Abortion is murder. That’s not just a problem in society today; it is sin before God. So, when it comes to addressing abortion, we must address it for what it truly is by digging deeper and attacking it at its root. Ultimately, the problem of abortion finds its solution in the gospel — God loves sinners.

Establishing a Foundation

As Christians, we follow Jesus Christ. And Jesus not only demonstrates from God’s word that we are to live by it, like when He was being tempted in the wilderness by Satan (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3), but He clearly recognizes the word of God as truth in His high priestly prayer (John 17:17). So, when we enter a conversation, we start by honoring Christ the Lord as holy in our hearts (1 Peter 3:15) and recognizing Scripture as the foundation for truth. We do not enter into the conversation from a “neutral” standpoint, and neither does the opposition. When we do not start with the fear of the Lord, we cannot have true knowledge of anything (Proverbs 1:7). So, when addressing an issue such as abortion, we must confront it based on Scripture, or else our view of reality will be fundamentally distorted. 

Treating Murder as Murder

Having established our foundation, we can properly address the issue of abortion. God alone gives life and takes it away (Job 14:5; Acts 17:25-26), and this life begins at conception (Job 3:3; Psalm 139:13-16). Being the Author of life, He has commanded us not to murder (Exodus 20:13), and not only that, but God has given us His law showing that the punishment for committing murder would be “life for life” (Genesis 9:6; Exodus 21:23-24). We have to consider who is guilty of this when it comes to abortion. Yes, of course, the abortionist would be responsible for the murder, but would the parents who willingly bring their baby to the abortionist be guilty? Would the parents who hired an assassin to murder their child be guilty of murder? In both of these cases, the answer would be yes.

Where Change Happens

As put succinctly by John Owen in The Mortification of Sin in Believers, “…where men are dead, sin is alive and will live.” Men dead in their sin do not need to hear scientific facts or philosophical arguments. What they need is the gospel. As put by Paul, the gospel is, “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” (Romans 1:16). We were dead in our sins and God made us alive in Christ, “by grace through faith” (Ephesians 2:1-8), and it is here where sinners are given new hearts by God (Ezekiel 36:26-27), making us into new creatures (2 Corinthians 5:17). It is through faith alone in Christ alone that we get to be made right before God (Galatians 2:16), but this message of repentance unto life is for sinners, not for the righteous (Luke 5:30-32). So, for those who are guilty of murder in abortion, the call goes out to them to repent and believe in Christ. And even if some have committed murder through abortion, there is forgiveness of sin found in Christ. The sad thing is when we identify the mother getting an abortion as a victim, it is not only dishonest but it also leaves her without the ability to heal through the forgiveness of sin in Christ, which is a major mistake of the pro-life movement. So, what do we do?

“Go Therefore”

Having all authority in heaven and on earth, Jesus told His disciples to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). We must go share the good news of the gospel as sinners saved by grace to those who are perishing. The church must take back the fight from the pro-life movement which has politicized its approach so much to the point where they have removed Christ from its message (see EndAbortionNow.com). God will use His church to put the enemy of abortion under His feet, and that will be accomplished through sinners who have been shown the love of God to then share that love of God with others, providing for whatever needs necessary to save the lives of babies.

Austin Maranto 

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