P2 - Good Conduct and Key Moral Principles

Question 1

why is good conduct important for Christians

Answer 1

• brings the reward of earning a place in heaven, avoids being sent to hell
• faith in Jesus is basis
• Matthew 22:35-40, Jesus says that the greatest commandment is to love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind; and to love thy neighbour

Question 2

why may some Christians not agree about what good conduct is and why good conduct is important

Answer 2

• some moral commands in the Bible seen as immoral (e.g. giving advice to slaves)
• some see Jesus’ authority as human, would question his command and authority
• some believe good conduct is just doing right
• liberal Christians may see heaven and hell as psychological realities

Question 3

what are the three sets of idea of the doctrine of ‘justification’

Answer 3

1. a Christian can be justified by faith
2. a Christian can be justified through good works
3. a Christian is predestined to enter God’s Kingdom

Question 4

what is justification by faith

Answer 4

Christians are counted as righteous before God on the basis of faith

Question 5

what is justification by works

Answer 5

Christians are counted as righteous before God on the basis of their works

Question 6

C.K. Barrett quote supporting justification by faith

Answer 6

“Justification… is the verdict which faith, and only faith can hear. Outside fatih, as outside grace, men can hear (out of the law) only the verdict of guilty, and the sentence of condemnation.”

• so if justification comes through work only, then everyone would be judged guilty by God
• justification only works through faith ini Jesus

Question 7

Christians who prioritise works

Answer 7

• accept Letter of James, “… faith apart from works is dead”
• even demons must believe in God but their work is demonic
• Jesus’ parable of the Sheep and the Goats

Question 8

Christians who prioritise faith

Answer 8

• emphasis on salvation, not a person’s faith that saves, but God who saves the person through the channel of their faith

Question 9

Martin Luther’s quote supporting Justification by faith

Answer 9

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith… For in it the righteousness of God is revealed through faith for faith; as it is written, ‘He who through faith is righteous shall live’”

Question 10

what is sola fide

Answer 10

Latin, refers to Martin Luther’s doctrine of justification by ‘faith alone’

Question 11

Catholic Church’s view on the importance of both faith and works

Answer 11

“… codified its understanding of the doctrine of justification, which the council said was predicated upon both faith and good works.” (James R. Adair)

Question 12

what is predestination

Answer 12

the view that all events have been willed by God

Question 13

Biblical examples on predestination

Answer 13

• Paul suggested in Romans that god predestined some people to ‘be conformed to the image of his son’
• perhaps this refers to the fact that those who are not predestined to eternal life simply died without entering God’s kingdom

Question 14

problem of predestination (idea of free will)

Answer 14

clashes with the idea of human free will

• Genesis suggests that humans are created in God’s image and most Christians believe that this includes the human ability to reject God’s commands
• but if we are predestined by God then do we not have free will? since everything is determined by God