Life: All, Every, Each: God’s handiwork, God’s love, God’s good intentions: John 1:1-18; 3:16-18, 32; Psalm 139:13-16
What testifies, speaks of, and is a witness to, God and life?
The Word (Rom 1:16; 10:17; Heb 4:12)
Creation (Gen 1; 2 ; Job 38-41; Ps 19; Rom 1:18-20; Col 1:15-17)
Making: mankind (Gen 1; 2; Rom 1:18-20)
The Prophets (Hebrews 1:1)
The Person (Hebrews 1:2-3)
The Spirit (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22)
What testifies to the world God’s light and love for mankind?
The mission and ministry and commission of reconciliation (John 3:16-18; Matt 28:18-20; John 13:35; 2Cor 5:14-21)
What is life? Both physical (present) and spiritual (particularly future) existence. All life, throughout the universe, is derived – i.e. it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God's self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, making each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life.
What is a life? A person, one to whom life has been granted, given by God, that with the life they have been given, they reflect the invisible qualities of God - this is by grace to ALL. (Rom 1:18-20)
What is a person? Or, better stated, “Who is a person?” Each One of ALL, made in the image of God, having been woven together, given the breath of life, whom God loves; that is EVERYONE to whom God has sent His Son to save, that EACH one who is saved is one who has received Jesus by faith for new life, quickened in and by the Spirit of God (Jo 1:12-14; 3:5-8,14-18; Rom 8:1-6-17)
From whom, therefore, does a person come? God, Himself.
How does this person live? By the very grace of God, able to stand, in spite of their sin, because of God’s mercy, expressed in His patience, and tolerance, that that kindness, might, lead them to repentance. (Romans 2:1-7)
Where does a person go? Eternity. To dwell wherever their faith determines. (Rom 2:8-16)
Life in Christ – John 3:36; 17:3; 1John 5:11
Life without Christ, separated from God – Matt 10:28; 18:8; 21:41-45; Mk 9:43-44; Luke 12:5
How might we view life? All life, every life, each life?
All life - the Father, God “So loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…”
Every life - the Son - that whomever, everyone, who believes in Him (the Son), will have eternal life...
John 1:12 …for whoever would receive Jesus, they would be given the right to become children of God…
Each life - the Holy Spirit
John 14:15-17 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate (parakletos) to help you and be with you forever— 17the Spirit (pneuma) of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
The value of all lives, every life, because each has been made by God
Psalm 139:13-16 13For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Life is from God because it is in God, of God, and granted by God. All people matter, every one of them, as each one is known and desired by God.
Which brings us to the issues at hand:
The life of the unborn within the life of the one who carries them. We must care for them - each and both
The life of those in the Middle East, Certainly Israel, but also, and even, those who oppose Israel – remembering that this concerns the entire world.
What do we do? These issues today are huge and overwhelming! There are so many things happening, so many emotions, opinions, positions, and strife.
We ALL, EVERY one of us, must be careful to not lose the micro, EACH one, in the scope of the macro - ALL that is going on. We can be so overwhelmed by what we see on the world’s stage - it is concerning, and concerns us all. God has instructed us what to do:
Matthew 24 - be alert, be aware, do not be alarmed, keep watch, be ready, serve the brotherhood…
Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for Jerusalem - peace.
1Timothy 2:1-4 “1I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
Jeremiah 29:4-9 Live peaceable, fruitful lives in the places you have been placed, with the brotherhood, being a blessing to that place you reside - to which you have been appointed, to whom you have been called and assigned ambassadors.
How are we to live - speak and act? By ; each encounter, with all we come in contact with.
Ephesians 5:15-16 “...making the most of every opportunity…” Colossians 4:6 “...your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” 1Peter 3:15-16 “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”
James 2:12-13 “12Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (Mat 25:34-40; 1Cor 3:1-15; 1Pet 4:17; Rev 2:4-5)
Romans 12:11-21 “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Matt 5:38-48; Luke 6:27-38; John 16:33; Rom 8:28-38; 2Cor 2:14; 4:7)
1Peter 2:11-21; 3:8-18; 4:7-19 (Phil 1:27; Eph 4:1; 5:1)
