MODULE 3
Lesson 1 & 2
Definition and Significance of
Christian Ethics
Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics
Definition and
Significance of Ethics
Rev. Adiel Nathan G. Caspe
Colossians 3:1-6 (NIV)
“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your
heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right
hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on
earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden
with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life appears,
then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death,
therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,
which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is
coming.”
What is 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 and wrong in this aspect is
determined by the life and teachings of Christ.
What is Christian Ethics?
- is a SET OF PRINCIPLES derived from the Christian faith
by which we act.
The Bible gives us a detailed instruction on how we should
live. While God’s word may not cover every situation in our
lives, its principles give us the standards by which we must
conduct ourselves.
What is 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 is expressed in what we say, live and
practice. It is also synonymous with our lifestyle or day to
day living.
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.
2. Christian ethics is a set of principles derived
from the Christian faith by which we act.
What is Christian Ethics?
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.
Significance of Christian Ethics?
Why do we need to study Christian ethics?
1. Christian Ethics guides Christians in making
right decision.
(Giles) 3 elements involved in making right decisions:
1. one’s sense of value
2. one’s belief in the dignity and worth of person
3. one’s responsibility towards neighbor.
Significance of Christian Ethics?
2. Christian Ethics helps us differentiate between
what is vital and peripheral in life.
Vital signifies essential element in life, while peripheral
is of minor significance.
Vital Things in My Life Peripheral Things in My Life
___________________ _______________________
Significance of Christian Ethics?
2. Christian Ethics helps us differentiate between
what is vital and peripheral in life.
Vital signifies essential element in life, while peripheral
is of minor significance.
Vital Things in My Life Peripheral Things in My Life
Good Grades/Graduate Relationship/boy-girl friend
Significance of Christian Ethics?
3. Christian Ethics assists people in determining
their goals in life and help them realize these
goals.
Christian ethics does not agree that the end justifies the
means. The efforts toward realizing the end should be
coupled with the efforts towards developing good principle,
right attitude and acceptable way of life.
Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics
Christian ethics deals with what is morally
right and wrong. This module will give us the
biblical basis of Christian ethics which will
help us determine good actions.
Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics
1. Christian ethics is based on the Scripture.
2. Christian Ethics is based on God’s will.
3. Christian Ethics is based on a strong foundation
of the absolute.
4. Christian Ethics is based on God’s revelation.
Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics
5. Christian ethics is based on the character of God.
6. Christian Ethics is based on the atonement.
7. Christian Ethics is prescriptive.
Christian Ethics
in Relationship with the
Old and New Testament
Old Testament Ethics
Christian ethics is grounded in the
Old Testament. The principles of the
Old Testament consist of the laws, and
the character and nature of God.
The laws gave Israel their standard of what was right and wrong.
The governing principle which is the nature and character of God
is summed up by the statement that the Lord was holy (Lev. 19:2).
The holy character of God cannot tolerate evil or sin. Therefore,
if we wish to please God and guard our life from sin, we must
live in accordance with His nature and character.
Old Testament Ethics
The major contributions of the Old Testament to
the study of ethics include:
1) accountability to a monotheistic God;
2) humility, righteousness, and wisdom.
It emphasizes social responsibilities without
diminishing individual’s accountability.
New Testament Ethics
The most significant contribution of the New
Testament is Jesus Christ. His life, teaching and
ministry form the structure of the New Testament ethics.
The common ground of the New Testament with the Old
Testament is the revelation of God and His Word. The
revelation of God in the New Testament assumes His
lordship over His creation.
Therefore, all aspects of life – attitudes and actions are
subject to God. The revelation of God’s Word means that
the New Testament ethics has a saving outlook on life. The
Word of God reveals that mankind fell into sin, but God
offers reconciliation through Christ.
New Testament Ethics
The principles governing the New Testament
ethics are what Jesus said: 1) “Love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind,” and, 2) “Love
your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:37 -39).
With the common ground between the two
testaments, the following are the basic ethical
understanding or concepts of God.
Concepts of God
God is Ethical. The ethics of God stresses the
sacredness of human life. God does not want
human sacrifices.
When Abraham was about to kill his son Isaac,
to be sacrificed as a burnt offering, God stopped
his hands (Gen. 22:12).
God’s ethics is to preserve human life. God was
not also happy when Manasseh sacrificed his
own son in the fire (2 Kings 21:6).
Concepts of God
God is Creator. Behind the interpretation
of evil as the corrupted good is faith in
God as the Creator.
Human beings and everything else in the world
have been made by God. However, as Creator, he
is not responsible for what is wrong with us. He is
not the source of evil that threatens us.
He is the only source of what is right with and
about us (Rudnick, 1979).
Concepts of God
God is Righteous. God is portrayed as righteous in
the Old Testament. Because God is righteous, he
demands righteousness from all people.
Righteousness is a moral and ethical obligations
of people in the society. It should be centered in
the attitudes of the heart.
Psalm 11:7 says “The Lord is righteous, he loves
justice, upright men will see his face.”
Concepts of God
God is Provider. El Shaddai or Jehovah Jireh
is the name of God which stresses his
capacity to supply human needs.
When the Israelites were hungry and thirsty, God
provided them with food and water. In one of the
mountains of Galilee, Jesus also fed the hungry
multitudes with loaves of bread and pieces of fish
(RE 2 Manual, 2005).
Concepts of God
God is Justice. Justice is the property of law or
measured by the standard of law. Since justice is
rooted in law, it easily develops the ethical conduct
in accordance with what is lawful.
God emphasizes justice and upright living. He
wants people to repent from their sins and to live
with what is just. “If a wicked man turns away
from his sins he has committed and keep God’s
decrees, he will surely live, not die”(Ezekiel 18:21),
(Landero, 2002).
Concepts of God
God is Merciful. Mercy is used in the Old Testament
to express the unique quality of God. Mercy is
reciprocal by nature.
It is to the merciful that God will show mercy.
“God will not show mercy when he judges the
person who has not been merciful” (James 2:13).
The principle of reciprocity is seen also in the Lord’s
prayer, “Forgive us, as we forgive…” (Matt.6:12).
Concepts of God
God is Savior. In the Old Testament God delivered
the Israelites from the Egyptian slavery. He saved
the Hebrew patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob; he saved Moses and the slaves at the Red
Sea. He saved the thief who had a penitent heart
at the cross of Calvary.
The ethics of God is salvation for mankind. He
sent His only Son Jesus to save us from our sins.
Concepts of God
God is love. The concrete love of God was seen
in a manger. He concretized himself in the form
of human flesh and this human flesh is none
other than His son, Jesus. His ethical action was
a transcendental one. He came down to identify
with his loved people.
Since God is love, he challenged his people to
love one another (I John 4:6-8), (RE 2 Manual,
2005).
