This is Lesson 1 of the Biblical Ethics course in the Crossroads Programme. Crossroads is a discipleship programme written Dr Kevin Smith (http://kevinsmith.co.za) and offered by the South African Theological Seminary (http://www.satsonline.org).

2. Biblical Ethics 1
- How We Do Biblical Ethics

3. Lesson Overview
In this lesson we are going to study the basis for
our approach to biblical ethics under two
headings:
1. The Law of Love
2. The Law of God

4. The Law of Love

5. The Foundational Principle
There are two views as to what constitutes the
sole standard of behaviour for believers.
1) We can base our ethics on law
2) We can base our ethics on love
We believe the law of God is an expression of
the love of God, and thus we live in love by
listening to the law.

6. Point 1
THE LAW

7. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:

8. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God

9. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God
b) the Mosaic law

10. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God
b) the Mosaic law
c) as obedience to God

11. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God
b) the Mosaic law
c) as obedience to God
d) the Old Testament

12. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God
b) the Mosaic law
c) as obedience to God
d) the Old Testament
e) specific laws

13. The Law
1) Definitions of Law The Bible uses the word ‘law’
in a variety of ways:
a) the moral will of God
b) the Mosaic law
c) as obedience to God
d) the Old Testament
e) specific laws
f) an operating principle

14. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law We can distinguish between
three main uses of the law:
2) Purposes of the Law

15. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law We can distinguish between
three main uses of the law:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) the political use of the
law

16. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law We can distinguish between
three main uses of the law:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) the political use of the
law
b) the evangelistic use of
the law

17. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law We can distinguish between
three main uses of the law:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) the political use of the
law
b) the evangelistic use of
the law
c) the instructional use of
the law

18. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law Jesus Christ fulfilled the law in
four senses:
2) Purposes of the Law
3) Fulfilment of the Law

19. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law Jesus Christ fulfilled the law in
four senses:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) Jesus enacted its
3) Fulfilment of the Law commands.

20. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law Jesus Christ fulfilled the law in
four senses:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) Jesus enacted its
3) Fulfilment of the Law commands.
b) Jesus embodied its
predictions

21. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law Jesus Christ fulfilled the law in
four senses:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) Jesus enacted its
3) Fulfilment of the Law commands.
b) Jesus embodied its
predictions
c) Jesus explained its
core

22. The Law
1) Definitions of the Law Jesus Christ fulfilled the law in
four senses:
2) Purposes of the Law
a) Jesus enacted its
3) Fulfilment of the Law commands.
b) Jesus embodied its
predictions
c) Jesus explained its
core
d) Jesus eliminated its
sacrifices

23. The Law
C. Fulfilment of Law
1. Jesus enacted its commands
2. Jesus embodied its predictions
3. Jesus explained its core
4. Jesus eliminated its sacrifices

24. Point 2
THE LAW OF LOVE

25. Situation Ethics
We can DEFINE situation ethics in four points:

26. Situation Ethics
We can DEFINE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics is the belief that there are no
absolutes.

27. Situation Ethics
We can DEFINE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics is the belief that there are no
absolutes.
2) What is right or wrong depends entirely on the
situation.

28. Situation Ethics
We can DEFINE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics is the belief that there are no
absolutes.
2) What is right or wrong depends entirely on the
situation.
3) Secular form: love for self is the guiding principle.

29. Situation Ethics
We can DEFINE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics is the belief that there are no
absolutes.
2) What is right or wrong depends entirely on the
situation.
3) Secular form: love for self is the guiding principle.
4) Christian form: love for others is the guiding
principle.

30. Situation Ethics
We can EVALUATE situation ethics in four points:

31. Situation Ethics
We can EVALUATE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics has a false foundation.

32. Situation Ethics
We can EVALUATE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics has a false foundation.
2) Situation ethics has a false view of love.

33. Situation Ethics
We can EVALUATE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics has a false foundation.
2) Situation ethics has a false view of love.
3) Situation ethics has a false view of law.

34. Situation Ethics
We can EVALUATE situation ethics in four points:
1) Situation ethics has a false foundation.
2) Situation ethics has a false view of love.
3) Situation ethics has a false view of law.
4) Situation ethics has a false view of man.

35. The Law of Love
God’s law is an expression
of his love for us. It
teaches how to live a life
of love by giving concrete
teaching about what is
loving and what is not.

36. The Law of Love
God’s law is an expression 1) Christian situation ethics
of his love for us. It misinterprets some key
teaches how to live a life scriptures.
of love by giving concrete
teaching about what is
loving and what is not.

37. The Law of Love
God’s law is an expression 1) Christian situation ethics
of his love for us. It misinterprets some key
teaches how to live a life scriptures.
of love by giving concrete 2) These verses do not
teaching about what is mean that love
loving and what is not. substitutes for the law.

38. The Law of Love
God’s law is an expression 1) Christian situation ethics
of his love for us. It misinterprets some key
teaches how to live a life scriptures.
of love by giving concrete 2) These verses do not
teaching about what is mean that love
loving and what is not. substitutes for the law.
3) They mean that love
summarises the
commands of the law.

39. The Law of God

40. The Ten Commandments
PRINCIPLES OF INTERPRETATION

41. Principles of Interpretation
If we are to use the Ten
Commandments as a
guide framework for
biblical ethics, how are we
to interpret them? There
are four important
principles that we need to
follow.

42. Principles of Interpretation
1) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted as a
legal code with a loving core.

43. Principles of Interpretation
1) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted as a
legal code with a loving core.
2) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
negative to positive.

44. Principles of Interpretation
1) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted as a
legal code with a loving core.
2) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
negative to positive.
3) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
narrow to broad.

45. Principles of Interpretation
1) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted as a
legal code with a loving core.
2) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
negative to positive.
3) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
narrow to broad.
4) The Ten Commandments must be interpreted from
action to attitude.

46. The Ten Commandments
LIBERTY, LEGALISM, AND LICENCE

47. Liberty, Legalism, and Licence
1) Legalism: uses rules to govern every
aspect of life.

48. Liberty, Legalism, and Licence
1) Legalism: uses rules to govern every
aspect of life.
2) License: attempts to live without any
rules.

49. Liberty, Legalism, and Licence
1) Legalism: uses rules to govern every
aspect of life.
2) License: attempts to live without any
rules.
3) Liberty: gives enough instruction to
direct life without strangling it.

50. Conclusion

51. Conclusion
1) The first half of this lesson examined the law of
love. Whereas many argue that love is the only
norm, we believe that the law of God is the biblical
expression of the love of God. The law teaches us
how love behaves.
2) The Ten Commandments can serve as a framework
for biblical ethics, provided that they are properly
interpreted. They encourage liberty, rather than
legalism or licence.