WHAT IS CHRISTIAN ETHICS?

1. Christian Ethics is a method of determining right and wrong based on

the

understanding and interpretation of the Christian message

 The life and teachings of jesus christ is the heart of the christian
message
 Right ad worng is determined by the life and teachings of jesus christ

2. Chriistian ethics is a set of principles derived from the christian faith by

which we act.
 The bible gives us detailed instruction on how we should live. It may
not cover every situation in our lives, but its principles give use the
standards by which we conduct ourselves
3. Christian Ethics is a systematic study of the way of life exemplified and
taught by Jesus, applied to problems and decisions of human
existence.
 The way of life - expressed in what we say, live and practic.
-synonymouss with our lifestyle or day to day living
-the GOSPELS – reflects jesus’ way of life – tells us not only
what he does and say but also what early christians believe
of him
-the way of life – exemplified by jesus is an adequate,
dependable and indispensable guidedof Christians in their
actions as well as in their decisions in life

SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS

1. Guides christians in making the right decisions

- Three elements involved in making the right decision (Giles)
1. one's sense of values
2. one's belief in the dignity and worth of persons
3. one's responsibility towards neigbor
- In circumstances in which we cant determine what is right or
worng, we need to consult christian ethics
2. Helps diffrentiate what is vital and peripheral in life
- Vital – signifiess essential element in life
- Peripheral – of minor significance
- Christian ethics helps people decide or weigh whiich concerns
should be attended first and which one should be taken later
 3. Assists people in determining their goals in life and help them realize
these goals
- Christian ethics doess not agree that the end justifies the means
– efforts towards realizing the end should be couples with the
efforts towards developing good principle, right attitude and
acceptable way of life

LESSON 2

BIBLICAL BASIS OF CHRISTIAN ETHICS

1. Scripture – gods communication has sbeen accomplished principallu

through the scriptures
- God has communicated his mind, character and will to mankind.
- Through his word we recognize what is right and wrong.
2. God’s Will – Christian ethics is a form of gods command in accordance
with his will and unchangeable moral character.
- God wills what is right in accordance with his moral attributes
3. Strong Foundation of the Absolute – gods character does not change
therefore it followed that mans obligations based in his nature is
absolute. God is abolute
- “Christian Ethics goes back to god as the ultimate ground and
source of morality” (Leander Keyser)
- Christians should form to gods likeness because they believe in
god.
4. God’s revelaton – god ahs revealed himself both in nature and in
scripture. Gods revelation is expressed both in general and special
means.
 General revelation – god expresses his command for all
people
 Special revelation – god declares his will for the believers
- The basis of ethical duty lies on gods evelation.
- Failure to acknowledge god as the source of ethical duty does not
clear anyone from their moral duty. (Romans 2:24-15)
- Even if non believers do not recognize the moral law in their min,
they are still inclined to it
5. Character of god – not all thinga are the same with god – some things
conform to his xharacter, some don’t.
- The taks od Christian ethics is to determine what conforms and
what does not.
 - Moral norms come frome gods nature – the only true source of
morality is gods ethical order.
- Moral order is more real than the physical order
- Paul says that the physical order is temporary but the order not
seen is eternal. This eternal order is a reflection of the character
of god himself
6. Atonement – the new life springs out of a sense of debt to christ (James
Denny)
- The death of christ os the basis upon which Christian ethics is
built.
- Our choice oflife id based uoon the regenerative power of the
cross(forgivreness)
7. Christian Ethics is prescriptive NOT DESCRIPTIVE – doing what is right
is prescribed by a moral god – god is both a lawgiver(prescribes laws)
and legislator(imposes legislations)
- It emphasizes what we should do not what is
- Christian should behave on the standard of God not based on the
standard of others

LESSON 3

OLD TESTAMENTS – Christian ethics is grounded in the old testaments

- Principles of olde testaments consists of laws, character, and

nature of god
 Laws- gave Israel their standard of what was right and wrong
 Nature and Character of god – the governing principle
- The holy character of god cannot tolerate evil or sin
- If we wish to please God and guard our life from sin, we
must live in accordance with His nature and character.
- Major contributions of the old testament to the study of ethics:
- Accountability to a monotheistis god
- Humity righteousness and wisdom – emphasizes social
responsibilities without diminishing individuals
accountability

NEW TESTAMENTS – the most significant contribution of the old testament is

Jesus Christ

- His life, teaching an ministry form the structure of the

New Testament Ethics
 - Common ground with old testament is the revelation of god and
his word
- The new testament ethics has a saving outlook on life
- Principles, what Jesus said:
- “Love the lord your god wit all your heart and with your
soul and will all your mind”
- “Love your neighbor as yourself’

CONCEPTS OF GOD

God is:

1. Ethical – stresses the sacredness of human life

2. Creator -as the creator, god is not responsible for what is wrong with us
- is not source of evil that threatens us
- the only source of what is right with and about us
3. Righteous – portrayed in the old testatment
- Righteousness is a moral and ethical obligations of people in the
society – should be centered in the attitudes of the heart
- “the Lord is righteous, he loves justice, upright men will see his
face” (Psalm 11:7)
4. Provider – El Shaddai or Jehovah Jireh – the name of god which stresses
his capacity to supply human needs.
5. Justice – the property of law or measured by the standard of law.
- Develops the ethical conduct in accordance to what is lawful
- God wmphasizes justice and upright living
- “If a wicked man turns away from his sins and keeps gods
decrees, he will surely live, not die” (Ezekiel 18:21)
6. Merciful – mercy – used in the old testament to express the unique
quality of god
- Is reciprocal by nature – god will show mercy to the
merciful
- “God will not show mercy when he judges the person who has
not been merciful” (James 2:13)
- “Forgive us, as we forgive” (Matthew 6:12)
7. Savior – the ethics of god is salvation for mankind
 - Ex. Save Israelites from slavery, save pratriarchs, save moses
and the slaves at the red sea, sent jesus to save us from our sins
8. Love – he concretized himself in the form of human flesh, his son,
Jesus.
- He came down to identify with his loved people
- (1 John 4;6-8)

LESSON 4

CRITERION

1. Criterion of right – emphasizes the duty of man

- It is the duty of man..
 To practice what is true and noble (Philippians 4:8-9)
 To be Productive (Colossians 1:10-12)
 To do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with god
(Micah 6:8b)
2. Criterion of Good – emphasizes the purpose of man
- The primary purpose of man is to:
 love god above everything else
 love his or her neighbor (Mathhew 22:37-40)
 ”To seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness
(Matt. 6: 33)
To do the will of God from the heart”
3. Criterion of Fit – emphasizes the situation of man
 Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the
Sabbath”(Mark 2:27)

STANDARDS

1. Jesus Christ – his life and teachings are the standards of Christian
behavior - Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life. No one
comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
2. The Word of God – “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for
teaching, rebuking, correcting, and trainingin righteousness, so that
 the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2
Timothy 3:16-17), (Tardo,2012).

METHODS

1. Intuition – means insight instinct or moral sense. – could also mean

perception or sense. Man by nature has moral sense(conscience)
because he was created in the image of god. Conscience dictates
man to do good and makes him feel guilty when he commits
mistakes.
2. Faith in God – concretely expressed in the form of a human flesh,
Jesus Christ. A matter of experiencing God in life and teachings of
Jesus Christ
3. Reason or Power of Discrimination - When God created man in his
own image it is coupled not only with conscience or moral sense but
also with reason. Man is a rational being. He thinks and analyzes
certain situations, implications of experiences before making moral
decisions.

LESSON 5

Jesus’ ultimate purpose is to establish the kingdom of heaven in the human

heart.

Important Principle of Christian Life

1. An abiding trust and faith in God in all circumstances. A steadfast

faith in Jesus Christ is the first and most important principle in the
Christian life.

“Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith, for He who promised is
faithful” (Heb. 10:23). Phil 4:19 says, “But my God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

2. Sincerity and honesty before God and man. God hates dishonesty.
One of the commandments given by God to Moses says, “Do not steal”
(Ex. 20:15).Let us be honest not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in
the sight of people (2 Cor. 8:21).

3. Genuine humility.

- Jesus said, “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.”To be
meek, in a sense, is to be humble.
 Humility - is the acceptance to learn and to forgive. Jesus himself Is the
true example of humility.

Col. 3:12-13says, “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and
beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other,
whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you,
so also should you.”

4. A forgiving and merciful spirit toward all.

- Forgiveness is a choice, not a feeling.
- Love overlooks the many faults of others.
- Let us not concentrate on other’s shortcomings but instead to pray
for them (Matt. 5:43-48).
5. An unqualified love for God and for your neighbor.
- the greatest commandment is to love God with all his heart, his
soul, and his mind. Then He further said that he should love his
neighbor as he loved himself (Matt. 22:36-40).

6. Absolute loyalty, faithfulness, and obedience to the Word and will of God.

If we call him as our Lord and Master we have to obey him(Luke 6:46). Not
everyone who calls the name of the Lord shall enter the Kingdom of heaven;
but those who does the will of the Father (Matt. 7:21)(Tardo,2012).

Code of Ethics is a statement of goals, commitment, and responsibilities.

Code means a system or regulations.