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River Church Sermons


Mar 3, 2019

Choose Or Lose #2

A Biblical Basis For Morality

By Louie Marsh, 3-3-2019

 

1) What are the foundations of Biblical Morality & worldview?

 

  • A personal, eternal, all powerful God actually

 

1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 (ESV)

 

19  For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20  For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21  For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:19-21 (ESV)

 

  • This God has SPOKEN to me in the Bible.

 

10  With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! Psalm 119:10 (ESV)

  • Therefore there is an objective, AUTHORITATIVE source for morality.

 

1  The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. Psalm 14:1 (ESV)

 

If these two presuppositions aren’t the starting point in a Christian worldview, then we’re just like everyone else, trying to find objectivity in a sea of subjectivity.

2) Mankind was created in God’s IMAGE,

 

27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (ESV)

 

  • This means as a free moral agent I can reason, reflect and

 

18  “Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)

 

3) I must choose right from wrong based on GOD’S COMMANDS.

 

5  Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! 6  Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. Psalm 119:5-6 (ESV)

 

17  “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18  For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV)

 

4) There are two sources for knowledge of God’s Commands:

 

  • REVELATION

 

16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV)

 

  • CONSCIENCE

 

15  They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them Romans 2:15 (ESV)

 

  • I look to Scripture FIRST and conscience second.

 

7  However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 1 Corinthians 8:7 (ESV)

 

6  In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 (ESV)

 

5) God calls us to live HIS WAY.


15  And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15 (ESV)

The current reigning “competitor” to biblical morality in our society is social consensus. In other words, our morality is shaped and changed by the culture around us

 Example – Folsum Prison Blues – Johnny Cash – 1953

 But I know I had it comin'
I know I can't be free
But those people keep a-movin'
And that's what tortures me

 If It was written today:

 They said I had it comin’

and took my liberty,

But I was raised by an impoverished, cisgendered, patriarchal bigot

And now you’re torturing me!

 24  “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26  And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:24-27 (ESV)