“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” — Deuteronomy 30:19

As Christians, we recognize that human life is sacred and precious because it is created and sustained by God. This post lays out a clear biblical defense of why life begins at conception, why every human being is valuable from the very start, and why abortion and contraception contradict God’s design and purpose.

The Value of Human Life: Created in God’s Image

God created mankind uniquely and intentionally. Unlike any other creature, humans are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-28). This means we represent God on earth and carry a special responsibility to rule, judge, and live righteously. The image of God is not about physical appearance or intellectual ability but about representing God’s authority and character.

Because humans bear God’s image, every life is valuable—regardless of age, health, or circumstance. This includes the unborn, who possess this divine image from the moment of conception.

When Does Human Life Begin? The Biblical Answer: At Conception

The Bible clearly teaches that human life begins at conception—the moment when a man’s seed unites with a woman’s reproductive cell to form a new, living human being. Several Scriptures confirm this:

• Sarah was granted the ability to conceive seed (Hebrews 11:11).

• Job refers to himself as a “man child” from the womb (Job 3:3).

• Jesus Himself was recognized as a child in Mary’s womb (Matthew 1:20).

• The prophecy in Isaiah 7:14 and its fulfillment in Matthew 1:23 declare the virgin “shall conceive” and bear a son—showing life begins before birth.

At conception, a new human soul is created by God, making the unborn a living, volitional, and spiritual person deserving of protection and honor.

The Sinfulness of Abortion and Contraception

Abortion is the unjust taking of innocent human life. Scripture condemns the shedding of innocent blood and equates abortion with murder (Exodus 20:13). It is a grave sin to terminate a pregnancy because the unborn child is fully human—living, willing, and possessing a soul. Just as Pharaoh ordered the killing of Hebrew male infants (Exodus 1:15-22), and Herod sought to kill Christ’s infant contemporaries (Matthew 2:16-18), abortion continues this tragic practice.

Contraception, or birth control, is likewise contrary to God’s design. It attempts to thwart the blessing of fertility that God graciously grants (Genesis 1:28). The Bible records Onan’s punishment for refusing to fulfill his duty to conceive children (Genesis 38:6-10). All forms of contraception, by preventing or terminating new life, oppose God’s sovereign authority over conception.

God’s Sovereign Role Over Life and Conception

God alone has the authority to give and take life. He “kills and makes alive” (Deuteronomy 32:39), “opens and closes” wombs (Genesis 29–30), and ordains every child’s existence and purpose (Jeremiah 1:4-5). Every great servant of God—Isaiah, Samuel, Paul—was called and set apart from the womb.

We must trust God’s plans, even in the face of physical or mental challenges, because His workmanship is perfect (Psalm 139:13-18). Human decisions to end life, control fertility, or interfere with God’s design are presumptuous acts that dishonor the Creator.

Why Protecting Life Matters

Jesus loved little children and warned strongly against harming them (Mark 10:13-15; Matthew 18:6). The unborn are no less valuable. They are living human beings with God-ordained purpose and eternal souls. Protecting the unborn is not only a moral imperative but a spiritual responsibility for Christians who cherish the sanctity of life.

The Bible teaches clearly: life begins at conception, human beings are made in God’s image, and every life is sacred from the very start. Abortion and contraception defy God’s sovereign authority over life and contradict His design. As believers, we are called to choose life, defend the innocent, and honor God by valuing every human being—born and unborn alike.