Many who support abortion maintain the foetus growing in a woman’s womb is not really a human being, but this is not supported by the Bible.
Scripture makes it clear the unborn foetus is a child. Exodus 21:22-23 tells us: “If men fight, and hurt a woman with child, so that she gives birth prematurely, yet no harm follows, he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman’s husband imposes on him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if any harm follows, then you shall give life for life…” This meant the death penalty if the woman or the unborn were killed. Also notice the unborn here is called a child.
Now consider the biblical accounts of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. Mary, pregnant with Jesus, encountered her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John: “And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe [John] leaped in her womb…” (Luke 1:41). Elizabeth then comments: “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.” (verse 44)— demonstrating that the baby John was already a person in the womb.
One of the most tragic decisions ever handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court was the January 1973 landmark ruling of Roe v. Wade, which allowed women across the country the “legal” right to abort the young life in their womb.
Amazingly, “Jane Roe,” the plaintiff in Roe v. Wade whose real name was Norma McCorvey, later had a complete change of heart and came to regret her role in legalizing abortion. She became a Christian pro-life advocate in the mid-1990s and remained involved in campaigning to make abortion illegal until her death in 2017, stating “that her role in the landmark court case was the biggest mistake of her life” (Alexandra Desanctis, “Little-Known Facts About Roe v. Wade,” National Review, Jan. 23, 2017).
Some, who have had an abortion and later regret it wonder if God will forgive them. The answer is found in Hebrews 8:12 which states, within the context of a repentant attitude that, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” God is willing to forgive the sin of abortion, as long as there is repentance.
For those facing an unwanted pregnancy, abortion is not the answer. Seek help. Find a pro-life minister and his wife for advice, or a pro-life Christian counsellor. God our Father is the great Giver of life. As His children, let’s determine to preserve the lives of the unborn, who are also His children.
