Module 3.2 Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics

• Biblical basis of Christian ethics

  • God's communication has been accomplished principally through the Scriptures
  • God has communicated His mind, and character, and will to mankind
  • We must recognize the authority of His word because through it we know what is right and wrong for us
• Christian ethics


  A form of God's command in accordance with His will and with His unchangeable moral character
• Christians are to obey God's command
• God wills what is right in accordance with His moral attributes
• God commanded the Israelites to be holy because He himself is holy
• Jesus Christ told his disciples to be perfect as His Heavenly Father is perfect
• It is impossible for God to lie
• Leander Keyser: 'Christian ethics goes back to God as the ultimate ground and source of morality'
• God is the source of all that is good, and that includes our standards for ethical behavior
• Christians should conform to God's likeness
• God's revelation


  • Revealed in nature
  • Revealed in Scripture
• God's revelation is expressed in general and special means
• In general revelation, God expresses his commands for all people
• In special revelation, God declares His will for the believers
• The basis always of our ethical duty lies on God's revelation
• Failure to acknowledge God as the source of ethical duty does not clear anyone from their moral duty
• Even if unbelievers do not recognize the moral law in their minds, they are still inclined to do it
• The physical order is temporary, but the order not seen is eternal
• The eternal order is a reflection of the character of God Himself
• Christian ethics


  • Based on the atonement
  • Our choice of an ethical life is based upon the regenerative power of the cross
• James Denny: 'The new life springs out of a sense of debt to Christ. The regenerating power of forgiveness depends upon its cause'
• The death of Christ is the basis upon which Christian ethics is built
• Christian ethics


  • Prescriptive, not descriptive
  • Doing what is right is prescribed by a moral God
  • God is both a lawgiver and a legislator
• Christian ethics emphasizes what we should do, not what is
• Christians should behave not based on the standard of others but on the standard of God
• Biblical Basis of Christian Ethics

  •Christian Ethics is based in Scriptures

  •Christian Ethics is based on God's will •Christian Ethics is based on a strong foundation of Absolute

  •Christian Ethics is based on God's Revelation

  • Christian Ethics is based on God's Character

  • Christian Ethics is based on Atonement

  •Christian Ethics is Prescriptive
• Christian Ethics is based on a strong foundation of Absolute

  Leander Keyser says:"Christian Ethics goes back to God as the ultimate ground and source of morality"

  God is source of all that is good, and that includes our standard for ethical behavior

  Since Christians believe in God, in whom all goodness comes froms Christians should conform to God's likeness
• Under the Christian Ethics is based on God's Revelation

  God has revealed himself both in nature

  God's Revelation is expressed both in general and special means
• Christian Ethics is based on God's character

  Paul says that the physical is temporary, but the order not seen is eternal

  This eternal order is a reflection of the character of God Himself
• Christian Ethics is based on the Atonement

  James Denny says: The new life springs out of a sense of debt to Christ.

  It means that death if Christ is the basis upon which Christian ethics is built
• Christian Ethics is Prescriptive

  Christians should behave not based on the standard of others but on the standard of God