Why Are Preborn Lives Such a Big Deal?
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139
Why Do Preborn Lives Matter?
What we believe about the preborn shapes how we treat everyone—from the aging and disabled to the unseen and ignored. In this message from the Tough Questions series, Pastor David turns to Genesis 1 and Psalm 139 to show why every human life holds lasting worth—not because of size, development, location, or need, but because each person is made in God’s image.
But this message isn’t only about the preborn. It’s about everyone. How we value life at its most fragile reflects how we see the people around us. If you’re wrestling with abortion, doubting your own worth, or unsure how Christians should speak into life issues today, watch or listen in to find biblical clarity and honest hope.
Key Takeaways
- God makes every life in His image. (Genesis 1:27)
- God knows the details of every human life. (Psalm 139:1-12)
- God knits every life together. (Psalm 139:13-16)
- God changes hearts to align with His. (Psalm 139:19-24)
Further Study
- What changes when you realize that being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27) isn’t just about worth, but about purpose—and that through Christ, that image is being restored in you (2 Corinthians 3:18)? How might that shape the way you treat people who don’t look, think, or live like you?
- If David could praise God for being “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:13–14), what does that say to a culture that assigns value based on productivity or appearance? And if we really believed Ephesians 2:10—that we’re God’s workmanship—how would that change the way we speak to ourselves and others?
- Psalm 139:16 says that all our days were written in God’s book before one of them came to be. What does that mean for how we see an unexpected pregnancy or a diagnosis that the world might call a tragedy? Could Romans 8:28–29 be more than comfort—it could be a call to trust?
- When David asked God to “search me and know my heart” (Psalm 139:23–24), he wasn’t just confessing actions—he was inviting God to expose his motives. Jesus did the same in Matthew 5:21–22, pointing out that contempt and anger also violate the value of human life. Where are you still justifying thoughts or attitudes that God sees clearly?
- If God is present in every moment of every life (Psalm 139:7–12) and Jesus promises never to leave His people (Matthew 28:20), what does that say about the way we treat those who are alone, suffering, or unseen? Are there people you’ve overlooked who bear His image just as fully as you?
- Psalm 139 begins with God’s intimate knowledge of every person, and 1 Peter 1:18–20 reminds us that God planned redemption before the world began. If that’s true, then every life—born and unborn—matters to Him. What would it look like to live and speak as if that’s true? What’s one way you could act on it this week?
The Gospel
If you have questions about what it means to be a Christian, we would love to talk with you about it.
Reach outEvery human life has inherent value because we’re made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). But this same truth reveals our profound tragedy: we’re image-bearers living in rebellion against our Creator. As Pastor David hints at in Psalm 139:19-24, there is wickedness in all of us that needs to be searched out and addressed. This isn’t just about wrong actions; it’s about our very nature being corrupted and separated from the God who knit us together.
But God, in His infinite love for His image-bearers, didn’t leave us in this state of rebellion and death. Jesus Christ, the perfect image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15), came to earth and took on human flesh. He lived the perfect life we couldn’t live, demonstrating the full dignity and purpose for which we were created. On the cross, He bore the punishment our rebellion deserved, dying in our place. Through His resurrection, He conquered death and opened the way for restored relationship with God.
The Gospel is that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). When we trust in Christ alone for salvation, acknowledging our sin and accepting His sacrifice on our behalf, God forgives our sins, gives us new life through His Spirit, and begins restoring His image in us. We’re not just forgiven; we’re adopted into God’s family and given a new purpose – to reflect His image and value what He values, including every human life He has created.
This isn’t just about moral reform or changed behavior; it’s about fundamental transformation through the power of the Gospel, leading us to see and value life as God does.