What are Christian ethics?

[Obadiah]

As an introduction to Christian Ethics is an article from Got?

Christian ethics is well summarized by Colossians 3:1-6: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts 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.”

While more than just a list of “do’s” and “don’ts,” the Bible does give us detailed instructions on how we should live. The Bible is all we need to know about how to live the Christian life. However, the Bible does not explicitly cover every situation we will face in our lives. How then is it sufficient for the all the ethical dilemmas we face? That is where Christian ethics comes in.

Science defines ethics as “a set of moral principles, the study of morality.” Therefore, Christian ethics would be the principles derived from the Christian faith by which we act. While God’s Word may not cover every situation we face throughout our lives, its principles give us the standards by which we must conduct ourselves in those situations where there are no explicit instructions.

For example, the Bible does not say anything explicitly about the use of illegal drugs, yet based on the principles we learn through Scripture, we can know that it is wrong. For one thing, the Bible tells us that the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that we should honor God with it (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Knowing what drugs do to our bodies—the harm they cause to various organs—we know that by using them we would be destroying the temple of the Holy Spirit. That is certainly not honoring to God. The Bible also tells us that we are to follow the authorities that God Himself has put into place (Romans 13:1). Given the illegal nature of the drugs, by using them we are not submitting to the authorities but are rebelling against them. Does this mean if illegal drugs were legalized it would be ok? Not without violating the first principle.
From Got?

By using the principles we find in Scripture, Christians can determine the ethical course for any given situation. In some cases it will be simple, like the rules for Christian living we find in Colossians, chapter 3. In other cases, however, we need to do a little digging. The best way to do that is to pray over God’s Word. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer, and part of His role is teaching us how to live: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). “As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him” (1 John 2:27). So, when we pray over Scripture, the Spirit will guide us and teach us. He will show us the principles we need to stand on for any given situation.

While God’s Word does not cover every situation we will face in our lives, it is all-sufficient for living a Christian life. For most things, we can simply see what the Bible says and follow the proper course based on that. In ethical questions where Scripture does not give explicit instructions, we need to look for principles that can be applied to the situation. We must pray over His Word, and open ourselves to His Spirit. The Spirit will teach us and guide us through the Bible to find the principles on which we need to stand so we may live as a Christian

 

[Kokomo]

To me personally it's the study of the Word of God to show us how to live righteously; to do what is good and to refrain from what is evil, in accordance with the will of God. I know we all have human theories or opinions about what is right and wrong but to God’s revealed truth about these Is all that matters.

The Bible's full of stories about human conduct. God’s revelation through His written Word narrates the story of man’s ethical failure, God’s redeeming grace, and the ethical renewal of His people. He saves us from ourselves.

The phrase "our hearts are deceitfully wicked" is based on a verse from the Bible, Jeremiah 17:9, which says that "The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked". This means that our hearts are sinful and often desire things that are contrary to what God wants for us.

We are called to holiness because we are God’s people: “You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy” (Lev. 11:45). And Matthew 5:48: “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

I don't believe we will ever be perfect in this lifetime but in heaven we will.

For us the ultimate standard of ethics is Jesus Christ and His teachings. We are not under the Law of the Old Testament

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. Eph. 2:14–16

But since the ethical teachings of Jesus sum up the true meaning of the Old Testament Law, following His teachings fulfills the Law. So there is a direct relationship between the concept of righteousness as revealed in the Old Testament and later in the New.

I believe Jesus’ commandment to love is the essence of Christian ethics As these two scriptures show us:

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matt. 22:37–40

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”[a] and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Rom. 13:9–10

While love is the summary of Christian ethics, the New Testament contains many specific ethical instructions.

@Obadiah What are your thoughts?

 

[Obadiah]

I think our ethics can go down two different roads, our old existence before faith in Christ and our new existence in Him. We Christians are called to leave behind our old conduct and to put on the new , to walk in newness of life, and to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. I think the better our ethics the better fruit we will produce.

Although as Christians we are free from the Law, we are not to use that liberty “as an opportunity for the flesh, but though love” to “serve one another”. Love is best expressed through service and self-giving. This leads naturally to the observation that Jesus Himself is the supreme example of righteousness. We need to keep our eyes on Him. Christian ethics are summed up not only in His teaching, but in His life as well. Thus true discipleship consists of following Jesus and being conformed to His image.

 

[Rockson]

I think our ethics can go down two different roads, our old existence before faith in Christ and our new existence in Him. We Christians are called to leave behind our old conduct and to put on the new , to walk in newness of life, and to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. I think the better our ethics the better fruit we will produce.

Although as Christians we are free from the Law, we are not to use that liberty “as an opportunity for the flesh, but though love” to “serve one another”. Love is best expressed through service and self-giving. This leads naturally to the observation that Jesus Himself is the supreme example of righteousness. We need to keep our eyes on Him. Christian ethics are summed up not only in His teaching, but in His life as well. Thus true discipleship consists of following Jesus and being conformed to His image.

Very true. Keep in mind though the Christian life isn't trying to be a good Christian by embracing a new code of ethics. With Christ life flowing through you though good ethics and holy ethics will come out of....let's say HIM .

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20

 

[Anja]

Very true. Keep in mind though the Christian life isn't trying to be a good Christian by embracing a new code of ethics. With Christ life flowing through you though good ethics and holy ethics will come out of....let's say HIM .

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20

Yes I agree holy living will flow through Christ. Our part is to surrender to his will for us. I just thought of a sermon from many years ago where the Pastor said you can't have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world you have to be sold out for Jesus. Jesus tells us to abide in him.

 

[Wholeheart]

Yes I agree holy living will flow through Christ. Our part is to surrender to his will for us. I just thought of a sermon from many years ago where the Pastor said you can't have one foot in the kingdom and one foot in the world you have to be sold out for Jesus. Jesus tells us to abide in him.

Faith will produce obedience when we trust Christ to take care of our future (‘faith is the assurance of things hoped for’), the inevitable result is that sinful strategies to gain happiness sink in the peaceful confidence that God will make a greater joy for us in his own way.

The reason we resist God’s laws and pursue our own sinful strategies is because we believe that we can do better at securing our happiness than God can. Moses’ faith in what God offered produced his works. He had confidence that what Christ offers is better than the fleeting pleasures of sin. Moses looked to the reward of God’s promises, he weighed that against the rewards of unrighteousness, and he rested satisfied in God.