The Sacredness of Life: Embracing God's Commandment

 

Summary

Exodus 20:13, "You shall not murder," is a commandment that underscores the sacredness of human life, uniquely created in the image of God. The Ten Commandments collectively teach us how to love God and our neighbors, with the first four focusing on our relationship with God and the last six on our relationships with others. The sixth commandment, in particular, highlights the immense value God places on human life, distinguishing it from all other forms of life on Earth. This value is rooted in the fact that humans are made in God's image, which imparts a unique dignity and worth to every person.

Understanding the sacredness of life is crucial, especially in a world where the lines between human and animal life are often blurred. The commandment is not merely about refraining from murder but extends to issues like abortion, euthanasia, and suicide, each representing a violation of the sacredness of life. Abortion, for instance, is seen as taking the life of an unborn neighbor, a life already known and cherished by God. Euthanasia involves deciding that a life is no longer worth living, which is not our place to determine. Suicide, too, is a grave matter, as it involves taking a life that God has given and sustained.

The commandment also challenges us to examine our hearts and attitudes. Jesus expanded on this by teaching that even anger and contempt towards others are violations of this commandment. Rudeness, hatred, and recklessness are all forms of breaking the sixth commandment, as they diminish the value of life. We are called to embrace life, pursue peace, and be stewards of the life God has entrusted to us. Embracing Jesus, the life-giver, is the ultimate way to fulfill this commandment, as He offers peace and reconciliation with God.

Key Takeaways:

- Human life is sacred because it is uniquely created in the image of God. This sacredness sets human life apart from all other forms of life and imparts an incalculable worth that demands our respect and protection. [07:04]

- The sixth commandment extends beyond the act of murder to include issues like abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. Each of these represents a violation of the sacredness of life, which is known and cherished by God from conception. [18:00]

- Jesus teaches that the commandment also addresses our attitudes and words. Anger, contempt, and rudeness towards others are violations of this commandment, as they diminish the value of life and fail to love our neighbors as ourselves. [29:38]

- We are called to embrace life and pursue peace, recognizing the unique value of the life God has given us. This involves being good stewards of our own lives and seeking to enrich the lives of others. [35:00]

- Embracing Jesus, the life-giver, is the ultimate fulfillment of the sixth commandment. He offers peace and reconciliation with God, enabling us to live life to the fullest and pursue peace with others. [37:38]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to the Sixth Commandment
[00:41] - Loving God and Neighbor
[01:25] - Sacred Areas of Life
[02:46] - The Challenge of the Sixth Commandment
[03:29] - The Image of God in Humanity
[06:28] - Valuing Human Life
[09:27] - The Sacredness of Human Life
[12:21] - Sixth Commandment and Controversial Issues
[15:26] - Forbidden Acts Under the Sixth Commandment
[18:00] - Abortion and the Image of God
[21:03] - Euthanasia and the Value of Life
[23:15] - Suicide and God's Gift of Life
[29:26] - Rudeness, Hatred, and Recklessness
[34:33] - Embracing Life and Pursuing Peace
[37:38] - Embracing Jesus, the Life-Giver
[39:11] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Exodus 20:13 - "You shall not murder."
- Genesis 1:26-27 - "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.' So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
- Psalm 139:13-16 - "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Exodus 20:13 emphasize about the value of human life, and how does it relate to being created in the image of God? [03:41]
2. How does Genesis 1:26-27 describe the uniqueness of human life compared to other forms of life? [08:03]
3. According to the sermon, what are some modern issues that the sixth commandment extends to beyond the act of murder? [15:26]
4. How does Psalm 139:13-16 illustrate God's involvement in the life of an unborn child? [18:00]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the understanding of humans being made in God's image influence our view on the sanctity of life? [07:04]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that anger and contempt are violations of the sixth commandment? [29:38]
3. How does the sermon explain the difference between ending life and ending treatment in the context of euthanasia? [22:01]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the role of Jesus in fulfilling the sixth commandment? [37:38]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you may have diminished the value of another person through anger or contempt. How can you address this attitude in the future? [29:38]
2. The sermon discusses the sacredness of life in the context of abortion and euthanasia. How do these issues challenge your current beliefs or actions? [18:00]
3. Consider how you can be a steward of the life God has given you. What specific steps can you take to embrace life and pursue peace this week? [35:00]
4. How can you actively work towards reconciliation and peace in a relationship where there is conflict? [36:18]
5. The sermon mentions the importance of valuing your own life as a gift from God. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate this value in your daily routine? [33:54]
6. Reflect on the idea that embracing Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of the sixth commandment. How can you deepen your relationship with Him this week? [37:38]
7. Identify a situation where you might be tempted to act out of anger or frustration. What strategies can you use to respond in a way that honors the sacredness of life? [29:38]

Devotional

Day 1: The Divine Image in Humanity
Human life is sacred because it is uniquely created in the image of God. This sacredness sets human life apart from all other forms of life and imparts an incalculable worth that demands our respect and protection. The sixth commandment, "You shall not murder," underscores this truth by highlighting the immense value God places on human life. This value is rooted in the fact that humans are made in God's image, which imparts a unique dignity and worth to every person. Understanding the sacredness of life is crucial, especially in a world where the lines between human and animal life are often blurred. [07:04]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: How does recognizing the image of God in others change the way you interact with them today?


Day 2: The Sanctity of Life Beyond Murder
The sixth commandment extends beyond the act of murder to include issues like abortion, euthanasia, and suicide. Each of these represents a violation of the sacredness of life, which is known and cherished by God from conception. Abortion is seen as taking the life of an unborn neighbor, a life already known and cherished by God. Euthanasia involves deciding that a life is no longer worth living, which is not our place to determine. Suicide, too, is a grave matter, as it involves taking a life that God has given and sustained. [18:00]

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV): "For you formed my inward parts; 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."

Reflection: In what ways can you advocate for the sanctity of life in your community today?


Day 3: The Heart's Attitude and the Sixth Commandment
Jesus teaches that the commandment also addresses our attitudes and words. Anger, contempt, and rudeness towards others are violations of this commandment, as they diminish the value of life and fail to love our neighbors as ourselves. The commandment challenges us to examine our hearts and attitudes, recognizing that rudeness, hatred, and recklessness are all forms of breaking the sixth commandment. We are called to embrace life, pursue peace, and be stewards of the life God has entrusted to us. [29:38]

Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV): "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

Reflection: Is there someone you need to reconcile with today to align your heart with the teachings of Jesus?


Day 4: Embracing Life and Pursuing Peace
We are called to embrace life and pursue peace, recognizing the unique value of the life God has given us. This involves being good stewards of our own lives and seeking to enrich the lives of others. Embracing life means valuing the gift of life God has given us and actively working towards peace in our relationships and communities. It is about recognizing the worth of every individual and striving to live in harmony with others. [35:00]

Romans 12:18 (ESV): "If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all."

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to promote peace in your relationships?


Day 5: Embracing Jesus, the Life-Giver
Embracing Jesus, the life-giver, is the ultimate fulfillment of the sixth commandment. He offers peace and reconciliation with God, enabling us to live life to the fullest and pursue peace with others. By embracing Jesus, we align ourselves with the source of life and are empowered to live in a way that honors the sacredness of life. Jesus provides the peace and reconciliation needed to truly value and protect the life God has given us. [37:38]

John 10:10 (ESV): "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."

Reflection: How can you deepen your relationship with Jesus today to experience the abundant life He offers?

Quotes



The reason for this commandment, the sixth commandment, "you shall not murder," is of course that human life is uniquely created in the image of God. The Bible makes this clear in Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26 and verse 27, where we read these words: God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness." [00:03:43]

If you know and love the God of the Bible, you will see unique value in all that bears His image. See, that's the connection between the foundation of knowing God and the valuing of human life. The reason for it is that it is uniquely stamped by the image of God. [00:06:31]

Human life is sacred, and it is marked out as such in the sixth commandment because human life and human life alone is in the image of God, and there is a vast chasm, a vast chasm, between the life of fish and plants and animals and the life of a man and of a woman made in the image of God. [00:09:35]

Our culture is losing its understanding of the value of life because it is losing its understanding of the uniqueness of human life created by God himself. Lose God, you lose all the values on which our very society has been founded. [00:11:12]

The whole issue of abortion, taking the life of an unborn neighbor, you see, this is all an exposition of loving your neighbor as yourself. If murder is taking the life of your neighbor, then abortion is taking the life of your unborn neighbor. [00:17:24]

Euthanasia, of course, involves a decision being made by someone that a person's life is no longer worth living and that some action should be taken to end it. Now, of course, there is a great difference between ending life and ending treatment. [00:21:04]

The purpose of life is to glorify God, and you and I do not know how he may be glorified even in the most difficult of situations. Remember that he was most glorified in the most agonizing of all. [00:22:51]

God has given you life, and as long as God is giving you life, as he is now, it means he wants you here. He wants you here. He wants you here. He really does. And in the darkness that surrounds you right now, you need to hear that and you need to take it into the very core of your being. [00:24:38]

What you call your life is not yours to take; it is the gift of God to you. You're not the owner of this life; you're the trustee of this life; you're the steward of this life. It's not yours to take; it's a life that he's giving to you to live here and to live now. [00:24:59]

You can break the sixth commandment by neglecting proper sleep, by addiction to work, by improper use of food or drink, by lack of proper exercise. Ouch, it's coming closer to home. Some of us may be very, very complacent about the sixth commandment because we say I would never take the life of another person, and yet all the time you're killing yourself. [00:33:18]

Embrace Life. When you've seen the magnificence of what life is, embrace it. Ask God to give you a vision of what your life can be. Seize every opportunity to develop yourself. Don't let life pass you by. Look for ways in which you can be a good steward of every gift that God has given to you. [00:34:52]

Jesus is the life-giver, and there is no greater way to embrace life than to embrace Jesus. The Bible says he who has the Son of God has life, and he who does not have the Son of God doesn't have life. You don't have the life that God wants you to know until you've embraced Jesus Christ. [00:35:47]

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Transcript
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