MID – TERM EXAM REVIEWER

ETHICS

I. SESSION 1: INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS, MORALITY AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS

• What is Ethics?
▪ It is a particular branch of Philosophy
▪ "Ethics" originates from a Greek word, "ethica," whose root is "ethos." "Ethos"
eventually came to mean a person’s "interior dwelling place," the "basic
orientation or disposition of a person toward life."
▪ Ancient Greek philosophers, especially beginning with Socrates, became
interested in this question about how we should fashion our "ethos" in order to
best succeed at life.
▪ It is a philosophical discipline basically deals with humanity’s inquiries about right
conduct, the good life, moral values, and other related issues.
▪ a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values (Mirriam Webster)

• What is Morality?
▪ Morality refers to the set of standards a person has about what is right and
wrong.
▪ How we judge whether as act is good or bad, whether someone is virtuous or
not, whether we ought to do this or not, depends largely on these standards.

• THE BRANCHES OF ETHICS

▪ As a branch of Philosophy that examines and reflects about morality, ethics is
usually categorized into three general subject areas:

1. Metaethics
o It is about the theoretical meaning and reference of moral propositions
and how their truth values (if any) may be determined;
o It is also known as Analytic ethics.
o It looks into the nature, meaning, scope, and foundational of moral values
and discourse.
o The term “meta” in Greek means “after or beyond” and thus metaethics
involves an abstract and detached way of thinking philosophically about
moral.

2. Normative Ethics
o It is about the practical means of determining a moral course of action;
o Concerned with the moral standards to determine right from wrong
conduct.
o It involves the formulation of moral norms or rules that can serve basis of
the kind of actions, institutions, and ways of life that we should pursue.
 o Theories proposed to answer what moral standards should govern human
action usually fall into three broad categories, namely

1) Consequentialism
▪ Consequentialism is an ethical theory that judges whether or not
something is right by what its consequences are.
2) Deontology
▪ Deontology is an ethical theory that uses rules to distinguish right
from wrong. Kant believed that ethical actions follow universal
moral laws, such as “Don’t lie. Don’t steal. Don’t cheat.”
3) Virtue ethics
▪ By practicing being honest, brave, just, generous, and so on, a
person develops an honorable and moral character. According to
Aristotle, by honing virtuous habits, people will likely make the
right choice when faced with ethical challenges.

3. Applied Ethics
o Applied ethics, also called practical ethics, is the application of ethics to
real-world problems. Practical ethics attempts to answer the question of
how people should act in specific situations. For example, is it ethical for a
business owner to bluff during negotiations with another company? Or, is
it morally permissible for a doctor to engage in mercy killing when a
terminal cancer patient begs to be put out of her misery?

• CHRISTIAN ETHICS
o Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, “What does the
whole Bible teach us about which acts, attitudes, and personal character
traits receive God’s approval, and which do not?”
o Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, ‘What does God
require us to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?’
with regard to any given situation.

II. SESSION 2: The Ultimate Basis for Ethics: The Moral Character of God

• Is Morality Objective or Subjective?

• Objective means
o Something that’s truly objective has nothing to do with a person’s own
feelings or views—it just deals with facts.
o The arguments for Objective Morality1
a. Religion Determines Morality: The most common argument for
objective morality relies on good and bad as viewed through the lens of
God.

1 https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-objective-morality-5525515
 b. Society Determines Morality: Even to atheists or people who don't
subscribe to religion, the idea of objective morality can still be argued
for.
c. Self-Improvement Determines Morality: Another argument for the
existence of objective morality is how people often want to better
themselves.
• Subjective means
o Subjective is an adjective, meaning based on or influenced by personal
feelings or emotions.
o It means that it is an interpretation that has been influenced by personal
feelings or emotions. Synonyms for subjective could be words like
personal or biased.
o The arguments for Subjective Morality2
a. Moral relativism: The most common argument against the existence
of objective morality is the concept of moral relativism. Moral relativism
argues that morality is relative, changing between cultures and
historical periods.
b. Scientific Analysis: One scientific analysis notes that there is "no set
criteria by which two opposing moral beliefs can be directly compared
to see which one is correct." Instead, the analysis says that we can
only decide what is right and wrong for us based on the past, such as
how we now, as a whole, think slavery, polygamy, and animal cruelty
are wrong3.

• THE ULTIMATE BASIS FOR ETHICS

o For Christians, we believe that Morality is objective because we believe
with the existence of a highest standard for living.
o Christian morality consists of living one’s life with guidance and inspiration
from the Christian scriptures and traditions.
o What is Christian Ethics?
o Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, “What does the
whole Bible teach us about which acts, attitudes, and personal character
traits receive God’s approval, and which do not?”
o Christian ethics is any study that answers the question, ‘What does God
require us to do and what attitudes does he require us to have today?’ with
regard to any given situation.
o The Basis of Christian Ethics?
1. God’s Character Is Good.
2. God Approves of Creatures Who Conform to His Moral Character.
3. God Could Not Have Made Other Moral Standards.
4. God’s Abiding Moral Standards as Found in the Bible Apply to All
5. God’s Moral Standards Will Never Cease to Be Valid for Us.

2 https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-objective-morality-5525515
3 Wilson C. The scientific perspective on moral objectivity. Ethic Theory Moral Prac. 2017 Aug 1;20(4):723–36.
III. SESSION 3: OUR SOURCE OF ETHICAL STANDARDS: THE BIBLE

• THE BIBLE AS THE ETHICAL STANDARD FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING

o “16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17

• The Bible as the Ethical Standard for Christian living

1. It provides guidance and direction. (Psalm 1: 1 -2; Psalm 119: 105; Job 23: 12;
Matthew 4:4; Luke 11: 28)
2. God’s Word is eternal truth. (Psalm 119: 160; Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 24: 35)
3. God’s Word enables us to fight against sins. (Psalm 119:11; 2 Timothy 3:16;
Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6: 17; James 1: 21 – 22)

• FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BIBLE

1. Authority
2. Clarity
3. Necessity
4. Sufficiency

IV. SESSION 4: THE GOAL FOR ETHICS: LIVING FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

• The overall goal of our study of Ethics is to fulfill our ultimate purpose, which is to
glorify God.
• The Westminster Catechism declares
“What is the chief and highest end of man?
Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”
• A life lived for the glory of God will be one that has:
1. A character that glorifies God: a Christlike character.
2. Results that glorify God: a life that bears abundant fruit for God’s kingdom.
3. Behavior that glorifies God: a life of obedience to God, lived in personal
relationship with God.

• THE CHARACTER GOAL: A LIFE CONFORM TO THE IMAGE OF GOD.

1. Our Character Goal Is to Be Conformed to the Image of Christ.

o Paul says this about Christians: “Those whom he foreknew he also
predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29).
2. Becoming Like Christ Is a Lifelong Process.
o Many passages in the New Testament talk about a lifelong process of
becoming like Christ. “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ,” (1 Cor. 11:1
 o “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he
walked” (1 John 2:6).
o Our lives ought to so reflect what his life was like that we bring honor to him
in everything we do (Phil. 1:20).
3. A Partial List of Christlike Character Traits or “Virtues.”
1. Compassionate (Matthew 9:36)
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
2. Servant Attitude (Mark 10:45)
Jesus even tells everyone: “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve”
3. Unconditional Love
4. Forgiving (Luke 23:34)
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
5. Committed
6. Prayerful
7. Gentleness
8. Patience
9. Self-Control
10. Humility

• THE RESULTS GOAL: A LIFE THAT BEARS ABUNDANT FRUIT FOR GOD’S KINGDOM.
o God is not only concerned about our character. He is also concerned that our
lives have productive results, or (to use an agricultural metaphor) that our
lives would be like plants that bear much “fruit” for the purposes of God’s
kingdom.
o “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he
it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

• THE BEHAVIORAL GOAL THE GLORIFIES GOD: TO LIVE A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE AND
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
o Because of this goal, in the chapters that follow I will discuss morally good
and bad actions related to particular topics, and how these actions must be
done “before God” and in fellowship “with God.”

V. SESSION 5: THE JOYS AND BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND THE

HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SIN

• THE JOYS AND BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD

1. The Joy and Blessing of Deeper Fellowship with God.
2. The Joy and Blessing of Bringing Glory to God by Imitating His Character on Earth.
3. The Joy and Blessing of Expressing Our Love to God by Our Actions.
4. The Joy and Blessing of Pleasing God.
5. The Joy and Blessing of Making Angels Happy.
6. The Joy and Blessing of Becoming a Vessel for “Honorable Use” by God.
 7. The Joy and Blessing of Being an Effective Witness to Unbelievers.
8. The Joy and Blessing of Having God’s Eyes and Ears More Attentive to Us.
9. The Joy and Blessing of Closer Fellowship with Other Christians.
10. The Joy and Blessing of a Clear Conscience.

• THE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF SIN IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN

• What is sin?
- “Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature.
Sin is here defined in relation to God and his moral law. Sin includes not only
individual acts such as stealing or lying or committing murder, but also attitudes
that are contrary to the attitudes God requires of us.” Systematic Theology By
Wayne Grudem
• Understanding “Greater” and “Lesser” in Regard to Sin:
- Are There Greater and Lesser Sins? The question, “Are there greater and lesser
sins?” must be answered carefully, because the answer depends on what a
person means by “greater” and “lesser.”

a. In Terms of Legal Standing before God, There Are Not Greater and Lesser Sins
b. In Terms of the Results That Come from the Sin, There Are Greater and Lesser
Sins:
c. In Terms of the Kind of Command That Is Broken, There Are Greater and
Lesser Sins:
d. In Terms of the Person Committing the Sin, There Are Greater and Lesser Sins:

• PRACTICAL BENEFITS OF UNDERSTANDING GREATER AND LESSER SINS.

o This distinction between greater and lesser sins should be helpful to us in terms
of our relationships with other believers and family members.
o In the ordinary course of human relationships, there will inevitably be numerous
minor offenses that a wise Christian will simply overlook. Peter probably had this
in mind when he told Christians to “keep loving one another earnestly, since love
covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8).

• WHAT ARE THE HARMFUL CONSEQUENCES OF WILLFUL SIN IN A CHRISTIAN’S LIFE?

1. Our Fellowship with God Will Be Disrupted: This is because we “grieve the Holy
Spirit” (Eph. 4:30).
2. We Might Experience God’s Fatherly Discipline:
3. We Will Slide Backward in Our Sanctification:
4. We Will Tend to Become Less Fruitful in Our Ministries and Our Christian Lives:
5. We Will Lose Some Heavenly Reward
• THE BLESSING OF CONFESSION
o “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
1. It cleanses our soul.
2. It helps us grow our relationship with God.
3. It helps us to experience His divine forgiveness.
4. It releases us from guilt and gives us peace of heart.
5. It teaches us to humbly acknowledge our sinful ways.