SCRIPTURE: Genesis 1:26-27, 31 (ESV)
DATE: 1-21-18
It’s good to be with all of you at Gateway Church this weekend. And one thing I want you to know — and it doesn’t matter if it’s your first time with us or if you’re worshiping at our North Main campus — one thing I want you to know is that God loves you and I love you too.
SERIES INTRODUCTION
We are in week three of our series titled “Under God?” Our nation’s pledge of allegiance ends with “one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” But something obvious — from recent news headlines — is that our country isn’t living up to its pledge. We’re not indivisible — we’re a nation divided.
Though I do want to point out a more positive headline from The Courier this past week. The headline reads “Large Findlay Crowd Turns Out for King Unity Walk and Tribute.” A couple hundred of you showed up on Monday to show love and support to our brothers and sisters of other races.
And I know things were said at the meeting that were uncomfortable for some of you. But we’re commanded to love all people — even those whose politics we disagree with. So thank you — thank you for demonstrating that racial reconciliation is a gospel issue because all races are created by our holy God.
But positive headlines are a rare occurrence these days as we divide ourselves every way imaginable — you name it — we divide over it — we’re a nation divided. And though we say we want liberty and justice for all — not everyone in our nation experiences liberty and justice.
And my goal — in this series — is to bring to our attention God’s view on these topics. Because all followers of Jesus must have a stronger allegiance to Him than to a political party — and what God has said on any issue should be what you say on the issue. Not only when God agrees with your political party — but even more so when He disagrees with your political party.
Two weeks ago, we began by looking at who God is and why His view on these topics should matter most to us. So if you’re just joining us, know that I won’t be taking time to defend why beginning with God is the best place to start when addressing these issues. If you disagree with me I’d encourage you to go watch the first sermon in this series on our website or app so you better understand where I’m coming from.
Last week, we looked at God’s view of race and why God’s view of race should shape our view of race.
Next week, we’ll look at God’s view of marriage. How does God define marriage and why should His definition matter most to us?
But today, we’re going to look at God’s view of life — what does God say about the dignity and value of life? Whose life matters to Him?
SERMON INTRODUCTION
I remember a conversation I had with a man when I was living in West Virginia. He knew that I was a pastor and he was pretty heated about something going on in the political world — even though we weren’t talking politics — as I tend to try and avoid the topic — but he wanted to talk politics — and this is what he said to me. He said, “I don’t know how any self-respecting Christian can be a…Republican. That party is always trying to take away the resources for the children in our nation whose parents aren’t able to care for them. How can you say you love God when you don’t love the little children who are in need?”
And I bring up this conversation for a few reasons. The first is this — and it’s pretty obvious — the counter argument. Someone could say, “I don’t know how any self-respecting Christian can be a Democrat. That party is always trying to take away the rights of the unborn children in our nation. How can you say you love God when you don’t love the little children who are in the womb?”
Which leads to the second reason why I bring up the conversation. The man was blind. To use an illustration of Jesus — He was seeing the speck in the eye of one political party and ignoring the plank of wood sticking out of the eye of his political party. But — if we’re honest — we all do this. We see the problems in the other political party, but fail to see — or we gloss over — or excuse — the problems in our own political party.
So there’s a blindness. But, third, though he’s blind he can see. This may be hard, but if you’re a Republican can you hear his concern? Can you sympathize with what he’s saying? Can you do something he’s not doing — which is — to not so demonize the other party that you idolize your own party?
You see that’s what happens in politics. If the other party — whichever party that is for you — if the other party can do no right — if everything the other party does is evil — if they can do no good — what you’ve done is demonize them. And there’s no way to demonize one political party without idolizing the other. And what’s an idol?
It’s something you worship. It’s something you’ve bowed down to — submitted yourself to — something that can do no wrong — everything it does is right — none of its positions are bad — it’s a god — and you’ve made an idol out of your political party when you demonize the other party. And — in case you’re wondering — God’s got an issue when we give our hearts over to idols — even when the idol is a political party.
And this is why we have division in our nation over whose life matters. Every political party has said, “These people matter and these people don’t.” Now they don’t say it that bluntly, but the policies they promote, the laws they try to get passed, and the rhetoric they use — if we’re honest — and if we have eyes to see the plank in our own political party’s eye — we see that every political party has divided people into two groups: one group whose lives matter and another group whose lives don’t matter.
But what about God? Whose life matters to Him?
ANNOUNCE THE TEXT
If you have your Bible please turn with me to Genesis chapter one. We’ll be looking at verses twenty-six through thirty-one.
And, if you’re a guest with us, something we like to do at Gateway is let you ask questions. So if you have a question during the sermon, you can text your question to the number on the handout you were given on your way in or you can submit it on the Gateway app.
PROPOSITION
Here’s the big idea — this is God’s view of life. All human life is holy because all human life is given by a holy God. All human life is holy because all human life is given by a holy God.
Look with me in Genesis chapter one — beginning in verse twenty-six. “Then God said, “Let us (the “us” refers to the Father, Son, and Spirit…let us…) make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them…(And in verse thirty-one we read…) And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.” (Genesis 1:26-27, 31 ESV)
So before I explain this passage, let me share with you why I’m being so specific about “human life.” A recent article in our paper was titled “Nonprofit seeks personhood freedom for 3 elephants at zoo.” The Nonhuman Rights Project filed a petition claiming that three elephants were being unlawfully detained and argued that the elephants should be able to stand before a judge and asked to be released. The elephants were going to ask the judge to release them — I wish I was making this up. Earlier this year, the group fought for two adult male chimps to be considered legal people — however — they lost the case.
So that’s why I’m emphasizing the word “human” — we’re talking about human life — there’s something unique about humans — as we see in Genesis chapter one. What’s unique about us? We’re made in the image of God.
So what does it mean to be made in the image of God?
First, in the Bible, the phrase “image of God” is only applied to humans. So it shows that we’re unique — there’s something that differentiates us from elephants and chimps.
Second, the image of God is gender neutral. It’s applied to both men and women in our verses.
Third, being created in the image of God implies that we don’t grow into this image — we don’t develop into this image — from our very beginning we are full image bearers.
Fourth — even after Adam and Eve’s rebellion — mankind is still said to be image bearers of God. In Genesis chapter nine we read, “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6 ESV)
And — fifth — the image of God gives dignity and worth to all people. Every single human being is made in the image of God and thus we should fight for liberty and justice for all people. Because everyone — every single person — is an image bearer and that should influence the way we view and value them.
Now I want to look at four groups of people that matter to God. And I want to highlight these four groups because no political party advocates for all of these people. And since all human life matters to God — since every single person is made in His image — all people should matter to us too.
MAIN POINT 1
Here’s one group that matters to God. The unborn matter to God. The unborn matter to God.
One way we know that the unborn matter to God is by looking at an Old Testament penalty for harming the life of an unborn child.
In the book of Exodus we read, “When men strive together (when they fight) and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm (harm to who? The unborn child…), then you shall pay life for life…” (Exodus 21:22-23 ESV)
This passage shows us that the unborn is a human life — the phrase “pay life for life” makes clear that the unborn child is a human life — and their life matters to God — thus the severe penalty.
Additionally, the prophet Isaiah says this about an unborn child. He writes, “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name. 2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow; in his quiver he hid me away. 3 And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.” 4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the Lord, and my recompense with my God.” 5 And now the Lord says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him; and that Israel might be gathered to him — for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has become my strength — 6 he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” 7 Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation, the servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” (Isaiah 49:1-7 ESV)
This unborn child is going to be the One who brings the people back to God. And before being born this calling and purpose was on the child.
In the gospel of Luke we read, “In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”” (Luke 1:39-45 ESV)
Elizabeth recognizes that the child in Mary’s womb is her Lord. You see, the unborn are not potential human life — they are human life. And their lives matter to God because the unborn are made in the image of God — unborn children are image bearers.
In December, CNN.com ran an article titled “Frozen Embryo Conceived is Just a Year Younger than the Mother Who Birthed Her.” The parents adopted the embryo in early 2017 and later found out that the embryo was frozen on October 14, 1992.
And though the article called the embryo a “potential human” I think the proof is in the pudding. The embryo was full of life — full of human — made in the image of God — life. And all unborn children — from frozen embryos to first, second, and third trimester babies — all matter to God. And this is why we partner with organizations like Women’s Resource Center through the baby bottle program and in other ways. They’ve got info in the lobby — at all of our campuses — so you can find out how you can get involved in showing that the unborn matter.
Political debates over the life of the unborn will continue in our nation until we submit our views to God’s view of life. And as our nation has refused to be “under God” the life of the unborn has not been valued.
And I want to be sensitive to the guilt and shame men and women among us may have because you made the choice — or you forced a woman — to have an abortion. You didn’t know what you were doing then — or maybe you did — but know that Jesus is willing to forgive you and cleanse you of the sin of abortion.
God forgives murderers…did you know that? Paul was a murderer and God forgave him. Don’t believe the lie that God won’t forgive you. And don’t hold on to the guilt of choices you’ve made in the past. Jesus took your guilt and shame on Himself when He hung on the cross for you.
So though abortion is the taking of life — though it is sin — it’s not unforgivable. It’s only unforgivable if you don’t ask God for forgiveness. But know that if you come to Him seeking forgiveness, He will shower you with His mercy and grace. The pain won’t go away — I won’t pretend it will — but the pain of eternal guilt can be taken off your shoulders.
So we are to value the life of the unborn because the unborn matter to God.
MAIN POINT 2
Second. The born matter to God. The born matter to God.
In the gospel of Matthew we read, “Then children were brought to him (Jesus) that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.” (Matthew 19:13-15 ESV)
Jesus loves the little children — just like the song says. The born matter to Him.
In John’s gospel — a verse you’re probably familiar with — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 ESV)
Does God love the born? You bet He does. He sent Jesus — that’s all the proof you need.
Jesus’ younger brother James writes, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” (James 1:27 ESV)
God cares for the born — little children, orphans, widows — God cares for all people because all people are made in His image. Yet we live in a world where not everyone born matters equally.
Some quick examples — all from recent articles in our local newspaper.
- “France Eyes Setting Age for Sexual Consent; 13 Suggested” — currently France doesn’t have a minimum age for sexual consent. You may be wondering, “What happened that made France question not having a minimum age of consent?” Well in November of 2017 a jury set free a 30 year old man who was accused of raping an 11 year old girl. The jury acknowledged that there was a sexual relationship, but considered it to be consensual. That’s a pro-life issue — 11 year old girls matter to God.
- Other headlines include: “Soaring Overdose Deaths Bog Down Life Expectancy for 2nd Year” and “Hancock Overdose Deaths Set Record.” Ohio has the nation’s second highest death rate per 100,000 people due to drug overdoses. The drug epidemic — in our state — in our county — in our town — is a life issue. Do addicts lives matter to God? Yes they do.
- Or this headline from December 22nd. “Foster Care Strained — Advocates Say.” Why is the foster care strained? The article states “The opioid crisis is overwhelming Ohio’s foster care system as record numbers of children are removed from the homes of drug-addicted parents.” And there’s not enough funding — or foster parents — to care for these children. These children matter to God.
- And these kind of articles go on and on and on.
Do the born matter to God? Yes. Why? Because they are made in the image of God. But do the born matter to us?
As a church, something we want to do a better job at is partnering with our foster and adoptive families. These are families who’ve gone “all in” in saying the born matter. We’ve fought to give these kids a chance to be born — and these families are saying “We want to give these kids a chance to live.”
So we want to support them. And it can be lonely being a foster or adoptive family. And one foster mom wants to start a support group for foster and adoptive families. And I love this idea, so if you’re a foster or adoptive family and would like to be part of this group, please contact the church office — if you haven’t done so already — so we can get you connected to this group. And if you’re not a foster or adoptive family, but would like to know how you can support them, contact the church office as well.
Whose life matters to God? We’ve seen that both the unborn and the born matter to Him.
MAIN POINT 3
The third group. The sick and dying matter to God. The sick and dying matter to God — yes — this group could be included with the “born” — but this is a particular group I want to bring to our attention.
In Matthew’s gospel Jesus says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory (Jesus is talking about His return to Earth…), and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 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, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.‘ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.‘ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 ESV)
Jesus so cares for the sick that to serve those who are sick — Jesus says — is to serve Him. One way we serve those who are sick is found in the letter of James. “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.” (James 5:13-15 ESV)
God cares about you if you are sick — if you have an illness, an ailment, a chronic disease — know that you matter to God. And He wants the church to care for you by praying for you. It’s why we have prayer teams at both of our campuses. It’s good — it’s biblical — to let the church pray for you when you’re sick. Because you matter to God — and you matter to us.
Throughout Jesus’ life we see Him heal the sick and even raise the dead. This concern for the sick and dying continues in the book of Acts and throughout the New Testament. And if you watch for it, you find this concern in the Old Testament. The sick and dying matter to God and they should matter to us too.
Yet I recently came across this headline. “Nursing Homes are Pushing out Poor and Disabled Patients.” In states like California and Illinois — there’s been a rise in complaints about Medicaid cutting off payment for elderly and sick patients who need care. The article says the complaints have risen by 70% in five years in California alone. The patients are left completely on their own even though they have significant health needs.
This is just one example of how the sick and dying do not matter in our country. We’re kicking elderly and sick people out of nursing homes and cutting off their only source of help. But these people matter to God and they must matter to us.
In December, a number of families from Gateway went to an assisted living facility to sing Christmas carols. The kids also gave out ornaments to the folks living there. These people matter to God. And because they matter to God — they must matter to us.
Though states may be arguing about the value of someone’s life who is sick or dying — we’re not going to debate such nonsense — their lives matter because they are made in the image of God.
MAIN POINT 4
And finally. The spiritually dead matter to God. The spiritually dead matter to God.
The apostle Paul writes, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience — 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved…” (Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV)
God loves the spiritually dead — don’t forget that at one time you were spiritually dead — but God, being rich in mercy towards you — because of the great love with which He loved you — even when you were dead in your trespasses — He made you alive together with Christ — and it was all by grace.
And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved — there’s no better news than that — God loves spiritually dead people. So what does this mean for us who follow Jesus?
It means this. “How then will they (the lost) call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:14-17 ESV)
God so loves the spiritually dead that He sent His Son Jesus to live, die, and defeat Satan, sin, death, and Hell for you and for them. And He’s saved you, so you can go and tell them about God’s love — that He values them — that they matter to Him.
The spiritually dead matter to God and they must matter to us.
CHRIST CONNECTION
And this is what God’s view of life means for us — those of us who follow Jesus. We live not for ourselves, but for the One who has given us life. We live not for ourselves, but for the One who has given us life.
“For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.” (Romans 14:7-9 ESV)
To believe in Jesus is to give up your life. You now live for Him — not for yourself. And Jesus lived His life — and gave His life — for all people — and now you’re to do the same. Because all people matter to Him.
CONCLUSION
So to follow Jesus is to give up your right to live for yourself. You no longer have claim on your life — Jesus does. And He’s said, “Here’s how I want you to live. Live for God’s glory and for the sake of others.” So when you see another person know that you see someone who matters to God — whom God loves — whom Jesus died for. So show them that they matter.
And — man church — if we get this — if you get this — if I get this — if we love all people — if we demonstrate that all lives matter — if we’d see every person as an image bearer — our nation would get a taste of something that was so easy to write in a pledge of allegiance — but something that’s been impossible for our nation to produce.
Our nation would get a taste of liberty and justice for all people. And that’s something they wouldn’t be able to ignore. But it won’t happen — unless we stop choosing whose life matters and start allowing God’s view of life be our view of life.
Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for having an all inclusive view of life — everyone matters to You — because You’ve made every person in Your image. Help us — those who follow Jesus — to have Your view of life. To have a concern for all human life. The unborn matter to You and they should matter to us. The born matter You and they should matter to us. The sick and dying matter to You and they should matter to us. The spiritually dead matter to You and they should matter to us.
And this will not be true for us — God we will not have Your view of life — until we live not for ourselves, but for You — the One who has given us life. Help us Father, Son, and Spirit. Help us to live for Your glory and for the good of all people. So that all may experience your liberty and justice.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Every single person matters to God. So every single person must matter to us. Let’s go be a pro-life church — a church who values all people. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. You are sent.