THE SPIRIT’S SWORD

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 In this issue:

• Abortion:  Mercy or Murder?
• The Rights of the Unborn
• The Resurrection Day
• Bring Them Up (W. R. Jones)

Abortion:   Mercy or Murder?

Joe R. Price

Abortion on demand is murder. Our social climate has desensitized us to that reality. Many euphemisms are used to distance the practitioners and supporters of abortion on demand from its moral heinousness. Using such expressions as "termination of pregnancy" and "removal of the fetus" make it sound so medical, so sterile, so acceptable. The harsh reality is that every year well over a million babies in America are forcibly removed from the safe environs of the womb, through no fault of their own, to satisfy the will of their parent(s). Ninety-eight percent of all abortions are induced for social reasons. Most children are aborted as the result of an "unwanted pregnancy." Another example of a selfish, self-serving society. Millions "want" their sexual freedom, but none of its consequences! While satisfying illicit lusts little thought is given to what might result. It is a "give me" mentality which carelessly disregards the rights of others. The attitude of "if I want it, I deserve it" is at work when millions "want" sexual license, then cry "I deserve the right of abortion!" when pregnancy occurs. What about the right of an unborn child to live?!

Life is a precious gift from God:

"For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth, 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." (Psalms 139:13-16)

Man has not been given the right to indiscriminately take human life. That's murder (Rom. 13:9; Jas. 2:11). That is what abortion is - make no mistake about it. No rationalizing will justify it, no euphemism will change it, no plea for "reproductive rights" will alter its outcome. A new and protected, sheltered, growing, innocent life is violently removed from its God-given home in order to satisfy "social reasons." Such injustice will not long be tolerated by a just God!

The Rights of the Unborn

Joe R. Price

As noted from Psalm 139:13-16, life is a gift from God. But in our day the life of animals has become more important to many than the life of unborn children. Take as an example the activists who protest killing animals to harvest their fur to produce fur coats. (If these agitators had lived in the days of Adam they would have no doubt protested against God for making "coats of skins" to cover Adam and Eve, Gen. 3:21!) Everything from whales to seals to owls to fish are actively protected - even by our own government. Of course we are to care for our environment - we are not denying that. But we are way off base when we become more committed to the life of a baby seal than we are the life of a baby human being! (Did you know the Bible refers to an unborn child with the same language used to describe a child who is already born, Lk. 1:41, 44; 2:12, 16?)

The following letter to the editor, which appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune (Dec. 4, 1990), brings into focus the social inequalities which presently exist in our society. Think about it:

   "Utah has a death penalty for murderers - but it doesn't go quite far enough. I have, let's say, a modest proposal for doing away with these inconveniences to society.
   "Abolish hanging, lethal injections and firing squads. Much too quick, and relatively painless. Instead, convicted murderers should be tied up and lowered into tubs of corrosive chemicals. No, not powerful acids (too quick), but something that will take 'em a while to be terminated in.
   "These chemicals should take at least several hours to completely burn the target's skin off. But make sure the tub is deep enough so that during the subject's struggle, he'll ingest some of the chemicals. This will insure that his lungs and throat will receive intensive burns.
   "If, in a few hours, the subject is still alive, and didn't die of toxemia or shock, then pull him out and leave his damaged, burned body exposed. After a while he'll die of hypothermia; if not, throw him into an incinerator or use some other method to finish the subject off.
   "Cruel? Barbaric? Unconstitutional? Well, that would be a rather ironic contention. After all, in our nation we allow the killing of our most innocent members by this sort of procedure. It's called a saline abortion. The only difference is that no tub is used - the baby is burned alive in the womb by saline solution.
   "If such treatment is considered acceptable by our lawmakers to be inflicted on little babies, then isn't it good enough to be used on people convicted of murder? -Michael Cross--Vernal, Utah"

Horrifying! Can you imagine the outcry if such methods of execution were proposed?

The Resurrection Day

Joe R. Price

"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth - those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." (Jno. 5:28-29) "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." (1 Cor. 15:51-52) These are sobering words for any who are not obeying Jesus in this life. But, they are cause for hope and joyful expectation for the Christian. Victory over death! The resurrection of mankind will surely occur when Jesus returns (1 Cor. 15:21-23). His resurrection from the dead guarantees it (1 Cor. 15:20). What can we expect on that great day?

We can expect to hear Christ's voice commanding death to give up its captives (cf. 1 Ths. 4:16). Christ, who has the keys of death and of Hades (Rev. 1:17), will command the dead to arise. He who is "the resurrection and the life" (Jno. 11:25), who cried with a loud voice "Lazarus, come forth" (Jno. 11:43), will open the tombs of both the just and the unjust (Acts 24:15) in that day. Truly, there will be victory over death (1 Cor. 15:54)!

We can expect the dead to be raised incorruptible (cf. 1 Cor. 15:42-44). Just as the stalk of grain which grows out of the ground is markedly different from the seed planted into the ground, even so the body raised from the dead will be different from the one placed into the grave. The resurrected body will be suited to live in the environs of the spiritual realm (1 Cor. 15:50). Because neither heaven nor hell are physical places, resurrected bodies be physical. But, they will be our bodies, make no mistake (1 Cor. 15:49). No longer subject to corruption and the decay of mortality, we will be resurrected with bodies which are suited for eternity.

We can expect individual judgment of our lives on this earth (2 Cor. 5:10). With the resurrection of the dead comes the judgment of all mankind (Matt. 25:30-46; Rom. 14:12). Here is the motivation for everyone of us to give serious thought to the resurrection day. It will also be judgment day. Are you ready? Your life will be judged. Are you in harmony with the will of Christ? Those who do "the will of my Father who is in heaven" will enter the heavenly reward in that day (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:34-40). But, those who "do not know God, and...do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" will suffer an eternal punishment which will be equally just (2 Ths. 1:8-9; Matt. 25:41-46; Rom. 2:1-11).

We can expect the resurrection to happen in the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:52). Will you be ready for that day?! Obey the gospel of Christ faithfully today, in order to anticipate that day with joy!

Bring Them Up

W. R. Jones

Ephesians 6:4 - "And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

It takes time and effort for any father to fulfill this command. It is not something that "just happens." It is something that requires a deliberate exertion on the father's part.

FIRST of all, a father must set a proper example before his children, to demonstrate to them that the way of the Lord is truly worth following.

SECOND, a father should be sufficiently informed in the Word of God that he can accurately and impressively instruct his children in the right way. I suspect that many fathers make no effort to teach their children because they fear the uncovering of their own ignorance.

THIRD, a father must set aside time to deal with his children. Most fathers have enough time, but the big problem is they won't share it with their children! Father, how is it with you and your children?

FOURTH, a father must learn to be patient in dealing with his child's immaturity. This can really be trying! But, if the father cannot control himself, how can he instruct the child on how to control himself. Fathers must not compromise truth and right, but they must learn to sometimes bend a little where they can. Above all, father's must make a real effort to keep the line of communication open with their offspring. Once it is completely closed, there is not much he can do to help. Fathers, seek God's wisdom as you attempt to fulfill your responsibilities.

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