at the moment of conception, there is a new life, possessing 46 chromosomes, distinct from both the mother and the father. Genetically, the baby is not the mother’s body! By 21 days, the first heartbeats have begun. At 45 days, brain waves can be detected. By the ninth and tenth weeks, the thyroid and adrenal glands are functioning. By 12 or 13 weeks, he has fingernails, sucks his thumb, recoils from pain, and has his own unique fingerprints. The only things that developing life needs to become what we are, are time and nurture.
What was Roe v. Wade all about? By a vote of 7-2, the U.S. Supreme Court held that until a child in the womb is viable (capable of sustaining life outside the womb) or “capable of meaningful life” (the court reckoned this to be six or usually seven months), the mother’s desire for an abortion should take precedence over the baby’s right to life. For the last two or three months, the court said that the state may protect the unborn, but that it must allow an abortion if the life or health of the mother is threatened. The court defined her “life or health” to mean her physical, emotional, or psychological health, her age, her marital status, or the infant’s prospects of a distressful life and/or future. In other words, a woman can kill her child in the womb legally for any reason right up to the moment of birth!
According to former Surgeon General, Dr. C. Everett Koop, the most common reason for abortion is convenience. Only three to five percent of all abortions performed are for reasons of rape, incest, the possibility of a deformed child, or severe threat to the life of the mother. In the U.S., one out of every six women who have an abortion describes herself as an evangelical Christian (Newsweek [5/1/89], p. 31). Now let’s consider what the Bible says about abortion:
Since God is the creator and sustainer of human life, we should value and protect the lives of all innocent humans.
By saying “innocent humans,” I am allowing for the authority of the state to exercise capital punishment and to wage war for national defense. Being pro-life does not require us to be against capital punishment or to be pacifists. For the sake of time, I cannot deal with those topics in this message. I want to present five lines of biblical evidence for valuing and protecting unborn children.
Body
1. Human life is unique in that God created us in His image.
In Genesis 1:26, God distinguished humans from the rest of the animal creation. Only of man did God say, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” He appointed man to rule over the other creatures on earth. By the way, apparently before the Flood, man was vegetarian, but after the Flood, God ordained the eating of meat (Genesis 9:3-4). The animal rights movement erroneously puts animal life on the same plane as human life. That concept stems from Hinduism, not from the Bible.
The Bible clearly affirms that human life is not the product of impersonal chance plus time. Man did not evolve from lower forms of life. God directly created man in His image, which means that we have the capability of rational thought, personality, and moral responsibility. Someone may argue that this is simply a matter of faith. I would say that it is a matter of reasonable faith. The view that something as complex as human life is the product of pure chance is a matter of unreasonable faith, because there is simply no evidence or other example of such complexity arising from random chance.
Also, even the most ardent evolutionist behaviorally affirms that human life is distinct from animal life. Imagine Mr. Evolutionist driving along when he encounters a squirrel in the road, still writhing from being hit by a car. He slams on his brakes, jumps out of his car, and frantically dials 911 on his cell phone. “I’d like to report an injured squirrel! If the paramedics get here quickly, they may be able to save him!” But, alas, they are too late! The man sits by the squirrel corpse, sobbing, until the mortuary car arrives. He will never forget this tragic scene.
Ludicrous? Yes, but change the squirrel to a human baby and that scene would be truly horrific. Why? Because we all recognize that people are distinct from animals. The reason, according to the Bible, is that people are created in God’s image; animals are not.
2. The Bible forbids us from shedding innocent blood.
The Bible clearly commands, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). As already mentioned, the Bible does not forbid all killing, such as in capital punishment by the government, national defense, or personal defense. But murder is forbidden. The Bible uses the phrase “innocent blood” about 20 times, and always condemns shedding innocent blood. God chastised the Jews for shedding innocent blood when they sacrificed their children to the idols of Canaan (Psalm 106:38). Surely the blood of the unborn is as innocent as any blood that flows in the world
3. Pre-natal human life is fully human and thus precious to God.
Consider a few of the many biblical passages:
A. God superintends life in the womb (Psalm 139:13-16).
David is affirming in poetic language that God superintended his formation in the womb (also, Job 10:8-12). The Bible repeatedly affirms that God’s providence governs everything from the weather (Psalm 148:8; Job 37:6-13), to animals’ food and behavior (Psalm 104:27-29; Job 38:39-41; Jonah 1:17; 2:10. Surely if God governs these relatively minor things, then He also governs the formation of people in the womb. The Lord tells Moses, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes him mute or deaf, or seeing or blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” (Exodus 4:11). So even birth defects, which science attributes to freak occurrences in nature, are under God’s direct superintendence for His sovereign purposes!
There are so-called bio-ethicists that are consistent in applying their evolutionary bias to human life, but their conclusions are horrifying! For example, James Watson, one of the discoverers of the double helix structure of DNA, suggested in 1973, “If a child were not declared alive until three days after birth, then all parents could be allowed the choice only a few are given under the present system. The doctor could allow the child to die if the parents so choose and save a lot of misery and suffering. I believe this view is the only rational, compassionate attitude to have” (cited by Francis Schaeffer & C. Everett Koop, Whatever Happened to the Human Race [Revell], p. 73).
In 1978, Watson’s partner, Francis Crick, said, “… no newborn infant should be declared human until it has passed certain tests regarding its genetic endowment and that if it fails these tests it forfeits its right to live” (ibid.). Peter Singer, who incongruously is professor of bio-ethics at Princeton, argues that if a child is born with hemophilia, to allow the parents to kill him so that they could replace him with a normally healthy child may be morally right (cited by Piper, ibid., p. 217, note 3)!
B. The Bible ordains the penalty of life for life when the life of an unborn child is taken (Exodus 21:22-25).
“… so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury….” As the following verses (Exodus 21:23-25) make clear, if there is an injury, then the offender must be penalized, life for life, eye for eye, etc. These are the same penalties as in offenses against adults (Leviticus 24:20). The Hebrew verb translated “to depart” or “come out” (Exodus 21:22) refers to a live birth in 11 separate Old Testament passages. It never refers to a miscarriage, although in one text (Numbers 12:12), it refers to a stillborn. There is another Hebrew verb that is used for miscarriage. So the meaning of Exodus 21:22-25, based upon verb usage, as well as the Old Testament high regard for pre-natal life, is that the baby in the womb has as much value as an already-born person.
C. The Bible affirms the distinctiveness of individuals in the womb, thus showing that they are fully human.
We won’t take the time to look up each reference, but consider the following examples:
*Jacob and Esau were distinct individuals in the womb (Genesis 25:23; Romans 9:11-12).
*Samson’s mother was not to drink wine, because her son was to be a Nazirite, who would abstain from alcohol (Judges 13:3-5).
*Jeremiah and Paul both acknowledged that God formed them in the womb and knew them by name (Jeremiah 1:5; Galatians 1:15). Isaiah 49:1, 5 affirms the same thing about Messiah.
*John the Baptist recognized Jesus while both were still in the womb (Luke 1:35-36, 39-44)! This is an amazing text! Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy when Mary conceived Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Mary went to visit Elizabeth before John was born. Thus Elizabeth would have been in her last trimester, while Mary was in her first trimester. Yet John recognized Jesus in those early months of Mary’s pregnancy! I think that this is the strongest passage that a baby in the womb in the first trimester is a person created in God’s image. We are not free to take the life of such a child just because it is not convenient to have a baby!
We have seen that human life is unique in that God created us in His image. The Bible forbids us from shedding innocent blood. Pre-natal human life is fully human and thus precious to God.
4. To view babies as inconvenient to the point of killing them is to violate Jesus’ view of children.
As I mentioned, about 95 percent of all abortions are done for convenience. A girl gets pregnant through out-of-wedlock sex. Neither she nor her boyfriend are ready for the responsibility of being parents. It would be an economic hardship, or it may require interrupting her education. An abortion is a convenient way to dispose of the whole problem.
In Luke 18:15-17, people were bringing their babies to Jesus so that He could touch them. The disciples rebuked the parents. Jesus had better things to do than to bless babies! It was a great inconvenience! But Jesus rebuked the disciples and welcomed the children. The Greek word for infant in Luke 18:15 is the same word Luke uses for the infant in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:41-44). God shows His great love for us by calling us His children (1 John 3:1). Surely, we should have the same attitude as Jesus towards our children from the time of conception onwards!
But what about an “unwanted” child, whose birth would be an extreme hardship? What about a baby conceived by rape or incest? What about a deformed baby, who will suffer all his life and never be normal? Wouldn’t it be the lesser evil to abort these babies and spare them and the parents a life of hardship and pain?
5. To kill babies in the womb in an attempt to avoid suffering is to try to dodge God’s purposes for suffering.
The Bible is clear that in this fallen world, God ordains suffering for His wise and good purposes (Romans 8:28). Sometimes we suffer as the consequences for our own sin (Hebrews 12:3-11), which can include the hardships associated with having a baby out of wedlock. (Sometimes it may be wise for an unwed mother to give up her baby for adoption, but even that is a painful consequence of sin.) Sometimes we suffer on account of other people’s sins (Genesis 50:20). This would include the hardship of having a baby conceived through rape or incest. Sometimes we don’t know the reason that God permits suffering, except that He wants to display His grace and power through our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).
To abort because having a child would cause emotional or economic duress is always wrong. To argue that it is better to kill a deformed child in the womb than to allow him to live is an affront to the thousands of people born with severe handicaps, but who live meaningful and productive lives. It is an affront to the many families that love and care for such children. On rare occasions, there may be the difficult dilemma of performing an abortion to spare the mother’s life. But even then, the goal should be to preserve the lives of both the mother and the child, if possible.
Conclusion
Much more could be said if we had time. There are other biblical arguments against abortion. There is mounting evidence that many women who choose abortion suffer severe long-term emotional and physical problems.
I want to conclude by suggesting some action points. Some of these are things that every Christian can and should do. Others are things that only some will be called to do. But at some level, all of us need to come to the defense of unborn children.
(1) We can pray about the situation.
It is ultimately a spiritual battle (Ephesians 6:10-12). Pray for pro-life judges to receive Senate confirmation, especially to the Supreme Court. Pray for the horrors of abortion to become obvious to our self-centered culture. Pray for Christians to get involved in the pro-life cause.
(2) We can vote for pro-life candidates.
Don’t vote for pro-abortion candidates. You ask, “Are you a one-issue voter?” I grant that being pro-life does not qualify a person as a good political leader. But being pro-abortion does disqualify anyone from public office. For example, if a candidate said, “I believe that all women should be available to be rape at any time,” that one issue should disqualify the candidate from office. Why doesn’t favoring killing babies disqualify a candidate? The person who favors abortion is an immoral person!
(3) We can write our legislators and the newspaper to support the pro-life cause. Hold them accountable!
(4) We can support the pro-life cause with our money and time.
Godly women are needed to counsel young women with problem pregnancies, so that they choose life for their babies. Godly families that are able should consider taking in such young women and helping them carry their babies to term. There are many ways to get involved.
In closing, I want to speak to any who may already have had an abortion or who may have urged someone else to have an abortion. I pray you now you realize that you committed a serious sin in God’s sight. The great news of God’s Word is that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). The apostle Paul, who persecuted the church and was responsible for the deaths of many innocent people, wrote that, and then claimed, “among whom I am foremost of all.” Paul found God’s forgiveness and mercy at the cross. No matter how great your guilt, if you will turn from your sin and obey Jesus Christ, God will pardon all of your sins.
Content by Donald W. Treadway
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