DO YOU SHARE GOD’S VIEW OF LIFE?

Note to the speaker:

Help the audience to appreciate fully that life is a grand gift and that we should use it in harmony with the will
of the Creator. Emphasize the need to shun the world’s callous view of life. On sensitive material, show the val-
ue of Bible principles, but avoid being judgmental or condemnatory

WHY LIFE IS SACRED (6 min.)

Jehovah is the Source of all “dynamic energy” needed to create the universe (Isa 40:26; rs 88)
Everything material and spiritual, animate and inanimate has come from him (Ge 1:1)
Life on earth began when God superimposed the life principle on matter (Ge 1:11, 12, 20, 24; 2:7; it-1 526,
528; it-2 246)
God also made procreation and reproduction possible
Humans cannot duplicate the miracle of creating life from lifeless matter
As the Originator and Sustainer of life, Jehovah has the right to say how it should be viewed (Ps 36:9; Ac 17:
25, 28; w92 8/1 3-4)
He has always considered life to be sacred (Ge 9:3-6; Nu 35:9-34; rq 24-5; it-1 344; w97 1/15 21; w95 1/15 5)
Even the life of an unborn child is precious to Jehovah (Ex 21:22, 23)
Animal life is also sacred to the Creator
While animals may be used for food, it is wrong to mistreat them or to kill them just for sport (Pr 12:10)
Our view of life should conform to God’s
HOW LIFE IS VIEWED TODAY (8 min.)
When Jehovah created human life, he sanctified and blessed it (Ge 1:28, 31)
Mankind was to reproduce in perfection and out of a clean marriage bond
When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they justly deserved the death sentence (Ge 2:17; 3:19)
‘In the day they ate’ of the forbidden fruit, they died in God’s eyes and began their descent into physical
death
They no longer enjoyed the quality of life that they did at first
They brought forth offspring in a degenerate condition (it-1 480)
They would now die, like the beasts of the field (Ec 3:19)
Sin brought consequences of enormous evil upon the human family (Ro 5:12; it-2 964)
Cain showed lack of respect for the sanctity of life when he killed his brother Abel (Ge 4:8)
Nimrod became “a mighty hunter” of animals and humans, in opposition to Jehovah’s view of life (Ge
10:9; w72 573)
We are now living in the “critical times” of “the last days”
Wickedness has increased (2Ti 3:1-5, 13)
The millions killed by wars and abortions, as well as the rampant violence, are evidence that life is viewed
as cheap (tp 11-12, 80; g95 2/8 28; g95 4/22 6; g92 6/8 28)
Few today have God’s view of life
HOW WE CAN SHOW THAT WE HAVE GOD’S VIEW OF LIFE (18 min.)
Recognize and acknowledge that we of ourselves cannot reverse the damaging effects of sin (Ro 7:24)
However, we can take steps not to be “slaves to sin” (Ro 6:6; Eph 4:17, 22-24)
Appreciate God’s esteem for life, reflected in the gift he gave through his Son (Ro 5:19; 6:23)
At great cost and pain, Jehovah arranged to restore human life to perfection through ransom, Kingdom, and
resurrection (1Ti 2:3-6)
Jesus plays the central role in these; he is the Chief Agent of life (Ac 3:15)
Our life-style should show great appreciation for the ransom and the opportunity to gain everlasting life
We may have done things out of harmony with God’s will, but all is not lost
True repentance can bring forgiveness and acceptance by God (Ac 3:19)
Acknowledge the Source of life and his right to set the standards (Re 4:11)
Living by Jehovah’s standards shows that we appreciate the sanctity of life (Isa 2:2-4)
How we live our lives reveals our point of view
Avoid any activity or negligence that would cause bloodguilt
Includes wars of nations, reckless driving, dangerous recreation (De 22:8)
Eschew common attitude toward abortion (rs 25-6)
While one would by no means abort an embryo conceived out of wedlock, one should also maintain God’s
view of sexual morality (it-1 1174; g94 10/8 22, 24)
Shun world’s view that allows immorality and living together without marriage
No. 148-E 11/00 Printed in U.S.A.
Show we have God’s view of life by responding conscientiously to the direction of his organization
Must be involved in the lifesaving work now being done (Mt 24:14; 28:19, 20)
An urgent matter, not to be taken casually (2Pe 3:9-11)
Help as many as possible make the right decision
We thus escape bloodguilt (Ac 20:20, 26)
BLESSINGS FROM HAVING GOD’S VIEW OF LIFE (8 min.)
During the Thousand Year Reign of Christ, earthly life will be set free from corruption (it-2 248-9)
Christ and his associate rulers will assist mankind spiritually and physically
Life will be elevated to the perfection Adam had prior to sinning
Regeneration will take place (Mt 19:28, ftn; it-1 546-7)
Jesus will remove all traces of inherited sin
Those who pass the final test will be able to enjoy perfect life forever (Re 20:7-10)
Adam’s possession of perfect life was contingent on his obedience to Jehovah (Ge 2:17; De 32:4)
Because he used his life wrongly, he was never allowed to eat of the tree of life
Those who show that they appreciate God’s view of life will have their names permanently written in “the
book of life” (Re 20:15; Da 12:1; re 298)
They will have proved themselves worthy of the right to everlasting life (it-2 251)
RESPOND NOW TO GOD’S DIRECTION (5 min.)
Take in knowledge that enables you to obey God (Joh 17:3)
Reject world’s irreverent attitude toward life, which is vanity (Ec 6:11, 12; 1Jo 2:15)
Includes spirit of independence to use one’s free will to do as one pleases (Eph 2:1, 2)
Use your life in harmony with Jehovah’s will (De 30:19, 20)
In prayer, make a dedication to God if you have not already done so (Mr 8:34-38)
Those who have made a dedication must continue to live in harmony with God’s direction for use of life
Jehovah loves those who apply his counsel and live up to his requirements
He will abundantly reward all who share his view of life (1Pe 3:10-12)
(Adhere closely to the outlined material, and observe the indicated timing of each section. Not all cited texts
need be read or commented on)
No. 148-E—page 2 TO BE COVERED IN 45 MINUTES
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