Ethics

  • A Murderer from the Start

    John 8:44

    Scripture’s emphasis on both the inward attitudes of evil and the outward deeds of wickedness results in a doctrine of sin that is both robust and realistic. The problem of sin is rooted within, and it takes an inward ...Read More

  • Apostolic Authority

    Philemon 9-10

    Even though a Spirit-filled motivation is necessary to make a good deed truly good, sometimes we have to start acting before our motivation aligns itself with our deeds: C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity: “Do not waste time bothering ...Read More

  • Creation Ordinances

    Genesis 1-2

    In this day and age, there is a great temptation for the church in the United States to think that its mission is coextensive with the platform of one or more of the political parties in this country. Yet while ...Read More

  • Dying in Faith

    1 Corinthians 15:1–58

    The resurrection of Christ guarantees that He has made an effectual sacrifice for sin and that we too will one day be resurrected. It guarantees the justice of God and gives us hope in the midst of this evil world ...Read More

  • Earning an Honest Living

    Ephesians 4:28

    Scripture permits us to enjoy the material blessings that God provides, but it never tells us to hoard the fruits of our labor. Christians are to be the most generous of people, using their financial blessings to help those who ...Read More

  • Ethics for Situations

    1 Timothy 1:3–11

    How do you define what love is? Do you look to whatever “feels like love,” bowing to pressure from your friends and family? Maybe television, movies, or magazines determine what love is for you? Take some time today and meditate ...Read More

  • Going Above and Beyond

    Philemon 21-22

    Though the Bible allowed provisions for indentured servitude, which was a humane alternative to such harsh punishments for failure to pay one’s debts, such as debtor prisons, nevertheless the seeds for the abolishment for all forms of slavery were ...Read More

  • Holy Truth

    1 Peter 2:22

    Of all the lies we might tell, the most dangerous are probably those lies we tell ourselves to make us believe we are not really sinning. Given our susceptibility to falling into sin, we must be extra careful to examine ...Read More

  • Lies and Their Consequences

    Deuteronomy 19:16-21

    The Lord, being the font of wisdom and truth, has given us fair principles for guiding His community. It is essential, therefore, for a healthy church to follow His law, showing grace to the repentant and applying discipline when professing ...Read More

  • Paying the Cost

    Philemon 19-20

    In Philippians 2, Paul calls us to follow the example of Christ and put others ahead of ourselves. We seldom consider how our decisions and behavior will be regarded in the community of believers, but this should not be. Instead ...Read More

  • Shades of Gray

    1 Corinthians 10:31

    Though the Spirit grants us new life in Christ, this does not mean we immediately overcome our ignorance of God’s ways. Instead, the Spirit works through Scripture, illuminating it as we read and hear it so that we might ...Read More

  • Stealing from God

    Malachi 3:6-12

    It is tempting to give God only the leftovers after we have spent our income on ourselves. Yet this should not be the attitude of the Lord’s people, for what we own is His, and He has said that ...Read More

  • The Effective Sharing of Faith

    Philemon 6

    That too many believers rarely consult other believers and elders in the church before making a decision reflects the degree to which a non-biblical individualism has corrupted even the thinking of Christians. While the church is not to legalistically bind ...Read More

  • The Eighth Commandment

    Exodus 20:15

    We have no right to another person’s time, income, or property, and so we must be very careful never to steal any of these from our neighbor, whether directly or indirectly. For example, we should keep the appointments we ...Read More

  • The Razor’s Edge

    Romans 12:2

    John Murray, a great Reformed ethicist and theologian (d. 1975), said that the difference between right and wrong can sometimes be a razor’s edge. Since this distinction can be so fine, it is very important that we study Scripture ...Read More