The Sanctity of Life

1. Read: Acts 16:25-30

2. About the Text:

1) Roman culture did not value life; it valued power.

2) As a Roman, when you lost power, you had no more reason to live.

3) This jailer had power over the jail, but in one night he lost it all.

4) So, here was a man about to kill himself.

5) What made his life worth living?

3. The Sanctity of Life

1) We live in a society today that is much like the Romans.

2) Many do not believe that life has any lasting value.

3) This is the consequence of a secular, pluralistic, evolutionist, utilitarian society.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God made human life special.

1) So many today equate animal value with people because of the doctrine of evolution.

2) The Bible tells a different story.

3) “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27).

4) “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 1:7).

5) “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him” (Genesis 1:20).

2. God reaffirms the value of human life through redemption.

1) “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

2) “that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Ephesians 5:26).

3) “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matthew 26:28).

3. Your life has worth, dignity, and value; your life is holy.

1) “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

2) “who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Timothy 2:6).

3) “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9).

1. What makes life worth living?

1) Life is valuable, worth something, dignified, and holy.

a. That means that you are valuable, worth something, dignified, and holy.

b. It also means that you are worth giving yourself away to others.

c. “But a generous man devises generous things, And by generosity he shall stand” (Isaiah 32:8).

2) Giving yourself away is what makes life worth living.

a. Life is not worth living because of what we can get out of it.

b. Life is worth living because of what we can give to others.

c. “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).

2. Even in the face of great tragedy.

1) Personal tragedies are challenging to our thinking.

2) Death can make us feel like we are not worth anything.

3) Is life worth living in the face of death?

4) Yes, because we still have something to give others.

5) “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:16).

3. Even in the face of great personal suffering.

1) Debilitating injuries, sicknesses, and pain can make us feel worthless.

2) Is life worth living even with great pain and suffering?

3) Yes, because we still have something to give.

4) “Freely you have received; freely give!” (Matthew 10:8).

1. What makes life worth protecting?

1) Life is valuable, worth something, dignified, and holy.

2) That means that others are valuable, worth something, dignified, and holy.

3) A person’s value is not in his/her utility!

4) God defines that value by virtue of Jesus!

5) “Honor all men!” (1 Peter 2:17).

2. They are worth protecting because of their intrinsic spiritual value.

1) This is what makes the story of the Philippian jailor so remarkable.

2) Paul was willing to sacrifice his personal freedom for the jailer’s life.

3) “But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here’” (Acts 16:28).

4) What happened next? He preached the gospel to him.

3. Who is worth protecting?

1) The unborn are worth protecting!

a. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1:5).

b. “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16).

2) The elderly are worth protecting!

a. “A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation” (Psalm 68:5).

b. “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

3) The suffering are worth protecting!

a. God is a God who saves! “Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).

b. Jesus came to give life, not take it (John 10:10).

4. Each of these have something to give—themselves!

a. Every person is a unique creation;

b. no one is the same; everyone has a unique gift—himself or herself!

1. We affirm the sanctity of life because . . .

1) Life has worth, dignity, value—life is holy.

2) Life is worth living – not to get, but to give.

3) Life is worth protecting – due to its intrinsic spiritual value.

2. Invitation