- God’s Creation and Preservation Shows the Value of Human Life
- Human Life is the Crowning Climax of God’s Creation
- Genesis. 1:26: Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over… all the creatures…”
- Ephesians 4:24: And to put on the new self created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
- Colossians 3:10: And [you] have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
- Human Life Enjoys Special Preservation from God
- Genesis 9:6: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man”
- Human life is sacred because it has absolute value (quantity), not because of its relative condition or capabilities (quality).
- Scripture Directs Our Response
Ecclesiastes 12:13: “Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
- God’s Redemption Displays the Value of Human Life
- God Responds to Mankind’s Sin with Saving Grace
Genesis 3:15: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
- Our Savior Joins the Human Race, Substitutes for It, and Restores It
Hebrews 2:14: “Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is the devil.”
2 Corinthians 5:21: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
- Redemption Is for All
- 1 John 2:2: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Absolute value, not quality of life.”
- 2 Peter 3:9: “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
- Scripture Directs Our Response
- Philippians 1:9-11: “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.”
- Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.”
Luther’s Summary About How We View Life
We should fear and love God that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and be a friend to him in every bodily need.