Romans 12:9; Ephesians 4:20-25; Colossians 3:9-10
Introduction:
1. Christian ethics begin and end with genuine pursuit of God’s character in our lives.
2. Apart from this, even if our reputation is strong, our character is fatally flawed.
Discussion:
I. Our Ethical Foundation
A. Apart from a sociopath, every human being has ethical values (principles of right and wrong).
B. Most modern people treat ethics subjectively, differing from person to person.
C. Christian ethics flow from God’s character.
1. Which is inherently truthful (Numbers 23:19; John 14:6; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18).
2. As is His word (Psalms 119:160; John 17:17).
3. Only capable of holy, just, and upright conduct (Psalms 89:14; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).
D. For this, our ethics are founded on God’s will, not the subjective whims of different people.
E. We do not define or create ethics.
F. We discover them in God’s will and reflect them in our lives (Psalms 19:7-11; Ephesians 4:20-24).
II. The Heart of Our Ethics
A. This addresses the why behind our ethics.
B. Reputation reflects who we are in front of others; character is who we are on our own.
C. For this, we must prioritize our character more than our reputation (Matthew 6:1-18; 23:25-28).
D. We see people outwardly, but God sees our souls (1 Samuel 16:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Jeremiah 17:9-10; Luke 18:9-14; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:11-13).
E. Therefore, we must echo Paul’s attitude in this vein (Acts 24:16; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 5:9-12).
III. The Scope and Power of Our Ethics
A. With sincerity of heart laid bare, we can ponder its breadth and power of application.
B. Integrity in speech:
1. Jesus was emphatic about truthful speech (Matthew 5:37; 12:33-37; John 8:44; Revelation 21:8).
2. Integrity in communication was Paul’s first call to the Ephesians in describing the new self (Ephesians 4:25; cf. Colossians 3:9-10).
C. Integrity in conduct:
1. Christian ethics consistently abhors evil and clings to good (Psalms 97:10; 101:3; Amos 5:15; Romans 12:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 Peter 1:22).
2. It is faithful in little things as well as big things (Matthew 25:21-23; Luke 16:10; 19:17).
3. It always pursues God’s approval despite the world’s disapproval (Matthew 5:10-12; Acts 14:22; Galatians 1:10; 2 Timothy 3:12; 4:1-5; 1 Peter 4:1-6).
D. Integrity and evangelism:
1. Ultimately, the internal transformation is intended to turn outward to evangelize.
2. Hypocrisy is cited as the number one reason people are averse to the church.
3. Some are making excuses, but many have seen “Christians” with their masks off.
4. Integrity is essential to bring lost souls to Christ (Matthew 5:13-16; John 17:20-21; Philippians 2:12-15; 1 Peter 2:12; 3:15-16).
Conclusion:
1. If we are honest with ourselves and the Lord, we will bend at His will.
2. If we are not driven by integrity, we will never walk faithfully with Him.
3. May we strive to have a pure conscience before God and men (Acts 24:16), prompting us to live honorably before the same (Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21).
Further Food for Thought
1. Knowing most people desire the favor of their peers, how do we combat the urge to do good things for human approval rather than God’s?
2. What can we do to encourage one another to the same ends?
3. How critical is the eternal mindset in this pursuit? How does it impact choices?