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August 6, 2006
“The Sanctity of Human Life”
Genesis 9:1-7

I. Sanctity of Human Life is seen as related to and in connection with God’s command to be fruitful and multiply – Genesis 9:1 & :7
1. It is significant that this command is repeated and teaching about animals, the death penalty and our being created in God’s image are sandwiched between this repeated command – Genesis 9:1 & :7
2. This is a reiteration of the command “be fruitful and multiply” given in Genesis 1:26-28. Both contexts Genesis 1:26-28 and Genesis 9:1-7 imply that human beings are to rule / dominate the earth. The multiplication and fruitfulness of human beings is a priority over the multiplication and fruitfulness of animals, which in this chapter become our food.

II. Sanctity of Human Life is seen here in contrast to that of animals that are not sacred but become even our food – Genesis 9:2-4
1. God seems to put a fear of man into the animals at this point – Genesis 9:2
2. A right and godly view of animals sees them as lower creatures even to the point of being RESOURCES / FOOD – Genesis 9:3
3. Opposite of this we are never to see human beings, created in God’s image, as resources.
4. Confusion on this issue runs rampant in our society today, we see in most profoundly in the DEMAND for fetal stem cell research – We as Christians must see fetal stem cell research for what it really is: What are stem cells? As an embryo (baby) develops, genetic information is switched off. For instance, we have two eyes, as soon as we get two; the genetic information that gets us eyes is shut off. Stem cells are cells that are still switched on.

There are three categories of stem cells: totipotent – a cell that can develop into an entire being, pluripotent – a cell that can develop into a variety of body parts and multipotent – a cell that is supposed more limited or specialized. The propaganda (not the truth) says that the only real healing comes from the most pluripotent or totipotent cells and these are implied to be available only at early fetal stages.

Yet, the opposite on two counts has been true. ALL the healing so far accomplished by stem cells has come from what are called adult stem cells. These have already been used to cure (or help to cure) heart disease, eye problems, cancer, bone difficulties, Parkinson’s disease and more. Stem cells can be gotten from hair follicles, liposuction fat, bone marrow, brain cells and umbilical cord blood. We don’t have to kill babies to gain cures, in fact stem cells gained from unborn babies have NEVER (not yet) cured even one person.

Obviously, when we lack respect for the sanctity of human life all sorts of problems develop. Increased teen suicide is directly correlated to reduced church attendance. In the meantime, while bird’s eggs and feathers are protected by law – we abort one third of our children. So where is the MOST dangerous place for a child to live today? Iraq, Iran, the Middle East … how about his or her mother’s womb – in California, New York and Delaware more babies are aborted than born and in New York City less than 20 percent of babies conceived survive the womb as 83.9 % are aborted!

III. We see the Sanctity of Human Life here in the institution of DEATH PENALTY to protect it – Genesis 9:5-7
1. As our nation has moved from God, we have also moved away from morality, especially punishment of sin – Romans 1:32
2. Most recently, Andrea Yates, who murdered 5 of her own children has been pronounced “not guilty” by reason of insanity.
3. Some articles I have read write ‘what is the difference’ we still locked her away for life. Yet, now her murders have a mental or medical reason behind them, not a moral reason, it was not a sin but a sickness.

Pastor Arnold Brevick