New Testament Founda/ons of Ethics Understanding Ethics New Testament Founda/ons of Ethics •
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Introduc)on Meaning of New Testament John the Bap)st: Prepare the Way The Ethics of the Kingdom of God Jesus and the Law Repentance and Discipleship The Great commandment of LOVE The Cross and the principle of sacrifice Redemp)on in the New Testament: Hearts not Minds The Spiritual Israel: The Church and Ethical Living Apostles Teachings on Ethics The Ethical Significance of the book of Revela)on Conclusion Introduc/on • Explain how ci)zenship in the Kingdom of God entails certain Kingdom ethics, virtues and discipleship • Iden)fy ways the Early Church provides an ethical model for Chris)an living • Indicate how jus)fica)on by faith leads to moral freedom • Sketch the ways the Chris)an community shapes life in the power of the Holy Spirit Meaning of New Testament • New Testament = New agreement – Hebs 9: 10 -­‐ 16 – The Old was between God & Israel • Through Moses at Mt. Sinai; by birth & bloodline. – The New is between God & all humans • Through Jesus at Golgotha; by personal faith • Wri)ng the law of God on the HEARTS of men not on their MINDS. John the Bap/st: Prepare the Way • To get the ethics of the Kingdom of God, one has to remove the hindrances that exist. It a personal decision to repent. – MaV 3: 1-­‐3 – “In those days came John the Bap1st, preaching…Repent ye for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah…Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” The Ethics of the Kingdom of God • To a Chris)an, ethics begins and ends with responding posi)vely to Jesus Christ and joining the Kingdom of God – Ci/zenship of the Kingdom • Qualifica)on (repentance, allegiance, iden)ty, etc) • Du)es/responsibili)es (heart, mind) • Change in worldview • IT IS A CHANGE OF HEART – “INSIDE-­‐OUT” not “OUTSIDE-­‐IN” Jesus and the Law • Jesus taught that he came to fulfill the law not to degrade it. – What is the purpose of the law? – The law was made for man not man for the law • The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death Repentance and Discipleship • It is not possible to live an sin-­‐free life (ethical life) without repentance. Repentance is confession of one’s sins AND abandoning the evil lifestyle. • Discipleship is living this life changed from sinfulness to righteousness. • Rom 6:18 • From slaves to sin you become slaves of righteousness LOVE ( AGAPE) Asked by one of the Pharisees which is the greatest commandment in the law (Maahew 22:36), Jesus names as the central commandment of his teaching the prac)ce of love (agape) both towards God and one's fellow men The Great commandment of LOVE • Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul • Love your neighbor as you love your self • The one you love you can not hurt neither can you lead into wrongdoing The Cross and the Principle of Sacrifice • The cross is central in the message of Jesus Christ – and it is not possible for Chris/ans to live ethically without carrying the cross • To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, LEAVING YOU AN EXAMPLE, that you should follow in his steps • 1 Peter 2:21 Redemp/on in the New Testament: Hearts not Minds • Ethical freedom is a result of the GRACE that comes to us through FAITH in Jesus • For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gif of God – not by works, so that no-­‐
one can boast. • Ephesians 2:8-­‐9 The Spiritual Israel: The Church and Ethical Living • Ethical living is possible within a community called the CHURCH. • Followers of Jesus shared all their possessions. Many thinkers have condemned this as socialism. But it is important to share. It is ethical living. Teachings of Apostles on Ethics • Paul – we get freedom from sin by grace not works but afer becoming Chris)ans our lives have to normally do good works • James – faith without works is dead. Good works do not bring faith but faith brings good works. • John – loving one another is the proof that we are true Chris)ans The Ethical Significance of the book of Revela/on • Chris)ans have to overcome problems to enter the Kingdom of God. • Problems in book of Revela)on indicate that those who have a vision of God’s Kingdom need to be pa)ent and to endure hardships. (It helps in ethics) • God controls )me from beginning to end Conclusion • Christ came to give us freedom from the bondage of sin but we s/ll have to choose it freely • It is not possible to live ethically without this freedom from sin which Jesus Christ brings