Moral Principles · Biblical Standards · Living Out the Character of God
| Module | Title | Level | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOA-106 | Introduction to Christian Ethics | First & Second Year | Moral Norms, Ideals, and Practices from a Christian Perspective; Prayer, Service, Fellowship, Worship, and Union with God |
The "Introduction to Christian Ethics" module aims to explore moral norms, ideals, and practices from a Christian perspective. These courses examine significant historical and contemporary debates regarding the application of Christian principles in ethical decision-making. They delve into how Christian commitments influence the evaluation of human pursuits, permissible actions, and character traits that are praised or admonished.
Christian Ethics is both theological and practical, equipping believers to navigate complex moral issues in a way that glorifies God. It addresses topics such as integrity, justice, compassion, and stewardship, offering biblically sound principles for ethical decision-making. In a world filled with moral uncertainty, the study of Christian Ethics empowers believers to live as salt and light, bearing witness to the transformative power of the gospel and demonstrating God's love through their choices and actions.
Christian Ethics is grounded in God's will and His unchangeable moral character. It is the study of moral principles and behaviors rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Romans 12:1–2 — "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God…and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Christian Ethics may be defined as the science or study of Christian behavior. Just as Psychology deals with the science of human behavior, so Christian Ethics treats of the science of Christian conduct.
Rules of conduct in a particular culture or group recognized by an external source or social system. For example, a medical code of ethics that medical professionals must follow. Ethics are external standards that govern behavior within a community or profession.
Principles or habits relating to right or wrong conduct, based on an individual's own compass of right and wrong. Morals are internal — they reflect a person's personal convictions about good and evil, often shaped by upbringing, culture, and faith.
The Three Core Values of Christianity in Ethics
Meaning in Ethics: Faith guides moral choices by grounding them in trust and obedience to God's will. Practical Application: Acting with integrity, keeping promises, and making decisions consistent with Scripture — even when it's difficult. Example: Choosing honesty over personal gain because you trust God's principles.
Meaning in Ethics: Hope sustains ethical living by giving a long-term perspective rooted in God's promises. Practical Application: Persevering in doing good, pursuing justice, and resisting temptation because of eternal perspective. Example: Continuing to show kindness and mercy even when immediate results aren't seen.
Meaning in Ethics: Love is the highest moral principle, shaping all actions toward others. Practical Application: Prioritizing the well-being of others, practicing forgiveness, and serving selflessly. Example: Helping those in need, showing compassion to enemies, and fostering reconciliation.
The Five Solas and Christian Ethics
The Five Solas provide the foundation for understanding faith, salvation, and the believer's relationship with God. Together, they guide Christians in knowing what is true and important in their spiritual lives. Christian Ethics is essentially the practical side of these fundamentals — it shows believers how to live out their faith by applying biblical principles in daily life. In other words, the Five Solas teach what to believe, and Christian Ethics teaches how to act on those beliefs.
The Beatitudes — Blueprint for Christian Ethics
Jesus outlined the foundation of Christian ethics in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3–12 and Luke 6:20–23). The Beatitudes serve as the blueprint for Christian ethics because they define the inner character and outward conduct of those who belong to the Kingdom of God. Rather than presenting a list of rules, they begin with the transformation of the heart.
A. Primary and Secondary Questions
Who is God, and what is His nature? · What does God require of us? · How does God communicate His moral will? · What is the purpose of Christian ethics? · How does salvation influence our ethical choices? These questions establish our identity before God and form the theological bedrock of all moral reasoning.
How should I treat others? · What should I do when faced with moral dilemmas? · How do I demonstrate integrity in my personal and professional life? · How do Christian ethics influence my decision-making? · How do I grow in ethical maturity? These questions reveal whether our relationship with God is truly governing our daily lives.
"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."— Acts 16:31 · The Primary Ethical Question for the Sinner: "What must I do to be saved?"
"And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"— Acts 9:6 · The Primary Ethical Question for the Believer: "What kind of life is expected of me?"
Salvation produces a new life, and that new life demands a new way of thinking and living. Primary questions determine your relationship with God; secondary questions reveal whether that relationship is truly governing your life. Doctrine without Christ is legalism, and Christ without doctrine is fanaticism — we need both.
B. Pagan and Christian Ethics Compared
Emphasizes the developing of our natural abilities. "Nature herself never gives us anything except for good intentions" — teaching that morality comes from cultivating one's natural human abilities, assuming human nature is inherently inclined toward good. They teach that humans are inherently divine and should cultivate the "god within." Psalms 14:1–3 and Romans 3:10, 23 present a very different picture of humanity's natural moral condition.
Believes that our natural abilities are impaired by sin (Romans 3:10, 23). Man is incapable of pleasing God by natural effort alone (Romans 3:3). Man's chief aim must be the developing of the new nature received at regeneration — "Ye must be born again" (John 3:3–8). Christian Ethics stresses that God sees not as man sees — He sees both the inward and outward, the visible and invisible (1 Samuel 16:7, Jeremiah 17:10).
C. The Christian View of Goodness
We believe the final evaluation of a deed rests with God (Ephesians 2:10, Genesis 4:7, Matthew 25:21). A thing is good only when it has the approval of God. It must be rooted in His love — not having for its purpose the self, man, or the world, but God's love, honor, and His glory.
"If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door."— Genesis 4:7
Pleasure and satisfaction are pagan standards of goodness, not Christian ones. The Christian view of goodness is theocentric — God-centered — rather than anthropocentric — human-centered. Proverbs 16:25 — "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"— Micah 6:8
The Challenges to Christian Ethics in Daily Life
We are constantly challenged by five interconnected aspects of life. These five are so closely related that the breakdown of one will impair the others:
The Believer's Progressive Intimacy with God
| Stage | Scripture | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Servants | John 13:3; Daniel 1:17; 2 Corinthians 3:12–15 | The first stage of the believer's relationship — knowing God as Master, learning to obey His commands |
| Friends | John 15:15; Genesis 18:17; Proverbs 18:24 | God reveals His purposes to those who walk closely with Him — as He did with Abraham |
| Brethren and Sons | John 20:17; Galatians 4:7 | The fullness of adoption — heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, sharing in His nature and glory |
Christian Character in Manifestation — The Nine Graces
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."— Galatians 5:22–23
Love, Joy, Peace — These three represent the inner transformation of the believer's heart, produced by the indwelling Holy Spirit. They are the atmosphere of the Spirit-filled soul.
Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness — These three express how the Spirit-filled believer relates to other people, especially those who are difficult or different.
Faith, Meekness, Temperance — These three describe the believer's posture before God — trusting, humble, and self-disciplined under His authority.
Wrought into the renewed heart by the Holy Ghost (Romans 5:5). Out-flowing in the energy of the Spirit. Greater than faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13) — Love is the supreme expression of the ethical life. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (John 13:35).
The believer's spiritual experience is identified with Christ in: Nature (2 Peter 1:4), Life (Colossians 3:4), Relationships (Hebrews 2:11), Service (John 17:18), Suffering (Philippians 1:29; 3:10), Inheritance (Romans 8:16–17), and Future Glory in the Kingdom (John 17:24; Revelation 5:10; Matthew 17:4).
Separation in Scripture
Biblical separation is not from contact with evil in the world, but from complicity and conformity to it. John 17:15 — "I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." 2 Corinthians 6:14–18 — "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord." Separation is from whatever is contrary to the mind of God, and unto God Himself.
Three Classes of Men
Unregenerate through the new birth. 1 Corinthians 2:14 — "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
The renewed man walking in the flesh, who remains a spiritual baby. 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 — He has been born again but has not yet grown into spiritual maturity. He is still driven by fleshly appetites and worldly thinking.
The renewed man as Spirit-filled, walking in the Spirit in full communion with God. Ephesians 5:18–20 — He is filled with the Spirit, speaking to himself in psalms and hymns, giving thanks always for all things unto God the Father.
Believers as a Kingdom of Priests
The believer's main privilege is Access to God as Sacrifice and Intercessor. Hebrews 10:19–22 — "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh…let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith." The believer offers a three-fold sacrifice: his own living body (Romans 12:1), praise to God through his lips (Hebrews 13:15), and his substance (Hebrews 13:16; Galatians 6:10).
"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."— John 3:3
The Nature of Regeneration
The Necessity of Regeneration
The Means of Regeneration
The Word of God (1 Peter 1:23; John 3:5) · The Spirit of God (Genesis 1:2; 2 Corinthians 3:6; John 3:5) · The Blood of Christ (Hebrews 12:24; 1 John 1:7; Exodus 12:12) — James 1:18: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth."
The intellect (Luke 15:17; Acts 8:36–38; Acts 2:14) · The heart (Jeremiah 17:9; Acts 8:21; Romans 10:9) · The active will (John 1:12; John 3:26; Acts 16:31) — including personal acceptance of Christ as Savior, acceptance of the Gospel message, and public confession of Christ.
Prayer (Communicating with God) → Service (Acting out faith through helping others) → Fellowship (Building community and shared faith) → Worship (Offering adoration and reverence to God) → Union with God (Deep oneness; ultimate spiritual communion)
Personal Divine Life — Prayer
"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."— James 5:7
In the Old Testament, the basis of prayer is a covenant with God — an appeal to His character. In the New Testament, the basis is one of relationship (Exodus 32:11–14, Matthew 6:9). Old Testament prayers are for an earthly people whose blessings and dangers are earthly. New Testament prayers are for heavenly people whose dangers and blessings are spiritual (Ephesians 6:11–17).
David's Penitential Prayer — The Steps (Psalm 51)
Christ's High-Priestly Prayer — Three Broad Petitions (John 17)
Jesus prays that the Father would glorify Him so that He might glorify the Father — a model of the ultimate ethical posture: seeking God's glory, not our own.
Jesus prays for their sanctification, protection, and unity — that they would be kept from the evil one while remaining in the world as witnesses to the truth.
Jesus prays for all who would believe through the disciples' message — that they would be one, as He and the Father are one. Christian ethics flows from this unity.
Personal Divine Life — Service
Service is the object of personal life — formed by the hand of infinite love (John 17:4). It is the purpose of God in calling (Ephesians 1:14–18; Romans 12:3–8; John 15:16). No soul is satisfied without it (Psalm 51:13; Acts 9:6).
The profound lessons in the Call of Moses (Exodus 4:1–9): The Rod — God's power committed to man. The Hand — what we do. The Heart ("bosom") — what we are in reality (Proverbs 23:7). The Proposition: "The hand that holds the rod of God's power must be a cleansed hand swayed by a new heart" (Isaiah 52:11).
Union with God — The Goal of Personal Divine Life
"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me."— John 15:4 · The Christian Era: Abiding in Christ
The Christian Ethics module provides a foundational understanding of moral principles and their application through a biblical lens. By exploring historical and contemporary discussions on ethical behavior, students gain insight into how Christian values shape decision-making, influence actions, and guide the development of virtuous character. Ethics is not a cage — it is a compass. It does not restrict the life of faith; it guides it toward the fullness of what God intended when He said, "Be ye holy; for I am holy."