1. James 1:27 “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Unblemished Unstained, uncontaminat ed

2. Definition Ethics - Greek = habit or custom English = a set of moral principles Morality - Latin = that which ought to be done and ought not to be done Conforming our human activity to the revealed will of God Ethics and morals

3. “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.” III John 11  Evil = wicked, injurious, worthless  Good = beneficial Romans 12:1-2  Not conformed to this world  But transformed 1 Thes. 5:15 “See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all [men].”

4. Romans 13:7-10 “love worketh no ill to his neighbour” Lists the things that love prohibits Matt. 7:12

5. Some things are always right -- Some things are always wrong  To Tell the Truth  Be Honest  Love God  Love your neighbour  Murder  Steal  Mouth sins  God’s name in vain  Liars  Corrupt Speech  Adultery  115 sins listed in NT

6. Many problems in ethics in the world “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10 b God gave us rules for our own good.

7. Eph. 4:28 “Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with [his] hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” 1 Pet. 4:15 “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or [as] a thief, or [as] an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.” 2 Cor. 8:21 “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” Honesty

8. Pre-marital Heb. 13:4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Sexual Ethics

9. Extra-marital Galatians 5:19  Adultery  Fornication  Uncleanness  Lascivousness Sexual Ethics

10. Divorce and remarriage Matt. 5:31-32 Divorce and remarry = adultery Matt. 19:9 One cause for divorce and remarriage and that cause is fornication Sexual Ethics

11. Pornography “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matt. 5:28 “…women adorn themselves in modest apparel” 1 Timothy 2:9 Sexual Ethics

12. Homosexuality Romans 1:24-32 dishonour their own bodies vile affections against nature working that which is unseemly Sexual Ethics

13. Abortion Exodus 21:22-25  Woman with child  Fruit depart from her  If any mischief follow  “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand” Sexual Ethics

14. Romans 13:10 “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love [is] the fulfilling of the law.” Why be good ?  God has revealed the best way of life  God expects his children to be good

15. Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

16. Proverbs 15:3 ¶ The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

17. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249arthurpigman@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Morning October 14, 2012