Ethics
The Key To Moral Excellence
Introduction
The apostle Peter says:
"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;" (2 Peter 1:5)
The word virtue, as we understand it, means, ’moral excellence,’ and the apostle exhorts us to give all diligence, i.e., to ’simultaneously give our whole earnestness,’ in adding moral excellence to our faith.
The apostle Paul concurs saying:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
To, think on these things, is to do so with a view to putting them into practice. If there be anything virtuous or of moral excellence, we are to think on these things with a view to putting them into practice.
There are many scriptures that exhort and admonish us to modify our behavior; the way we behave is either moral or immoral. Murder, for example, is universally recognised as unacceptable behaviour, it is immoral. A person who is charitable, on the other hand, is universally recognised as good or virtues.
In this lesson we shall discuss the following points:
1. Prerequisites To Moral Excellence
2. Developing Moral Excellence
3. Moral Excellence And Associated Dangers
I. Prerequisites To Moral Excellence
A. In order to live a virtuous life there must be a desire on the part of the individual to change. Without such a desire there can be no genuine attainment of virtue.
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." (Matthew 5:6)
1. The essentialness of desire before change is seen in the following illustration.
"A friend of mine was encouraged by his wife to attend keep fit classes. Every week should would invite him to come along but he always refused. Why did he refuse? Quite simply, he did not have the desire."
"On a visit to the doctors for a regular check up, my friend was told that, unless he started shedding some pounds pretty quickly, he was heading for some serious medical problems. My friend did not need to be told twice and has been attending keep fit classes with his wife ever since."
2. The doctor’s warning aroused a desire in my friend to modify his behavior.
3. The scriptures abound with examples where desire precedes change:
a. The parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).
1) He demanded his inheritance and then squandered it all away in riotous living (15:12-13).
2) When he finally ’hit bottom’ he reflected on his predicament (15:14-17).
3) Now note the sequence: thought (17), desire (18-19), then his behavior was modified.
"And he arose, and came to his father" (Luke 15:20).
b. King David, desiring to preserve his life, modified his behavior accordingly.
"And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard. Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me? Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house" (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
c. Eve’s desire to become wise led her into sin.
"And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons" (Genesis 3:6-7)
B. It is also necessary that we nurture the appropriate desires:
1. Only God’s law reveals what is morally good and bad:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16-17)
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20)
"What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." (Romans 7:7)
"I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments." (Psalms119:7)
2. The conscience becomes more reliable as our knowledge of God’s law increases.
C. Having acquainted ourselves with God’s moral standards, it is now our responsibility to measure ourselves against that standard.
1. An honest evaluation will highlight the areas in which improvement is necessary.
"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me." (Psalms 39:1)
"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word." (Psalms 119:9)
2. We must always seek enlightenment in God’s word.
"I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies." (Psalms 119:59)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms119:105)
[A desire to improve, an acquaintance with God’s standards of morality, and an honest evaluation of ourselves are all necessary prerequisites to moral excellency. Yet mere conformity to the requirements of the law mean little if the mind is not converted. It is possible to honour God with our lips and outwardly confirm to the law, and yet our hearts be corrupt (Matthew 15:8). The next section reveals the true key to moral excellence.]
II. Developing Moral Excellence
A. Where morality has to do with behaviour, ethics has to do with the character, the inward man.
1. Ethics are a set of beliefs and values that determine our behavior.
a. Our ethics may be based on a reference to secular or biblical sources.
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8:6)
b. The basis of Christian ethics.
1) Christian ethics are based on the teachings of the Bible.
"And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" (Colossians 3:10)
"For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16)
2) Since our ethics are based on the teachings of the bible, the concept of situation ethics must be rejected.
c. Our ethics are expressed and made known in our behavior.
"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." (Matthew 12:35)
2. Our morality must be based on biblical ethics because God’s concern is with the inward man.
"For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)
3. It is essential, then, that we change or renew our thinking:
"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23:7)
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
a. Much of Jesus’ teaching is designed to recondition the mind:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn [over their sin]: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:3-8)
"Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." (Matthew 15:11)
b. It is through a renewal of the mind that we are transformed:
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)
"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day." (2 Corinthians 4:16)
"And be renewed in the spirit of your mind." (Ephesians 4:23)
B. What effects such a renewal of the mind?
1. The primary change.
a. The goodness of God.
"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)
b. Belief in the gospel.
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)
c. Godly sorrow.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do" (Acts 2:36-37)
2. Ongoing renewal.
a. Love effects renewal.
1) We are commanded to love God.
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matthew 22:37)
2) We love God because He first loved us.
"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19)
3) God has demonstrated His love.
"But God commendeth [displayed] his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
4) Such a demonstration of God’s love toward us, then, stirs within us a love for Him also. It will, in like, produce a desire to demonstrate our love for God.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." (1 John 5:3)
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)
"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16)
b. There are certain other motivations that shape our renewal.
1) The hope of becoming like Christ when He returns.
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3)
2) The promise of eternal life.
"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:" (Romans 2:7)
"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." (Jude 1:21)
3) The prospect of walking with Christ.
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy." (Revelation 3:4)
[The key to moral excellence is ethics. Ethics are a set of values or beliefs by which we live; these are derived from one of two sources: society or divine revelation. A Christian must derive his ethics from the Scriptures. As we study the scriptures, grow in knowledge, and allow its teachings to shape our thinking and, consequently, our behaviour, we need to be aware of the associated dangers!]
III. Moral Excellence And Associated Dangers
A. One of the greatest dangers as we pursue moral excellence is to "forget" that moral excellence is achieved through a renewal of the mind (ethics) and not mere conformity to the law.
1. The Pharisees had "forgotten" this fact. Jesus said of them:
"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." (Matthew 23:28)
2. Here are some examples of what Jesus meant:
a. They outwardly conformed to law that forbad murder but inwardly harbored hatred (Matthew 5:21-24).
b. They outwardly conformed to the law that forbad adultery but inwardly lusted after women (Matthew 5:27-28).
c. They gave alms but only to be seen and receive the praise of men (Matthew 6:1-4).
3. Therefore, Jesus admonishes them to renew their minds (Matthew 23:26). Christians, too, are admonished to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees. We must be clean on the inside.
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)
B. Another great danger associated with the pursuance of moral excellence is pride.
1. The following is the prayer of a man full of pride:
"The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:11-12)
2. There are a number of things that can lead to the sin of pride (in connection with moral excellence):
a. A distorted view regarding the basis of justification. Justification is through the faith, not through the works of the law (Galatians 2:16). If our thinking (ethics) becomes distorted and we believe that justification is obtained by the works of the law, then we have lain the foundation of pride (Cp. Luke 18:9).
b. An increase in knowledge. As one increases in knowledge, there is the danger of one becoming conceited. Paul indicates that a lack of love is at the root of the problem (1 Corinthians 8:1-3). Some of the Pharisees were conceited (John 9:34).
C. In our pursuit of moral excellence through the renewal of the mind, we are subject to the sins of self-righteousness and pride. In both instances it is often the comments of others that can sow the seeds of pride. To combat this, we need to deflect those flattering remarks. Look at the examples below. Though not directly addressed, note the implied flattery the religious leaders received:
"Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." (Matthew 6:2)
"Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:42-43)
1. A constant stream of complements concerning your intellect and righteous lifestyle will very quickly give birth to conceit and self-righteousness.
2. Learn to deflect such flattery:
a. Consider Paul’s attitude:
"Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you" (Philippians 3:4-15)
b. The next time someone complements you, recount one of these scriptures:
"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." (1 Corinthians 3:18)
[In the pursuit of moral excellence, there is always the danger of falling prey to its associated sins: self-righteousness and pride. To ensure that we are not overtaken by such, we must maintain a spirit of love and humility. The best way to do this is to recall those scriptures that remind us of our true standing before God. It will also help if we learn to deflect people’s comments]
Conclusion
1. A desire to improve, an acquaintance with God’s standards of morality, and an honest evaluation of ourselves are all necessary prerequisites to moral excellency. Yet mere conformity to the requirements of the law mean little if the mind is not converted. It is possible to honour God with our lips and outwardly confirm to the law, and yet our hearts be corrupt (Matthew 15:8).
2. The key to moral excellence is ethics. Ethics are a set of values or beliefs by which we live; these are derived from one of two sources: society or divine revelation. A Christian must derive his ethics from the Scriptures.
3. In the pursuit of moral excellence, there is always the danger of falling prey to its associated sins: self-righteousness and pride. To ensure that we are not overtaken by such, we must maintain a spirit of love and humility. The best way to do this is to recall those scriptures that remind us of our true standing before God. It will also help if we learn to deflect people’s comments.
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