The Basis of Biblical Ethics

Bobby Farris Jr

Romans 12:1-2 • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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How do Christians know what is right and why do they do what is right?

Notes

Transcript

Handout

What are Biblical Ethics?

Everyday, every person is confronted with choices where they must choose if some action is right or wrong.

Different people have different methods for determining what they think is right and wrong. Some follow a set of arbitrary rules that they have decided to follow. Some follow what society as a group has decided is right and wrong.

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ethics is defined as

How does someone determine what is right or wrong. Everyday, every person is confronted with choices where they must choose if some action is write or wrong. This is determining of whether something is right or wrong is called ethics.

According to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ethics is defined as

According to Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ethics is defined as

the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values

1 plural but singular or plural in construction: the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values

the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group

b plural but singular or plural in construction: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group 〈professional ethics〉

2 a: a set of moral principles: a theory or system of moral values 〈the present-day materialistic ethic〉〈an old-fashioned work ethic〉—often used in plural but singular or plural in construction. 〈an elaborate ethics〉〈Christian ethics〉

the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group

c: a guiding philosophy

a guiding philosophy

b plural but singular or plural in construction: the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group 〈professional ethics〉

the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.

a guiding philosophy

c: a guiding philosophy

d: a consciousness of moral importance 〈forge a conservation ethic〉

3 plural: a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) 〈debated the ethics of human cloning〉

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).

a group of moral principles or set of values.

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary. (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 2003).

Different people have different methods for determining what they think is right and wrong.

Different people have differe

Some follow a set of arbitrary rules that they have decided to follow

For the Christian what determines if something is write or wrong is the Bible. The Bible tells a Christian whether something is moral or immoral whether something is righteous or unrighteous.

What are Biblical Ethics?

How does a Christian determine whether something is right. How does a Christian evaluate any action and say, “This is the right thing to do.” How do we know what is right?

Biblical Ethics could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.150 παρακαλέω; παράκλησις, εως

25.150 παρακαλέωd; παράκλησιςa, εως f: to cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means—‘to encourage, to console, encouragement.’11

For the Christian it is the Bible that determines whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, righteous or unrighteous. Biblical Ethics then could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.

a group of moral principles or set of values.

Therefore, Biblical Ethics could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

ethic noun

but for the Christian it is the Bible that determines whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, righteous or unrighteous. This is where Biblical Ethics appears. Biblical Ethics could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

For the Christian it is the Bible that determines whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, righteous or unrighteous.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

1 ethics plural but usually singular in construction the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation <ethics has been called the science of the ideal of human character>

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

ethic noun

Summarize the following.

ethic noun

synonyms morals

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morals

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

thic noun

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

synonyms principles

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

synonyms ethos

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

Therefore, Biblical Ethics could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

What are Biblical Ethics? Biblical Ethics could be defined as

synonyms principles

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

synonyms morals

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

What are Biblical Ethics? Biblical Ethics could be defined as

synonyms ethos

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

The Book

synonyms principles

synonyms morality, morals, mores

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

synonyms ethos

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

What is an ethical act?

The Book

synonyms morals

What are Biblical Ethics? Ethics, according to the Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus can be defined as:

There are four things that, according to Bible, an action must possess for it to be right, a righteous action.

1- It must be the right action. 2- It must be done with the right heart purified by faith. 3- It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God. 4- And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God.

2- It must be done with the right heart purified by faith.

It must be the right action. It must be done with with the right heart purified by faith. It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God. And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God. Only if all these conditions are met can it be said to be a righteous action.

3- It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God.

4- And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God.

If someone does the right thing from a right heart in the right manner, but does it to the wrong end, their own glory, then their action is sinful, because they are seeking to glorify themselves. If they do the right thing from a right heart and they do it to the right ends, but they do it the wrong way in a fashion that is unbiblical, it is sinful. If someone has the right heart, acts in the right manner and with the right ends, but they do the wrong thing, it is a sinful act. It must be a right action from a right heart done in the right manner and done for the right ends in order for it to be considered a righteous act. And if it does not rise to that level, it is sinful. It is unacceptable.

Only if all these conditions are met can it be said to be a righteous action.

If someone does the right thing from a right heart in the right manner, but does it to the wrong end, their own glory, then their action is sinful, because they are seeking to glorify themselves.

If they do the right thing from a right heart and they do it to the right ends, but they do it the wrong way, in a fashion that is unbiblical, it is sinful.

If someone has the right heart, acts in the right manner, and with the right ends, but they do the wrong thing, it is a sinful act.

It must be a right action from a right heart done in the right manner and done for the right ends in order for it to be considered a righteous act. If it does not rise to that level, it is sinful. It is unacceptable. By the way. You have never ever done an act like that before. All of your actions are a mixture of your own faults and failures and none of them are acceptable to God, in and of themselves. It is only because God has called you righteous, because you are in Christ, that your actions are acceptable to him.

By the way. You have never ever done an act like that before. All of our actions are a mixture of our own faults and failures and none of them are acceptable to God, in and of themselves. It is only because God has called you righteous, because you are in Christ, that your actions are acceptable to him.

So, what for a Christian is an ethical act? How do we arrive at a proper understanding of Biblical ethics, a proper understanding of why we do the right thing? Before we go on to what the Bible says, and the heart of this lesson, I want to take a moment to examine some of the other possibilities that we could use.

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

Wrong Basis for Ethics

The Golden Rule

How how do we arrive at a proper understanding of Biblical ethics, a proper understanding of why we do the right thing? Before we go through what Paul offers us in I want to take a moment to examine some of the other possibilities.

The Golden Rule

First, there is the Golden Rule approach.

This is based upon what Jesus said in

Matthew 7:12 ESV

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

This approach is based upon the idea that we want to live in a world, in a society, that acts in an appropriate manner. Your part in that world and society is to also act in an appropriate manner and therefore perpetuate that kind of ethics. The problem here is the motivation. This approach is based upon manipulation and it is self-centered. Why did you do that action? Because you wanted to receive it in return. The source and foundation of your ethics becomes yourself, your pleasure, and your comfort. You manipulate others to act a certain way. This is inherently self-centered so that the ends are not to glorify God, but to satisfy yourself. The Golden Rule is not an acceptable foundation for Christian ethics. This does not mean that the Golden Rule is bad, just that it cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

This approach is based upon the idea that we want to live in a world, in a society, that acts in an appropriate manner. Your part in that world and society is to also act in an appropriate manner and therefore perpetuate that kind of ethics. The problem here is the motivation. This approach is based upon manipulation and it is man centered. Why did you do that action? Because you wanted to receive it in return. The source and foundation of your ethics becomes yourself, your pleasure, your comfort. You use ethics to manipulate others to act a certain way. This is inherently self-centered so that the ends are not to glorify God, but to satisfy yourself. The Golden Rule is not an acceptable foundation for Christian ethics. This does not mean that the Golden Rule is bad, just that it cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

The Golden Rule cannot be an acceptable foundation for Christian ethics because it is based upon manipulation, inherently self-centered, and the ends are not to glorify God, but to satisfy ourselves.

The Fear of God

Secondly, we could base our ethics upon the fear of God. This is actually the Roman Catholic approach to ethics.

The Council of Trent met between 1545 and 1563. It was the Catholic response to the reformation. It is the dogma and doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church and by them it is considered infallible. It has not been overturned, nor will they ever overturn it, since it is considered infallible. Listen to what it says in Session 6, Cannon 24 and Session 6, Cannon 30.

"If anyone says that the righteousness received is not preserved and also increased before God by good works, but that those works are merely the fruits and signs of justification obtained, but not a cause of its increase, let him be an anathema or cursed."

More specifically it says:

"If anyone says that the guilt is remitted to every penitent sinner after the grace of justification has been received and that the debt of eternal punishment is so blotted out that there remains no debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world or the next in purgatory, before the entrance into the kingdom of heaven can be obtained, let him be an anathema."

This is saying that anyone that believes that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone is cursed. This is not Gospel Paul taught. This is another Gospel.

How does the Fear of God ethics work?

1- God is holy, righteous, and full of wrath toward the wicked. 2- You are wicked and deserve God's wrath 3- You must assuage the wrath of God. The Catholics add that you might not accomplish this in this life and you may ultimately have to finish the work in purgatory through paying for your sins.

2- You are wicked and deserve God's wrath

3- You must assuage the wrath of God. The Catholics add that you might not accomplish this in this life and you may ultimately have to finish the work in purgatory through paying for your sins.

Romans 6:9–10 ESV

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.

Romans 6:9-10 says Christ died for sins once and for all, the just for the unjust, so that he could bring us back to God. We do not act because of the fear of displeasing God. That cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

The Bible says Christ died for sins once and for all, the just for the unjust, so that he could bring us back to God. We do not act because of the fear of displeasing God. That cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

We do not act because of the fear of displeasing God. That cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

The Law of God

The third possibility for a foundation of Christian ethics is the Law of God. We act because God said it is right.

The idea is that God laid down a universal law, all actions are judged by that standard, and we are bound to obey that law.

It sounds like a good basis for ethics, but there is a problem. If you make the foundation of your ethics the Law of God you can end up with this idea: Saved by grace, kept or sanctified by works or to put it another way, justification is of grace, and sanctification comes through the law. This and it is wrong.

The problem with ethics based upon the Law of God is that it leads to incorrect theology. Saved by grace, kept or sanctified by works or to put it another way, justification is of grace, and sanctification comes through the law.

Did Jesus teach that the law was the ultimate standard? Look at what Jesus says during the Sermon on the Mount. "You have heard it said…," then what does he say? The Mosaic Law. Where does he go from there? "But I say to you…." Jesus says there is a higher standard than just keeping God's written word.

Look at what Jesus says during the Sermon on the Mount. Is this what Jesus says? "You have heard it said…," then what does he say? The Mosaic Law. Where does he go from there? "But I say to you…." Jesus says there is a higher standard than just keeping God's written word.

Another problem is something James points out in

James 2:10 ESV

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

If the law is your standard than you must keep all of the law, the whole thing and we cannot keep the whole law. The Law of God cannot be our basis for ethics.

You have to keep all of the law, the whole thing. We cannot keep the whole law.

The Foundation of Christian Ethics

So what is left for us to base our Biblical ethics on?

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

gives the basis of all Christian ethics, how to determine the rightness or wrongness of an action, and it gives the reason a Christian follows Biblical ethics.

The Book

Paul exhorts the Church in Rome and us to give ourselves, to give our bodies, to give our whole lives to God. To give God everything that you have and to give everything that you are to God. Why? Based on what? The mercy God has shown in the first 11 chapters of the Book of Romans.

Paul says that in light of the mercies of God the Gospel has to be the foundation of your ethics. What God has done for you and through you must be the ground for your ethics.

Appeal

So what does it look like?

synonyms morality, morals, mores

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

ethic noun

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

synonyms principles

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

synonyms ethos

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

ethic noun

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

synonyms principles

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

synonyms ethos

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

Biblical Ethics could be defined asa set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is right or wrong.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus ethic

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

The Book

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

This verse gives the basis of all Christian ethics, how to determine the rightness or wrongness of an action, and it gives the reason a Christian follows Biblical ethics.

The Look

Appeal

The Look

Paul writes, “I appeal to you....” The English word appeal is to soft of a term and doesn’t give the full force of what Paul is trying to say to those in Rome. He isn’t asking politely or softly, but is trying to encourage them and exhort them.

Summarize:

Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) 4151 παρακαλέω

ask for earnestly, beg, plead (Ac 28:20), for another interp, see below; 2. LN 33.315 invite (Lk 8:41); 3. LN 33.310 call together to (Ac 28:20), for another interp, see above; 4. LN 25.150 encourage, console, urge (Eph 6:22)

Paul is pleading, encouraging, and exhorting the followers in Rome. He doesn't say, "You know, since what I wrote about in the first 11 chapters is true, maybe you should…." No. This is not a simple appeal or asking. Paul is saying, "You should, You must, You have to…"

Living Sacrifices

And look what Paul is asking them and us to do....by the mercies of God present your lives a living sacrifice.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

What does Paul ask people to do?

Christianity is not a theoretical religion. God does not save us merely to give us a new outlook on life and he does not merely make us positionally righteous, but God actually changes who we are.

What kind of

God does not save us merely to give us a new outlook on life and he does not merely make us positionally righteous, but God actually changes who we are.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

In the first 11 chapters of the book of Romans Paul painstakingly walks through what God in Christ has accomplished for us and through us. Now, we come to Romans chapter 12 and it is no longer theoretical, but now Paul demonstrates for us and shows us what the Christian life actually looks like if the first 11 chapters of Romans are true in us. See, if the first 11 chapters of Romans is true in our lives it just does not position us to talk about justification and theoretical Christianity. When the first 11 chapters of Romans are true it manifest itself in our lives in the way we live and the way we interact with each other so that the idea of righteousness becomes a lifestyle.

If the first 11 chapters of Romans is true in our lives it just does not position us to talk about justification and theoretical Christianity. When the first 11 chapters of Romans are true it manifest itself in our lives in the way we live and the way we interact with each other so that the idea of righteousness becomes a lifestyle. So Paul tells us to offer our very selves as a living sacrifice.

Our faith must impact our everyday lives.

Paul says that in light of the mercies of God, the Gospel has to be the foundation of our ethics.

What God has done for us and through us must be the basis for our ethics.

It is interesting that Paul tells us to "offer ourselves as living sacrifices." This would have really stood out to those in Rome. You see, when you came to the altar in the Old Testament what did you come with? You would bring your bull, lamb, or goat and you would bring it to the law to be sacrificed. It would die and it would represent your failure to keep the law. So you would come before God with your sacrifice and you would say, "I have not kept your law. I need to be forgiven because I have violated your law." And by faith you would believe that God had accepted your offering. And because he accepts your offering you are forgiven.

It is interesting that Paul looks at this and tells us to "offer ourselves as living sacrifices." This would have really stood out to those in Rome. You see, when you came to the altar in the Old Testament what did you come with? You would bring your bull, lamb, or goat and you would bring it to the law to be sacrificed. It would die and it would represent your failure to keep the law. So you would come before God with your sacrifice and you would say, "I have not kept your law. I need to be forgiven because I have violated your law." And by faith you would believe that God had accepted your offering. And because he accepts your offering you are forgiven.

Paul says that in light of the mercies of God, in light of the Gospel, in light of what God has done for you has to be the foundation of your ethics. What God has done for you and through you must be the ground for your ethics.

But what would it look like, in light of all Christ has done, if you bring a sacrifice now? "God, I know that you have sacrificed your only begotten, perfect, sinless, precious son for sin. But I just thought I would add the blood of this sacrifice just in case Jesus was lacking anything." How dare we do such a thing.

Paul says you bring you. You bring you. You lay yourself at God's altar. Paul says this is the only reasonable thing you can do. Your logical worship is to give yourself as the sacrifice. This is the only thing that makes any sense.

In light of what God has accomplished in Christ, the only thing that makes sense is not that you would bring another sacrifice, but that you give yourself to God. That you would lay yourself on the altar, that you would turn over and relinquish all rights to yourself. Christ bought you. You were crucified with Christ and yet you live, not you, but Christ who lives in you.

How, by the Bible, do we judge an action?

Paul exhorts the Church in Rome and us to give ourselves, to give our whole lives to God. To give God everything that we have and to give everything that we are to God. Why? Based on what? The mercy God has shown in the first 11 chapters of the Book of Romans. Paul says that in light of the mercies of God, give everything you are. The mercies of God , the Gospel, has to be the basis for our ethics.

Paul says you bring you. You bring you. You lay yourself at God's altar. Paul says this is the only reasonable thing you can do. Your logical worship is to give yourself as the sacrifice. This is the only thing that makes any sense. In light of what God has accomplished in Christ, the only thing that makes sense is not that you would bring another sacrifice, but that you give yourself to God. That you would lay yourself on the altar, that you would turn over and relinquish all rights to yourself. Christ bought you. You were crucified with Christ and yet you live, not you, but Christ who lives in you.

the Gospel has to be the foundation of our ethics. What God has done for us and through us must be the basis for our ethics.

Listen.

All ethical systems appeal to moral laws and rules. Paul does not appeal to moral rules or principles. He appeals to the mercies of God. If Christian morals were rooted in deference of divine wrath it would simply be some sort of moral ransom based on fear. If it where done in the hopes of receiving something from God, then it would be manipulative and egocentric.

True Christian ethics are ethics of gratitude. The obedience pleasing to God is characterized by free and willing submission because of God's offering of his son on our behalf. That is the basis of our ethics. Because what God had done in Christ, because of what God has done in us through the finished work of his son. Because we are in Christ.

What are the four Biblical requirements for an action to be considered Righteous.

What Christian Ethics Looks Like.

So what does this look like.

1- The gospel produces in us righteousness.

Right action.

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

2- Accomplished through the person and work of Christ.

Right action.

If the first 11 chapters of Romans is true in our lives it just does not position us to talk about justification and theoretical Christianity. When the first 11 chapters of Romans are true it manifest itself in our lives in the way we live and the way we interact with each other so that the idea of righteousness becomes a lifestyle. Look at

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

As Christians we must not be caught up in the principle and stuck in the theoretical, but we must move into application. Our faith must impact our everyday life. Christianity is not a theoretical religion. God does not save us merely to give us a new outlook on life and he does not merely make us positionally righteous, but God actually changes who we are.

Christianity is not a theoretical religion. God does not save us merely to give us a new outlook on life and he does not merely make us positionally righteous, but God actually changes who we are.

2- This is accomplished through the person and work of Christ.

2- Accomplished through the person and work of Christ.

Romans 3:21–25 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

The world propitiation means that he satisfied the wrath of God. Again, fear cannot be the basis of our ethics. There is no fear for us, because the wrath of God has been fully assuaged by being poured out on his son.

Romans 3:21–26 ESV

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3- We cannot add to what Christ accomplished on our behalf.

Romans 3:27–30 ESV

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Romans 3:27–30 ESV

Romans 1:27–30 ESV

27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous. -6:1

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous. and

Right Heart. The purified heart.

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous.

Romans 5:18–19 ESV

18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Romans 6:1 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?

-6:1

This is our positional righteousness.

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Christ did not die so that we can have a symbolic righteousness before God, a theoretical righteousness. We are being conformed into his image. He died so that we could be made actually righteous and to increase the righteousness in us, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us.

Right Manner. Done according to the word of God.

Christ did not die so that we can have a symbolic righteousness before God, a theoretical righteousness. We are being conformed into his image. He died so that we could be made actually righteous and to increase the righteousness in us, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us.

5- We have both the power and the motivation.

Right End. Done for the glory of God.

This brings us right to

Romans 12:1 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Biblical Ethics is the Gospel

The Took

Conclusion

We have been made righteous, because the work was accomplished through Christ, because we cannot add to it, and because his work doesn’t just make us positionally righteous, but actually righteous. In view of that, we should give our bodies to God. That is the only thing that makes sense. It is our spiritual worship. It is the only logical worship that we can do.

synonyms morals

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

synonyms morality, morals, mores

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

synonyms principles

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

synonyms ethos

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

ethic noun

Now back in our confession chapter 19, turn with me if you have your hymnal still open. Chapter 19, go to paragraph seven. Some of you were worried there by paragraph five and may have thought that there was some Legalism being advanced here. Let’s go to paragraph seven. That would be on page 681 of the hymnal. After speaking about how useful the law is in our lives in a number of ways, shows us what holiness and righteousness is, reveals the sin that is in us, all of these and so on and so forth, paragraph seven.

The Mistake of the Law of Love

“Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.”

synonyms morals

The fact that the gospel is the foundation upon which our ethics are built is where some people make a mistake. Some people make the mistake in saying, “You know, here is this new law, the law of love. And because we have this new law we don't have to look at God’s moral law anymore.” But the fact of the matter is, the law is holy. The law is righteous. The law is good.

2 a group of moral principles or set of values <the Christian ethic>

Some people make the mistake in saying, “You know, yes, here is this new law, the law of love. And because we have this new law, the law of love, we don't look at God’s moral law anymore.”

synonyms morality, morals, mores

But the fact of the matter is, the law is holy. The law is righteous. The law is good.

3 ethics plural the code of conduct or behavior governing an individual or a group (as the members of a profession) <medical ethics>

So how do you connect these two things and what does that look like in the life of a believer? How do you live this righteous life to which we have been called, this righteous life that we have been enabled to live? How do we accomplish it? And what does it look like when it is accomplished? Do we accomplish it through keeping the law? No, we don't accomplish it through keeping the law. We accomplish it by Christ, because of what Christ has accomplished in us. But what does it look like?

Romans 13:8-10

synonyms principles

Here is how you connect them. Because we are in Christ we have both the power and the motivation to obey God’s law. Don’t believe me? Turn to the right and look at chapter 13. And eventually we will get here, but, again, this is the last section. Here are the imperatives. This is how we go from the abstract to the concrete and we answer the question: What does that look like in the life of a believer? How do you live this righteous life to which we have been called, this righteous life that we have been enabled to live? How do we accomplish it? And what does it look like when it is accomplished? Do we accomplish it through keeping the law? No, we don't accomplish it through keeping the law. We accomplish it by Christ, because of what Christ has accomplished in us. We accomplish it because of the motivation that we now have, because of what Christ has accomplished in us. But when we accomplish it, what does it look like? Chapter 13 beginning in verse eight.

Romans 13:8–10 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

related words moralities, morals, mores; criteria, standards

What does that look like in the life of a believer? How do you live this righteous life to which we have been called, this righteous life that we have been enabled to live? How do we accomplish it? And what does it look like when it is accomplished? Do we accomplish it through keeping the law? No, we don't accomplish it through keeping the law. We accomplish it by Christ, because of what Christ has accomplished in us. We accomplish it because of the motivation that we now have, because of what Christ has accomplished in us. But when we accomplish it, what does it look like?

Do you see?

Love is fulfilling the law. If you want to love your brother than fulfill the law. You can’t say you love your brother and then lie about him. You can’t say you love your sister and then steal from her. You can’t say you love your parents and then not honor them.

4 the complex of ideals, beliefs, or standards that characterizes or pervades a group, community, or people <the American work ethic>

Romans 13:8 ESV

8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Chapter 13 beginning in verse eight.

If you are not in Christ, there is no way you can avoid violating the commandments. You can’t. But when you are in Christ there is no way that you can continue to be formed in his image and pursue the breaking of those commandments. You won’t do it. You won’t do it and pursue Christ simultaneously. You can’t. Those things don’t operate together. And so when I am breaking these commandments, why am I breaking the Commandments? Because of my flesh. Though I have been made righteous and been enabled to act righteous I still inhabit sinful flesh.

So what do I do? Do I try harder to make my flesh obey or do I run and flee to Christ knowing that as I pursue Christ and as Christ is increased in me the result of that is that I do not pursue the violation of the commandments. Do you see that?

what do I do? Do I double down and knuckle under and try harder? No.

Why am I breaking the Commandments? Because my flesh is prone to wander. Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the one I love.

Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the one I love.

synonyms ethos

So what do I do? Do I try harder to make my flesh obey or do I run and flee to Christ knowing that as I pursue Christ and as Christ is increased in me that the result of that is that I do not pursue the violation of these commandments. Do you see that?

The Example of Love Your Wife Ethics

related words belief, ideal, standard, value

Look at the example of the command to the husband to love his wife.

The Golden Rule

What if we take the golden rule approach to this? Here is what it looks like. When a husband and wife sit down before you, you say,

Inc Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Thesaurus (Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, 1996).

To the wife you say, “Hey, would you just tell him how it makes you feel when he does that?

“Hey, would you just tell him how it makes you feel when he does whatever it is that you don't like it that he does? Well, that makes me feel bad and it makes me feel unloved and it makes me feel unappreciated and it makes me feel unwanted. Ok, stop. Do you hear what she is saying that she feels bad and she feels unappreciated and she feels unloved and she feels unwanted? Would you want to feel like that? No. So, then, don’t you think you ought to love her in a way that you want to be loved?"

Well, that makes me feel bad and it makes me feel unloved and it makes me feel unappreciated and it makes me feel unwanted. Ok.

Do you hear what she is saying that she feels bad and she feels unappreciated and she feels unloved and she feels unwanted? Would you want to feel like that? No. So, then, don’t you think you ought to love her in a way that you want to be loved?"

That is Golden rule ethics. She really needs from you is this. You really need from her is that.

I have at home a great book on marriage. It is one of the best marriage books I have ever seen and is filled with awesome insight. If I ever do get married again before we get married she and I will go through the book and its program together. But it, like pretty much 90% of Christian marriage books out on the market, take the Golden rule ethics approach. Here is a secret, if you give her what she needs, she will be more likely to give you what you need. Think of your partner. Am I saying that you shouldn’t think of your partner? No, But I am saying if that is your motivation, then it is idolatry. Why? Because your goal is to manipulate someone else so that you can get from that them what you want. And that is idolatry.

Fear of God

Secondly, what about the fear of God approach. Love your wife. Why? Because God is watching. And you are going to have to give an account. So you just need to do it.

The Law of God

What about the law of God approach. Love your wife. Why? Because God commands it.

The Mercies of God or Gospel

And how about the mercies of God or Gospel approach? Love your wife. Why?

Because Christ gave himself for his bride. He literally died for her. He was nailed to a cross for her. He breathed his last for her. You happen to be part of her. And he has said to you that your love for your wife is a living, breathing picture of what he has accomplished in the gospel on behalf of his bride. "What if she doesn't love me back?" When was the last time you loved Christ perfectly? When was the last time you satisfied him? When was the last time you gave him your all? Then how dare you expect from your wife as your bride what you have never given to him as his bride.

"Yeah, but I just don’t feel like it." Of course you don’t, because you are a sinner. That is why you don’t feel like it. But when you don’t feel like it, where do you go? You run to the cross so that you can be reminded of what Christ has accomplished in you and for you and what he desires to accomplish through you. And that reminds you of your own state, causes you not to think so much of your ruined unworthy self and it allows you to turn back having been reminded of the grace that you have received, so that you can then allow God to pour out that grace through you.

The Gospel Centered Ethics.

The Gospel centered ethics.

The ground of our ethics is the mercy of God. The ground of our ethics is the gospel.

When you look at the mercy of God, the Gospels, and what God has accomplished for us in Christ what do you see?

1- You see how holy and righteous God is, so holy and so righteous that he would crush and kill his own Son for the sake of that holiness and righteousness. 2- You see that sin is never to be taken lightly. It cannot be taken lightly. 3- You see the value and dignity of human life. Think about this for a moment.

2- You see that sin is never to be taken lightly. It cannot be taken lightly.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

3- You see the value and dignity of human life. Think about this for a moment.

The God of the universe turned and poured out his wrath on his Son on behalf of creatures like you and me. What does that say about his esteem for us? When you look at the mercy of God, you don’t concentrate on the value of yourself. You concentrate on the value of mankind because of the value that God places on his Son and the fact that his Son was sacrificed on behalf of men. You must then respect people. And when you look upon the mercy of God, you cannot but recognize the weight and magnitude of the debt that you owe. How can you repay that? You can’t.

Conclusion

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Romans 5:

In light of everything that God has done for you, how God positioned you as righteous by his son and how God actually makes you righteous by placing you in his son the only reasonable thing for you to do is offer yourself as a sacrifice.

I said this earlier, but it is worth saying again, our faith must impact our everyday life. Christianity is not a theoretical religion. God does not save us merely to give us a new outlook on life and he does not merely make us positionally righteous, but God actually changes who we are.

It is God’s Holy Spirit that must work in me. I have been redeemed by Christ. His Spirit dwells in me and God has told me what is good. So I pursue that which is good, because God has made it possible. God has changed my very nature and so I pursue the nature that God has now given me. How does this work?

It is God’s Holy Spirit that must work in me to will and to work for his good pleasure. I have been redeemed by Christ. His Spirit dwells in me and God has told me what is good. So guess what? I pursue that which is good, because God has made it possible. God has changed my very nature and so I pursue the nature that God has now given me.

t is God’s Holy Spirit that must work in me to will and to work for his good pleasure. I have been redeemed by Christ. His Spirit dwells in me and God has told me what is good. So guess what? I pursue that which is good, because God has made it possible. God has changed my very nature and so I pursue the nature that God has now given me.

The Old Testament is full of types and foreshadows of what would happen in the New Testament and there is a great example in Genesis of the change God works in our nature.

Before the flood, man was a herbivore. He was given every plant and tree with fruit for his food (). He ate fruits and vegetables, but he was not given animals and meat. Someone could have put all kind of meat before a man and he wouldn’t have eaten it because it was not in his nature. Nobody had to set hunting limits. When the flood came there was a change.

So I pursue that which is good, because God has made it possible. God has changed my very nature and so I pursue the nature that God has now given me.

When the Ark rested God told Noah that the animals would now fear man, but all moving things were food for man. () Before the flood man was a herbivore and would never even touch meat. After the flood man is an omnivore and able to eat and partake of meat. Man even hunts and pursues meat.

Before we are born again our nature was to sin. Righteousness could be put right before us, but we would not choose or pursue it. Nobody had to force us not to pursue it. We wouldn’t pursue it. We had every opportunity, to act righteous but we didn’t have the ability. It was not in our nature.

I used to be an herbivore. Now I am an omnivore. That is what it is to change your nature. You are an herbivore, you just go and you eat vegetables and fruit, because that is all you want. I mean someone could put all kind of meat all kind of meat before you, but you won’t eat it, because it is not your nature. That was us. That was us before we were born again. Our nature was to sin.

That was us. That was us before we were born again. Our nature was to sin.

Righteousness could be put right there before us, but it was not in our nature to pursue it and we weren’t going to pursue it. Nobody had to force our will not to pursue it. Our will didn’t want to pursue it. We weren’t going to pursue it. We had every opportunity, but we didn’t have the ability. Now all of the sudden we are born again and our very nature is changed. So now I am no longer the herbivore. I am an omnivore. So what do I do? Sit and watch meat hoping that some of it falls in my mouth. Or do I go kill, eat? God has changed my nature so that I can now desire and pursue the good and the righteous, the beautiful, the just, the holy.

Now we are born again and our very nature is changed. Now I am no longer the herbivore. I am an omnivore. So what do I do? Sit and watch meat hoping that some of it falls in my mouth. Or do I go kill, eat? God has changed my nature so that I can now desire and pursue the good and the righteous, the beautiful, the just, the holy.

Our will didn’t want to pursue it. We weren’t going to pursue it. We had every opportunity, but we didn’t have the ability. Now all of the sudden we are born again and our very nature is changed. So now I am no longer the herbivore. I am an omnivore. So what do I do? Sit and watch meat hoping that some of it falls in my mouth. Or do I go kill, eat? God has changed my nature so that I can now desire and pursue the good and the righteous, the beautiful, the just, the holy.

I exhort you, brothers. Don’t just sit there. In view of this mercy the only thing that makes sense for you to do, your spiritual worship, your logical worship, the only thing that makes sense for you to do is to give your whole body to God that he might do with you, in you and through you that which he foreordained and has called you to. That is what you do. You pursue the good and the righteous, because you can. That this what you do. And when you find yourself outside of those things, you don’t just double down and gird up your loins and try real hard, you turn your face back toward the cross, recognizing that that is both the source and the motivation for all of your ethics.

This is why Paul writes, I exhort you, brothers. Don’t just sit there. In view of this mercy the only thing that makes sense for you to do, your spiritual worship, your logical worship, is to give your whole body to God that he might do with you, in you and through you that which he foreordained and has called you to. That is what you do.

You pursue the good and the righteous, because you can. And when you find yourself outside of those things, you don’t just double down and gird up your loins and try real hard, you turn your face back toward the cross, recognizing that it is both the source and the motivation for all of your ethics. That is why you do what you do.

Related Media

Related Sermons

The Basis of Biblical Ethics

What are Biblical Ethics?

For the Christian it is the Bible that determines whether something is right or wrong, moral or immoral, righteous or unrighteous. Biblical Ethics then could be defined as a set of values based upon the Bible that determines whether something is righteous.

The Book

What is an ethical act?

The Book

There are four things that, according to Bible, an action must possess for it to be right, a righteous action.

1- It must be the right action. 2- It must be done with the right heart purified by faith. 3- It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God. 4- And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God.

1- It must be the right action. 2- It must be done with the right heart purified by faith. 3- It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God. 4- And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God.

2- It must be done with the right heart purified by faith.

3- It must be done in the right manner according to the word of God.

4- And it must be done to the right end, the glory of God.

Wrong Basis for Ethics

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule

This is based upon what Jesus said in

The Fear of God

How does the Fear of God ethics work?

1- God is holy, righteous, and full of wrath toward the wicked. 2- You are wicked and deserve God's wrath 3- You must assuage the wrath of God. The Catholics add that you might not accomplish this in this life and you may ultimately have to finish the work in purgatory through paying for your sins.

2- You are wicked and deserve God's wrath

3- You must assuage the wrath of God. The Catholics add that you might not accomplish this in this life and you may ultimately have to finish the work in purgatory through paying for your sins.

Romans 6:9-10 says Christ died for sins once and for all, the just for the unjust, so that he could bring us back to God. We do not act because of the fear of displeasing God. That cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

We do not act because of the fear of displeasing God. That cannot be the foundation of Christian ethics.

The Law of God

The idea is that God laid down a universal law, all actions are judged by that standard, and we are bound to obey that law.

The Foundation of Christian Ethics

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

gives the basis of all Christian ethics, how to determine the rightness or wrongness of an action, and it gives the reason a Christian follows Biblical ethics.

The Book

Appeal

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

​

The Book

The source and the foundation of all Christian Ethics can be found in

The Look

Appeal

Appeal

The Look

Living Sacrifices

​

Paul says that in light of the mercies of God, in light of the Gospel, in light of what God has done for you has to be the foundation of your ethics. What God has done for you and through you must be the ground for your ethics.

How, by the Bible, do we judge an action?

What Christian Ethics Looks Like.

1- The gospel produces in us righteousness.

2- This is accomplished through the person and work of Christ.

​

​

2- Accomplished through the person and work of Christ.

3- We cannot add to what Christ accomplished on our behalf.

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous. and

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous. and

4- Christ work makes us both positionally, judicially, and actually righteous.

Christ did not die so that we can have a symbolic righteousness before God, a theoretical righteousness. We are being conformed into his image. He died so that we could be made actually righteous and to increase the righteousness in us, because we are in Christ and Christ is in us.

5- We have both the power and the motivation.

Biblical Ethics is the Gospel

The Took

Conclusion

The Mistake of the Law of Love

Love is fulfilling the law. If you want to love your brother than fulfill the law. You can’t say you love your brother and then lie about him. You can’t say you love your sister and then steal from her. You can’t say you love your parents and then not honor them.

The Example of Love Your Wife Ethics

The Golden Rule

Fear of God

The Law of God

The Mercies of God or Gospel

The Gospel Centered Ethics.

The Gospel centered ethics.

When you look at the mercy of God, the Gospels, and what God has accomplished for us in Christ what do you see?

2- You see that sin is never to be taken lightly. It cannot be taken lightly.

3- You see the value and dignity of human life. Think about this for a moment.

Conclusion