IntroductiontoChristianEthi.mp3
👆Click and listen to this training as you get ready or drive somewhere.
Wayne Grudem’s Christian Ethics begins with a foundational chapter that sets the stage for the entire work: Chapter 1: Introduction to Christian Ethics. This chapter is crucial because it establishes what Christian ethics is, why it matters, and how it connects to the broader life of discipleship and obedience to God. Grudem is concerned, not merely with abstract philosophical discussions, but with shaping how Christians actually live in light of God’s Word. The reader who engages this first chapter will quickly discover that Christian ethics, as Grudem defines and explains it, is not optional for believers—it is at the very heart of what it means to follow Jesus Christ.
At its core, this opening chapter teaches that Christian ethics is the study of what God requires of us, what He forbids, and what He permits, with the ultimate goal of helping us live lives that are pleasing to Him. For the reader, this means entering into a discipline that bridges theology and practice, belief and behavior, faith and works. Grudem does not present ethics as a sterile list of rules or an academic exercise, but as a deeply personal and pastoral concern that flows from a relationship with the living God.
The reader is introduced immediately to the idea that Christian ethics deals with what the whole Bible teaches about which acts, attitudes, and personal character traits receive God’s approval, and which ones do not. This emphasis is important, because from the very beginning, Grudem roots Christian ethics not in human reasoning, cultural consensus, or philosophical tradition, but in divine revelation. Ethics is not about inventing moral standards—it is about listening to God and learning to walk in His ways. The chapter thus frames ethics as an act of discipleship: following Jesus involves obeying His commands and aligning one’s life with His will.
Readers soon discover that Grudem’s definition of Christian ethics is intentionally broad. It does not focus solely on actions or decisions in isolation, but on the entire moral fabric of life. Ethics involves not only the choices we make externally, but also the inward motives of the heart and the habits of character that define who we are. This comprehensive scope will matter for every chapter that follows, but in the introduction, it alerts the reader that Christian ethics is not merely about “what to do” in difficult situations. Instead, it is about who we are becoming as disciples of Jesus.
Grudem explains that ethics includes three categories: actions, attitudes, and personal character. Actions refer to the things we do—our behavior, decisions, and conduct. Attitudes refer to the dispositions, emotions, and intentions that undergird our actions. Character refers to the kind of person we are being shaped into—whether we are becoming more Christlike or more self-centered. The reader, then, learns that God’s ethical standards go much deeper than external compliance. They reach the heart level, reflecting Jesus’ own teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, where He insisted that anger is as serious as murder and lust as serious as adultery. Christian ethics, as defined here, is comprehensive and holistic.
This is an important takeaway for the reader: Christian ethics is not just about “dos and don’ts.” It is about transformation. The God who redeems His people also reshapes their lives so that their behavior, emotions, and character reflect His holiness.
A reader of Chapter 1 quickly realizes that the foundation of Christian ethics is the Word of God. Scripture, according to Grudem, is the ultimate and sufficient authority for determining right and wrong. This conviction flows throughout the book, but it is especially emphasized in the introduction. Unlike secular ethical systems, which often appeal to reason, social consensus, or utility, Christian ethics appeals to God’s revealed will in Scripture. The Bible is the standard by which all ethical questions are measured.
For the reader, this emphasis clarifies that ethics is not a matter of speculation or personal preference. Christians are not left to guess at God’s will or to invent morality on their own. Instead, God has spoken, and His Word is both clear and sufficient. This gives believers confidence that ethical questions can be answered—not always easily, but always faithfully—by searching the Scriptures.
Grudem also acknowledges that Christians use reason and tradition in applying Scripture, but these are always subordinate to the authority of the Bible. The reader learns that Christian ethics differs fundamentally from other ethical systems precisely because it begins with God’s Word, not human wisdom. This emphasis resonates with the Reformation principle of sola Scriptura: Scripture alone is the ultimate authority in matters of faith and practice.
The chapter highlights another central truth: the ultimate goal of Christian ethics is not personal happiness, social approval, or even pragmatic success. The goal is to please God. The reader finds this in Grudem’s insistence that Christian ethics is about living in a way that accords with God’s will and glorifies Him. This God-centered goal sets Christian ethics apart from many secular ethical systems, which often focus on human well-being, social harmony, or individual autonomy. While those outcomes may sometimes align with Christian morality, they are not the ultimate reason Christians seek to obey God. Instead, obedience flows from love for God and a desire to honor Him.
For the reader, this goal reorients the entire discussion of ethics. Christian morality is not primarily about “what works” or “what feels right.” It is about fidelity to God, who is holy and who calls His people to holiness. This means that even when obedience to God is costly or countercultural, Christians are still called to faithfulness. The reader comes away from this chapter with a strong sense that ethics is about discipleship, about being conformed to Christ, and about living to the glory of God.