Biblical Teachings on the Value of Life

The Bible has a lot to say about how God values life. God is the author of life (Genesis 1:27), and Scripture clearly indicates that He forms children in their mother’s womb. Therefore, at Christ Fellowship, we advocate the sanctity of all human life—from the womb to the tomb. Here are some Scriptures throughout the Bible that speak to the value of life: 

Jeremiah 1:5 reminds us that God forms us in the womb and has a purpose for each of us.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Psalm 139:13-16 reinforces this idea. As King David teaches, God was intimately involved in our formation from the beginning of our existence, and each of us is a distinct person: special, wonderful, and created for a purpose!

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

We read in Luke 1:39-45 that Elizabeth was about six months pregnant with John the Baptist—and although unborn—this passage demonstrates John was alive, active, and he responded to the voice of Mary, the mother of Jesus, while still in the womb.

At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 

Even through intense struggles, Job reminds us that life is a gift from God, and He looks for every opportunity to show us kindness and guidance.

Your hands shaped me and made me. Will you now turn and destroy me? Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again? Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese, clothe me with skin and flesh and knit me together with bones and sinews? You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit.
Job 10:8-12

As one of the 10 Commandments, God teaches that He values and protects life, and if someone wrongfully takes it, they will be held accountable.  

You shall not murder.
Exodus 20:13

However, in Galatians 1:14-15, the Apostle Paul also shares that no matter what we’ve done, God is always ready to welcome us home as we repent and acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior. 

I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. 

In Acts 17:27-28, the Apostle Paul preaches to a diverse crowd of people, letting them know their entire existence depends on our Creator because He is the author of life.

God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’

In Psalm 119:73, we read that God created us and desires a relationship with us. As we learn His ways, He will bless us with wisdom, strength, and everlasting love!

Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands.

Psalm 100:3 reminds us that we are not an accident! God loves us and wants to “shepherd” us as we go through life, never to be alone again!

Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

We read in Psalm 127:3-5 that children are a blessing from God and are to be nurtured, protected, and celebrated. 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

In Isaiah 49:1-5, the prophet Isaiah declares that even when he was in the womb, God had a calling on his life, which begins with being a servant of the Lord.

The Lord called me from the womb… formed me from the womb to be his servant.

In Proverbs 31:8, we read that all Christians are to speak for those who can’t speak and protect those who need protecting—in whatever stage of life they are in.

Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. Speak up for the rights of all those who are poor.

Throughout Scripture, God calls all Christians to be loving and compassionate toward others, even those who disagree with us or believe differently than us.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Romans 12:15

Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.
1 Peter 3:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
Philippians 2:1-2

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