Christian Ethics - Lesson 2

the Bible emphasizes that God’s moral character

Paul’s idea is that our ___ ____ is becoming more like God, and therefore we should imitate God’s truthfulness

"We love because he first loved us"

professor of systematic theology at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia from 1930 to 1966

The ultimate standard of right is the character or nature of God

God made man in his own image and after his likeness. Man must, therefore, be like God.

If God’s moral standards flow from his unchanging moral character, then it follows that these are the moral standards by which God will hold all people everywhere accountable.

"He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness. "

Our Source of Ethical Standards are Bible, Experience, Tradition, Reason

Christian ethics is ________ by God’s revelation in Scripture above other systems of thought as it seeks to love God and neighbor in every moral and ethical issue.

The highest ethical duty of a Christian is the same as the greatest commandment: love God and love your neighbor. Scripture is the Christian authority for ethics, just as it is for theology.

A person’s highest ethical duty is to ____ God with all of their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

We must obey every word of God

God requires obedience from his people

A person who chooses to walk in God’s way will prosper; the fellow will see the fruits of his/her labor abide.

God Could Not Have Made Other Moral Standards

Philosophical systems that attempt to provide ethical norms can be helpful for the Christian thinking about ethics, but Scripture must remain the authority for any Christian ethical endeavor.

Some people assess the consequences for the individual alone, but most would look for the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

a person who walks contrarily to God’s laws exposes him or herself to _________ consequences.

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

Remember that your actions have ________

Sin has consequences

God does not always punish sin, especially when people repent

Sin results in _____ and _______.

Moral goodness is not defined by the nature of God, and everything he commands is in accordance with his perfect and righteous goodness.

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."