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The Sixth Commandment - Preserving The Sanctity Of Life

March 25, 2015 Speaker: Ken Ramey Series: The Ten Commandments

Topic: Sanctification Passage: Exodus 20:13

The Bridge

Exodus 20:13

The Sixth Commandment - You Shall Not Murder

Genesis 1:26 tells of the creation account and describes the significance of life in the eyes of God. God considers the creation of man as His crowning achievement and greatest masterpiece of His creation. This is because man is the only living creature that He created in His own image and that mirrors many of His own attributes. God also created man with an eternal soul, which distinguishes him from all other living things.

We were made in the image of God and are not permitted to murder one another since we bear His likeness. God alone has the authority to give life, and therefore, He is the only one with the authority to take it. The Sixth Commandment were in tended to guard and protect life.

In this evening’s message, we learn what the Sixth Commandment forbids and what it permits.

WHAT THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT DOESN’T FORBID:
The unlawful and unjust taking of life. God does not forbid all killing. He permits the killing of animals, (for religious sacrifices, food and clothing, and resource management) and at times, other humans in certain situations (i.e., self-defense, capital punishment, and through a just war).


WHAT THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT FORBIDS:
God does not permit homicide (Exodus 21:12-14; Numbers 35:30), suicide (i.e., self-murder; 1 Kings 16; Judas), abortion (Exodus 21:22-23; Psalm 139:14), and euthanasia (i.e., assisted suicide, or assisting a premature death).

Although most of us have never committed any of the four violations of the Sixth Commandment, we should remind ourselves that it is also possible to commit murder in our mind, heart and words (Matthew 5:21; James 1:14, 4:2; 1 John 3:15; Revelation 21:8, 22:15). But Jesus Christ was murdered to rescue murderers like you and me, and the good news of the gospel is that we can be forgiven for the murders we have committed - no matter what form we used.