Introduction Abortion is a hotly debated topic today. Our pro abortion President stirred up much controversy when he accepted an invitation to speak at Notre Dame’s graduation recently. There is great concern over the Supreme Court nominees view on abortion. Late term abortion doctor George Tiller was killed while he was in worship services last Sunday.

Abortion Facts Almost 50 million legal abortions since Every year more babies die by abortion than all the wars Americans have died in our history. About 22% of all pregnancies end in abortion. An estimated 43% of all women will have at least 1 abortion by the time they are 45 years old. (Alan Guttmacher Institute) This morning I want to give scriptural arguments on why abortion is wrong.

The Greek Word “Brephos” Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, conceived and was in her sixth month of pregnancy. (Luke 1:24, 36) “When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby (brephos) leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Luke 1:41) The Greek word (brephos) is used to refer to the child that was in her womb and Elizabeth expresses that thought to Mary using the same Greek word in Luke 1:44.

The Greek Word “Brephos” The angels revealed to the shepherds that on the day Jesus was born they would find a baby (brephos) wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:12) “So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby (brephos) as He lay in the manger.” (Luke 2:16) “So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby (brephos) as He lay in the manger.” (Luke 2:16) The same Greek word (brephos) is used to refer to a child that was in the womb and also as a newborn baby.

The Greek Word “Brephos” It also refers to older babies (brephos) that parents were bringing to Jesus. (Luke 18:15) Timothy’s childhood is described by the use of (brephos) in 2 Timothy 3:15. The NT writers were all guided by the Holy Spirit to use the same Greek word (brephos) to refer to an unborn child, newborn baby, older babies, and a person’s childhood. The NT writers were all guided by the Holy Spirit to use the same Greek word (brephos) to refer to an unborn child, newborn baby, older babies, and a person’s childhood. The Bible teaches that there is life in the womb.

Life is a Gift from God “Behold, children are a gift of the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them” (Psalms 127:3-5a) God considers children a blessing and a reward from Him to man, not a curse or punishment. God considers children a blessing and a reward from Him to man, not a curse or punishment. God gave to every person life, breath, and all things (Acts 17:25) and wanted man to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. (Gen. 9:1)

Life is a Gift from God The Bible teaches that the life of the flesh is in the blood. (Lev. 17:11, 14; Deut. 12:23) Without blood we would die. About 4 weeks after conception, a baby has its own bloodstream so there is life. Since life is a gift of God it should be respected, cherished, and protected. What right does man have to abort it?

God Knows & Sees the Unborn Child “For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalms 139:13-16)

God Knows & Sees the Unborn Child David recognized that God knew him not from the time of his birth, but from the womb. There was an unborn child developing in the womb of his mother and God knew him as a person, not fetal tissue or a non living being. “Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb” (Isa. 44:24) God knew the faithful before they were formed in the womb. (Isa. 49:5; Jer. 1:5; Gal. 1:15)

Science Reveals Life is in the Womb The heartbeat begins 18 days after conception. Brain waves have been recorded at 6 weeks. In the 6 th week, the unborn baby can move around (kicking, swimming, stretching, etc.) In the 8 th week, it can respond to touch & sound. The sonogram reveals that there is life in the womb as you can see the form of the child.

God Condemns Murder God’s universal law against murder was told to Noah and his family, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man.” (Gen. 9:6) It was repeated in the Law of Moses (Ex. 20:13). It was repeated in the Law of Moses (Ex. 20:13). Jesus quoted it (Matthew 19:18), and so did the apostle Paul (Romans 13:9) under the New Testament.

Abortion is Murder Suction abortion- “A suction tube is inserted into the womb. The powerful suction tears the baby apart limb from limb and sucks it from the womb along with the placenta.” Dilation and Curettage (D&C): “The cervix is dialated, ring forceps are inserted into the womb and the baby is extracted piece by piece. Then a curette (a sharp knife in a loop shape) is inserted and used to scrape away any of the baby or the placenta that remains.” Dilation and Curettage (D&C): “The cervix is dialated, ring forceps are inserted into the womb and the baby is extracted piece by piece. Then a curette (a sharp knife in a loop shape) is inserted and used to scrape away any of the baby or the placenta that remains.”

Abortion is Murder Dilation and Extraction (D&E): “The cervix is dialated and the unborn child is dismembered with plier-like forceps. Force is needed to pull the baby apart. The instrument is used to seize a leg or other part of the body and then, with a twisting motion, tear it from the baby's body. The baby's spine is snapped and the skull crushed.”

Abortion is Murder Partial Birth Abortion: “For this abortion, the abortionist uses ultrasound to locate the unborn baby's legs. Forceps are then used to pull the baby's legs through the birth canal, delivering the baby feet first, except for the head. Scissors are then used to puncture the base of the back of the head. A suction device is then inserted to suction out the baby's brain so the skull will easily collapse.”

Abortion is Murder Chemical Abortions: “The Pill, RU486, methotrexate, Norplant, IUD’s, prostaglandin’s, and Depo Provera all cause early abortions.” Abortion is murder but it was also sinful for the man to kill the late term abortion doctor. We must never take revenge but instead overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21)

Conclusion Abortion is wrong for these reasons: The Greek word “brephos” is used in the Bible for a baby in the womb or outside the womb. Life is a gift from God. God knows and sees the unborn child. Science even reveals that life is in the womb. God condemns murder and abortion is murder.

Conclusion But there is something even worse than killing the unborn child. Religious people who oppose fleshly abortion will teach or support spiritual abortion. Jesus said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:5) We are born again into the family by the incorruptible seed (God’s word). (1 Pet. 1:22f) We become children of God through faith and baptism (Gal. 3:26-27) not by faith only.