Morality is Based in God

A Common Question . . .

Is morality based in God?

The Foundation of This Question:

Is morality fixed or is it relative?

If it is fixed, who gets to set the standards?

Arguments for Relative Morality

Cultural Diversity Argument

Moral Tolerance Argument

Situational Ethics Argument

Autonomy and Personal Freedom Argument

Historical Change Argument

What the Bible Says:

God sets the standard for morality.

Because of who He is - the creator. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”

Because of His nature.

1 John 1:5 “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Psalm 119:68 “You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.”

Isaiah 6:3 “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!””

It is unchanging because God is unchanging:

Malachi 3:6 ““For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

The Consequences for Defying God’s standard of morality:

Death - Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Deterioration of a culture.

Biblical Examples

The period before the flood.

The time of the Judges

Sodom and Gomorrah

Historical Examples

The French Revolution

Communist Russia

Communist China

Nazi Germany

Western Civilization today

What This Means for Us?

We have a firm foundation to stand on that does not shift.

We have a responsibility to know God’s standards for morality.

There are grave consequences for breaking God’s standards.

What God declares is good.

When we understand God’s holiness, it causes us to realize we need a savior.