When thinking about developing a personal Christian ethic our first source of information in formulating a basis of thought is obviously

Scripture. This is reasonable because scripture doesnt change; only our understanding of it changes. Sproul refers to this as being normative because it is an absolute basis derived from an absolute truth. Any other ethic is therefore normal and is relative to what the culture determines to be permissible thought and activity. What is normal then becomes the morality of the culture. So we can conclude an ethic is different from a moral standard. For Christians God is our standard for ethics and thus should be our standard for moral conduct. But for the un-redeemed an ethical code is in reality the current moral conduct of the society and changes as the whims of the majority changes. The difference between Christian ethics and cultural morality is the difference between ought-ness verses is-ness. That is to say what we ought to be doing verses what we are doing. The ideal of ought-ness is determined by how we approach scripture. Do we come to scripture with a problem trying to find a solution; or do we exegete scripture then look for a problem to solve. The Apostle Paul gives us some insight to this in Romans 12:1-2: 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. NIV. Paul makes clear we are to listen to God, allowing God to change our minds, and as a result change our behavior. But he doesnt stop; he goes on to say we are to put it to the test. I think he means we are to try it, learn by experience, thus know it better; and then keep repeating the process till it works in perfect harmony with Gods will. Then our lives will be good, pleasing and perfect in Gods sight. How do I come to this conclusion? Because of what Paul says in Romans 5: 3 Not 4 only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4

and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God 5 has been poured out 6 in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. NET. Do you see the progression? The more we suffer life (i.e. experience life) the greater our ability to endure what comes to us. This then develops our Godly character making us more Christ-like. How do we verify our Christian character? Through the love of God which is poured out by the Holy Spirit. How is this love manifested in our lives? Through this love we will have a greater understanding of the Holiness of God. If we were to put all this thought in a bag and shake it up we would find ourselves at John 7:15-17 where Jesus says; 15 The Jews were amazed and asked, "How did this man get such learning without having studied?" 16 Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. 17 If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own . NIV. What did Jesus just say? I think He is telling us if we want to be obedient to God we need to and will understand what He is saying. But how does this work out, how can we obey if we dont understand? What He was telling the scribes is, if you are motivated to be obedient and are trying to be obedient you will then become a better interpreter of what God is saying through scripture. Otherwise, how you follow the teaching of Jesus makes you a better interpreter of scripture. It is the ideal that all right knowledge of God is from obedience not from study. Thus as we live life, we will be provided from life, the proper questions to ask God from His word. This is the difference between a Christian ethicist and a secular moralist, the former is trying to learn from experience drawing closer to an absolute truth while the later is accepting the normal and labeling is morality.

Knowledge, like air, is vital to life. Like air, no one should be denied it.
Gregg
I would like to thank Dr. Dan Doriani and Covenant Theological Seminary for making the course, Christian Ethics, freely available at: http://www.covenantseminary.edu/resources/courses/christian-ethics-doriani/