2F: key moral principles

Question 1

What are the key moral principles?

Answer 1

• importance of love of neighbour
• God’s love as a potential model for Christian behaviour
• regard for truth
• role of conscience
• need for forgiveness.

Question 2

Importance of love of neighbour - key moral principle

Question 3

Key moral principle - God’s love as a potential model for Christian behaviour

Answer 3

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Question 4

Key moral principle - regard for truth

Question 5

Key moral principle - role of conscience

Answer 5

• the Bible teaches that human beings, as they are made in the image of God, have an innate sense of right and wrong. Links to Natural Law and intuitionism
• they are able to view life situations in a moral or ethical lights and just get some actions are ‘right’ and some are ‘wrong’. This is known as the conscience.
• christians believe that their conscience is informed by both by the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit. When they violate the standards that they believe are expected of them, they experience guilt. They are then able to confess their sin and experience God’s forgiveness.
• of conscience is repeatedly ignored, one’s sensitivity to moral issues becomes desensitised.
• the Christian’s goal is to develop a mature conscience based on biblical teaching as illuminated by the HS. The Bible is clear that believers must have their conscience informed by God’s word.

Question 6

Key moral principle - need for forgiveness:

Answer 6

• forgiveness is a prominent theme in the teaching of Jesus and scripture. E.g. Matthew 6:14-15, he told/taught his followers that if they do not forgive, they themselves will not be forgiven. This is the idea behind the petition in the Lord’s Prayer.
• when Peter asked how many times he should be forgiven. As many as 7? Jesus replied 77 times implying that forgiveness is not easy.
• forgiveness is therefore a conscious choice that Christians must make through a decision of will motivated by obedience to God.
• Christians believe forgiveness sets them free from all feelings of anger and hurt that have previously constrained them.
• forgiveness is a part of the character of God; to fail to forgive separates humans from God.