Four Eternal Truths Abortionists Should Know :: By Gene Lawley

Published on: by RR7 Category:Gene Lawley, General Articles

 

It is clear that the proponents of abortion believe that at any time of the gestation period, it is appropriate. They want anti-abortionists to believe it is for the woman’s health. I saw a notice on the door of an abortion clinic—Planned Parenthood—notifying anyone entering in that if this is an emergency, call 911 and go to the hospital. So, what does that tell us about the woman’s health, really? Is it not a practical method of birth control? Is there not a responsibility upon those who initiate the pregnancy? Where is the moral integrity?

The first of the four eternal truths has to do with the beginning of mankind. Man was not from some microbe in a muddy swamp somewhere in the universe that gradually attained the likeness of a human being over several billion years. Those who think that are very busy trying to convince our children that such was the case. Evolution? Not on your life! It takes more faith that everything we see merely came into being over billions of years without intelligent input than it does to believe in a Creator. What nonsense!

So, we come to the first eternal truth, and that one is that God created man in His own image, then created woman from the rib of the man. This is told in the Bible in Genesis 2:7 and following, where the Word says He “breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul.” A short time later, God saw that man needed a helpmeet and took a rib from Adam, the man, and created Eve for him. Then God commanded them to multiply and fill the earth.

That is the simple truth, and it reveals to us that mankind is the highest of all of God’s creation. It is not unlikely that Satan’s warfare with God would target mankind. It was the tactic he tried to use with Job centuries ago. Therefore, aborting a creation of God in the womb is slapping God in the face with disdain for His reality and purpose.

The second truth follows immediately with the revelation of when life begins for a person. This is told in Psalm 139:13-16:

“You formed my inward parts; for You knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

This describes the sanctity of life beginning at conception.

It should be noted as well that no mention is made of an assignment of gender taking place. The gender of the new person is built into the process of conception, and the gender in which the person is formed is the gender he or she is for their lifetime. “No one who by taking thought can add to his [or her] height one cubit [or change their gender],” so Jesus said, basically, with clarifying inserts as indicated.

The third eternal truth stands on the will of God, and therefore, it is unshakable, fixed and sure. See it clearly stated in Matthew 18:14, declared by Jesus:

“So, it is not the will of My Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

The parable preceding that conclusion was that of the lost sheep and the remaining ninety-nine, how the shepherd seeks that one until he finds it.

Another profound declaration by Jesus is recorded in Luke 14:16, saying, “But Jesus called them to Him and said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.'” It speaks to the destiny of those unable to speak for themselves.

The fourth eternal truth is one of immense importance, for therein is the truth that mankind can never escape his eternal destiny of punishment for his sins unless he accepts Christ as his personal Savior.

That word “perish” in the quote above is also a key word in the familiar John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The truth is that punishment in the lake of fire faces those who do not accept Christ and repent of their sins. Whether or not “The soul of man never dies,” as the old-time gospel song declares, it is sure that “outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:12), followed by the lake of fire, awaits the unsaved. Matthew 10:28 speaks to that:

“And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

But John writes, in 1John 2:12, “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His namesake.” The Lord has repeatedly said in the Old Testament that He would return the Jews to their land promised to Abraham, not in favor of their rebellion and rejection of Him, but “for His own namesake.” That is, out of His own attribute of unchanging integrity. He will keep His justness intact forever, not depending on the actions of man. This statement in 1 John 2:12 has that same meaning, that God will not allow His name to be defiled or profaned as unjust because He judged innocent little ones for sinfulness which they could not confess or repent from.

There is considerable discussion in commentaries and believers alike that claims the soul ceases and is no more, eventually. But Jesus says one who dies without His forgiveness is “cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 8:11-13). It is unthinkable that millions of aborted babies and others not able to speak for themselves would be cast into that place.

King David, after his transgression with Bathsheba, was fasting in sackcloth and ashes before the Lord for his son while their first son was ill. When the son died, his servants wondered why he quit fasting and mourning for his son. He replied, “I shall go to him, but he will not return to me” (2 Samuel 12:23b).

The grave is no place of communication among the physical dead; it is the place where the body returns to dust, for 2 Corinthians 5:8 says, “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” That is, for the saved.

The meaning of Proverbs 9:10 again serves to make sense of this issue: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Contact email: andwegetmercy@gmail.com

Jesus Defends His Divinity :: By Dr. Donald Whitchard

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles

 

John 5:17-23, Isaiah 9:6, John 1:14, John 20:28, Romans 9:5, Hebrews 1:8, Matthew 28:18, Colossians 2:3, Luke 4:16-30

Summary: Shortly after Jesus healed the crippled man at the pool of Bethsaida (John 5:1-15), He was confronted by the religious officials who wanted Him dead for saying that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus responded with facts to back up His claim.

If there was an apt description of the attitude of the Pharisees towards the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:18), it is this: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” All throughout this account of the Lord’s life and work and in the other Gospels as well, it is clear to see that when anyone encountered Jesus, they could not remain neutral about Him. People either loved or loathed Him, and the same unfortunate attitude prevails today. No other figure of religion, faith, or belief has brought upon this world the reactions, riots, and revivals we have witnessed throughout history as did Jesus Christ.

The name of Jesus Christ is forbidden in almost every country in terms of public expression and exaltation. Even some so-called “churches” have downplayed His divinity, miracles, and ability to transform even the most depraved of lives. After nearly fifty years of following Him and the near apoplectic reactions He receives from an ever-increasing depraved and reprobate world, all I can say is that He is right and the other religions and philosophies are wrong, especially in terms of where we will spend a very real eternity.

One of the first public reactions to the work of the Lord Jesus appears in Luke 4:16-30, where He read from the prophet Isaiah, specifically the verses which described the work of the Promised Messiah of Israel (Isaiah 61:1-2). This reading took place in His hometown of Nazareth, where everyone knew Him and was at first impressed by His reading, which was done with reverence and authority. Then He hit them with the bombshell that those verses had been fulfilled that day, namely that He was the One of whom the prophet referred.

He went on to tell them that the compassion of God extended beyond Israel. This was a declaration to the Jews that God’s work of salvation and mercy was not confined to them exclusively but would come upon all who called upon Him. Needless to say, that did not go over well as the crowd attempted to throw Him over the nearby cliff for what they interpreted as blasphemy.

Jesus did not return to Nazareth but went on to accomplish His mission, not to make people happy or content in their ideas of how to approach God or that their works would suffice in order to enter into glory at the end of life. He would preach the truth that our works towards God are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and that we are unable in our own power to reconcile with God, nor do we wish to do so because we love our sin and are in a state of perpetual rebellion towards God and His standards (Romans 3:10-18, 23). We are His enemies and remain so unless He transforms us and draws us to Him (John 6:44; Romans 5:6-11).

People cannot stand the fact that salvation is of the Lord alone, and we play no part save to humble ourselves and give Him thanks and worship for the mercy and grace we do not deserve (John 14:6; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 5:8; Acts 4:12; 1 Corinthians 1:18). The words of Jesus in John 5:18-23 show that inconvenient truth to the Pharisees and all who witnessed this encounter.

Jesus told His accusers that He did not do anything apart from what God the Father directed Him to do (v.19). All of His work was based on the Word of God and the attributes of God. He was not a rogue, self-appointed “Messiah” who took it upon Himself to decide what was right and wrong in terms of following God’s laws and decrees. He was totally obedient and subservient to the will of the Father in all things. As God the Son, He worked in harmony with the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. All three worked as One in the mission of providing redemption and salvation to His fallen people and ultimate restoration to fallen creation (Romans 8:20-23; 1John 5:6-8; Revelation 21:1-7).

He went on to teach of the love and great works the Father had bestowed upon His Son and that the Father had given all authority to the Son to impose judgment upon those who would not believe (vv.20-21). By this act of Sovereign decree, God the Father was not to be obeyed and worshipped alone, but that honor, glory, and worship would go to the Son as well (vv.22-23). Without recognizing the Divine mission, person, and purpose of the Son, no one has true access to God the Father. If you ignore or reject Jesus Christ as Lord, you have no relationship with God the Father, no matter how many religious observations or practices you might muster or follow. He made it as plain as He could that eternal life, peace of mind, and forgiveness of sins are only possible through Him.

The teachings and mission of Jesus Christ have not changed, nor have they been compromised and tailored to fit the ideas and ideologies of the world with its corrupt conceptions and objections. The Sovereign God and His Words bow to no one, nor will they ever accommodate or bring comfort to those who feel that God’s standards are too “narrow” or “not with the thinking and times of today,” or other inept excuses we want to throw at Him. As a minister of the Gospel, I will not water down His absolute standards in order to make you feel better as you continue to wallow in the cesspool of your iniquities and be content in some false hope that all is well between you and Him (2 Timoty 4:1-4) apart from the only hope of peace, rescue, and freedom He provides.

If you will but swallow your pride, abdicate the kingdom of “self” and come to Him in repentance, asking Him to save you and make you truly one of His own, He will receive you and never let you go (Psalm 103:11-12; Matthew 11:28-30; John 10:28-30). Too many people have read of and heard of the saving grace provided by Jesus Christ and have walked away from it, as did many of the Pharisees and His own people. Please don’t go down that destructive path. Receive the love the Son of God provides you this day.

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Donald was born and reared in the authentic “Cajun Country” of southern Louisiana. He is a graduate of Louisiana College (B.A. in History Education/ Biblical Studies, 1984), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. In Christian Education, 1994), and Andersonville Baptist Seminary (Doctor of Ministry, Biblical Exposition, 2000). He has been in the Gospel ministry since 1986, serving as an evangelist, interim and supply pastor, hospital and rescue mission chaplain, high school and college teacher, and pastor in churches in Louisiana and Oklahoma.

In 2018 he began to devote his time to the rich field of internet and social media evangelism and outreach. In 2021 he became a member of the Oklahoma Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists, using his skills as a writer to contribute articles and sermons to websites such as Rapture Ready, Sermon Central, and Inspirational Christian Blogs. He also writes Bible studies and curricula for churches in southeast and central Asia and Africa, the locations of which are anonymous. He can be contacted at: donaldwhitchard@gmail.com for inquiries, information, and speaking/preaching engagements. His website is: www.realitycityreverend.com . A copy of his resume is also available upon request.