God, the Bible, and Abortion

God, the Bible, and abortion — Introduction

In some situations, an unplanned or unwanted pregnancy can be one of the hardest things a woman or man faces. If you are in such a situation and wonder if you or your loved one should have an abortion, I pray that the following verses from the Bible—God’s Word—will help you make your decision.

If you have had an abortion in the past, may these Scriptures help you come to a godly resolution.

“But the Bible doesn’t mention abortion”

Some people say: “The Bible does not say anything about abortion.” Or, “God doesn’t say anything about abortion.”

Let’s examine these statements: Although the Bible does not use the words “abortion” or “pro-life,” that doesn’t mean God doesn’t care about abortion. There are countless wrong things that are not mentioned by name in the Bible.

Rather than list everything that would be against God’s will, the Bible gives us truths and guidelines that we can apply in our lives. In this Bible study, you will read many verses that make God’s position about abortion very clear.

God creates life

The Bible lets us know that every life is precious to God. He is the one who gave us life. Jesus Christ, God’s son, is pro-life. God cares about abortion.

The LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)

You gave me life and showed me kindness, and in your providence watched over my spirit. (Job 10:12)

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. (Psalm 100:3)

Life is a gift of God.

• It should be cherished.
• It should be nourished.
• It should be protected.

God describes a fetus (baby) in the womb as a growing human being

God sees unborn children as growing human beings. As you can see in the following verses, we don’t have to wonder what God thinks about life in the womb and abortion, if he considers unborn children to be human beings, or what the Bible says about abortion. Whether you are a Christian, a member of another religion, or an unbeliever, may these verses speak to your heart:

Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers? (Job 31:15)

Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. (Psalm 22:9-10)

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. (Psalm 139:13-16)

This is what the LORD says—he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you… (Isaiah 44:2)

Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:3-4)

And now the LORD says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD and my God has been my strength. (Isaiah 49:5)

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “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.” (Jeremiah 1:4-5)

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! As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” (Luke 1:41-42, 44)

God says murder is sin (Abortion kills the fetus)

The Bible does not specifically use the word “abortion,” but it’s clear about “murder.”

You shall not murder. (Exodus 20:13)

God calls us to protect the defenseless, including children

One of the key themes throughout the Bible and historical Christianity is that we should be concerned about the welfare of the poor, weak, and helpless. Many Scriptures make this very clear. For example:

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. (Psalm 82:3-4)

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? (Proverbs 24:11-12)

In addition to the previous verses, read James 1:27 to see how the Bible describes religion that is pure and faultless. Although James was not writing about God’s attitude about abortion, the principle is clear: We should be concerned about those who are unable to care for themselves. An unborn child is totally helpless and unable to care for himself or herself.

God forgives those who had an abortion when they ask

Everyone has sinned in many ways. Scriptures throughout the Bible reassure us of God’s love for us, and they let us know that when we confess our sins, he forgives us and purifies us.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2)

Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:9-10)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. (1 John 1:9-2:1)

Ask God to reveal his love for you

God’s love for us—and God’s love for you—is amazing. Even his commands, which sometime may seem hard, are for our good. Take a minute to read this Bible study on God’s love for us. There’s nothing more strengthening than to bask in God’s love.