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The Bible and Ethics

The Bible and Ethics. I. Introduction A. Lecture Focus – 2 Timothy 2:15 1. Christian ethics and its reliance on Scripture a. Only Scripture is independent of human error i . Our interpretation can be erroneous ii. Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary iii. Vital foundation.

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The Bible and Ethics

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  1. The Bible and Ethics

  2. I. Introduction • A. Lecture Focus – 2 Timothy 2:15 • 1. Christian ethics and its reliance on Scripture • a. Only Scripture is independent of human error • i. Our interpretation can be erroneous • ii. Holy Spirit’s guidance is necessary • iii. Vital foundation

  3. II. Authority and Relevance • A. Is the Bible a reliable test? • 1. Authenticity – words present in texts are what were originally written • 2. Reliability – is what they wrote accurate? • 3. Geisler

  4. B. What does the Bible teach about Jesus? • 1. Jesus claimed His own divine nature • a. I AM (Exodus 3:14 & John 8:57-58) • i. Direct claim of OT name of God • ii. Reaction of his hearers • iii. Claim to independent, free, self existence • b. Equality with God (Mark 2:10-11) • 2. His disciples asserted his deity • a. John 20:28 • b. Colossians – 1:16-17, 2:9

  5. 3. His enemies recognized that He claimed to be divine • a. John 8:58, John 18:5-6

  6. 4. Claims to deity • a. Fulfillment of prophecy • i. Seed of Abraham (Gen 12:1-3, 22:18 = Matt 1:1, Gal 3:16) • ii. Tribe of Judah (Gen 49:10 = Luke 3:23, 33) • iii. House of David (II Sam 7:12 = Mt 1:1) • iv. Born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2 = Matt 2:1) • v. Rise from the dead (Ps 2:7, 16:10 = Mark 16:6, Acts 2:31)

  7. b. Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6-7) • i. Only God can raise from the dead • C. How does Jesus use Scripture as a source of authority? • 1. He tells us it is inspired: • a. OT prophecies (Luke 24:25) • b. Unbelief (John 5:46-47) • c. Story of Creation (Matt 19:4-6)

  8. d. Christ response to Satan (Matt 4:4, 7, 10) • e. Christ response to men (Matt 22:29-32, 43-46) • f. John 18:37 • 2. Jesus took it as authoritative: • a. Matt 5:17-18 OT • b. Matt 4:4, 7, 10 OT • c. John 16:12-15 NT • d. John 17:18, 20:21 NT

  9. 3. Jesus used it as the guidebook for ethics • a. John 14:21 • b. Matt 19:1-10 • c. Matt 5-7 • D. Therefore, Scripture is absolutely necessary as the truth standard for the disciples of Christ.

  10. III. How does Scripture function? • A. Scripture functions as “Revealed Reality” • 1. Worldview and meta-ethic components

  11. B. Scripture functions as “Revealed Morality” • 1. Ethics • a. Rules, law, norms to guide specific actions • b. Principles by which we can reason faithful conclusions • c. Development of virtues to emulate Christ’s behavior • d. Warned of consequences to avoid

  12. 2. Foundations • a. OT • i. I AM • ii. Shema • iii. Bi-Focal Nature

  13. b. NT • i. I AM (John 8:57-58) • ii. Two Greatest Commands (Mark 12:29-31) • iii. Bi-Focal Nature (John 14:15 & John 14:21 – Faith and works together; Phil 3)

  14. 3. Example passages • a. OT • i. Decalogue (Exodus 20:1-17) • ii. Levitical Laws • b. NT • i. Sermon on the MT (Matthew 5-7) • ii. I Corinthians 7

  15. IV. What use is scripture in Ethics? 3 Uses of the Law • A. Condemning • 1. Romans 3:20; 4:15; 5:12; 7:7-11 • B. Restraining • 1. Deut. 13:6-11, 19:16-21; Romans 13:3-4

  16. C. Guiding the Regenerate • 1. “Free from the law” but guided by law • a. “Christian Freedom from the Law” means “freedom from the law as a system of salvation • i. Rom 6:14 • ii. Gal 2:15-19 • b. Scripture falls under Christ’s law • i. 1 Corin 9:21 • ii. Gal 6:2

  17. c. It is in this way that the law is profitable for Christian living • i. 2 Tim 3:16

  18. V. Basic Hermeneutics for Ethical application of scripture • A. Context of passage is vital • 1. Direct context of passage • 2. Context of the immediate chapter • 3. Context of book • 4. Context of the Bible

  19. B. Clearer passages must be used to shed light on less clear passages • 1. Reversing this step is the way to heresy • C. Scripture drives theology and then helps shine light on unclear texts

  20. VI. Foundational perspective on scripture and ethics • A. OT • 1. I AM • 2. Shema(Deut 6:4-5) • a. Central to entire OT is the Shema

  21. 3. Nature of the Decalogue • a. Bi-focal • b. The link with the conscience as the center of the self • i. must have upward conscience appeased • ii. allowing for proper ethical expression • c. 10 commandments express more than simple rules, but he heart of ethics

  22. B. NT: The ethics of Jesus • 1. Foundation: • a. Divine claims (John 8:57-58; John 10:30) • b. Purpose of worship (Mark 12:29-31) • 2. The importance of ethics to Jesus • a. an ethical life is the mark of a true disciple – John 14:21 • b. The ethical life serves as a chief mode of witness and evangelism

  23. c. Spent considerable energy righting the ship that the Pharisees had capsized. • 3. Jesus’ teleological focus is kingdom centered • a. Matt 6:33 – Evangelism is always central to his ethic

  24. C. NT: Ethics of Paul • 1. Paul offers a systematic outworking of the biblical theocentric ethical foundations Jesus provided. • a. given task of navigating the ship of the church along its proper course • 2. Paul’s ethics rest on the centrality of Christian love in ethical behavior • a. Gal 5:6 • b. I Corin 13:1-3

  25. 3. Paul’s ethic realizes and emphasizes reality that hard work is involved in living ethically • a. Phil 2:12-13, Rom 5:3-8 • 4. Paul’s ethic emphasizes a program of total personal moral development and character building. • a. Renewed mind – romans 12:1-2 • b. Sanctified character - 1 Thess 4:7; Romans 13:12

  26. c. Holy Motivations • d. Character Virtues • 5. paul’s ethics places emphasis on a reliance on the holy spirit • a. phil 1:6 • b. Eph 5:18

  27. 6. Paul always taught on ethics with an eye for the application of the gospel • a. in service • i. end of Phil 4, 2 Tim 4 • b. In Evangelism and Discipleship – 2 Tim 2:2 • 7. Paul saw the entire enterprise of ethics in light of the higher purpose of worship • a. see phil 2:11, 1 Corin 10:31, Col 3:17

  28. VII. Conclusion • A. Seamless Garment of Scripture • 1. Jesus’ high view of OT • a. Matthew 4:7-10; 5:17-18; 19:4-6; Luke 24:25; John 5:46-47 • 2. No distinction between jesus’ teachings • a. many attempts are made in modern ethics to split the ethical teachings of jesus and paul

  29. B. Scripture is the Ultimate source of authority • 1. because it is the revelation of God Himself – John 1:1-12 • 2. It reveals the heart of God for creation

  30. C. Based on these realities Scripture is the source of Christian Ethics Because: • 1. Christian Scripture is inspired and powerful • 2. Christian Scripture is insightful and discerning • 3. Christian Scripture is a positive guide in life and practice • 4. Scripture alone is without error

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