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Easter College
Teacher Education Department
Easter School Rd., Guisad Central, Baguio City

Module 2

For the subject

Christian Ethics
(C.E. 2)

Mid Terms

First Semester

A.Y. 2020-2021

Prepared By: Allan C. Balalao

Teacher
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Topic Coverage:
1. Brief History of Ethics
2. 3 Questions of Ethics and The Pursuit of Happiness
3. Biblical Ethics: The Decalogue

Time Frame: March 4 – April 3, 2021

Unit Objectives:
1. To name the consequences of Sin and what are the moral lessons we can derive from it.
2. To reflect on the three (3) basic questions of Ethics:
1.1. What is the highest good of man?
1.2. Why I am here on earth?
1. 3. What is the purpose of my life?
2. To re-read the Ten Commandments and retrieve its relevant insights that are useful in making
ethical decisions
3. To differentiate ethics from the lens of the different philosophies vs. Ethics from the lens of
the Judeo-Christian Tradition
4. To appreciate the relevance of being informed of Biblical ethical principles
5. To translate in their daily lives the basic moral teachings of the Bible implied in the Decalogue,
Jesus’ summary of the Law, and Sermon on the Mouth or the Be-attitudes.

Topic 3
Two-fold standard/model of Christian Ethics and Morality: The Concept of
Sin

Learning Experiences:
Foreword: Dear CE 2 students, thank you for your positive reception to our
modular set-up. I know we are all struggling with this “new normal” in our
academic life. But we need to trust in God that this will soon pass. Meanwhile
let us continue to engage ourselves, convince ourselves that nothing can impede our learning, and that
life must go no matter what comes along, God being in control of the world.

Review/Recap of the Prelims:

During the prelims we were able to define what ethics is in general. And we tried to differentiate
Ethics from morality. We defined that, “Ethics is a normative science”—of norms, standard, and
principle that must be followed in order to do what is right. Ethics is the science of “oughtness” What is
ought to be done? While “morals or morality” is what people actually do? It speaks more of manners, of
how people react and act in a given situation or dilemma. In one hand, we begun to acknowledge (and
continue to affirm) that Christian Ethics is “faith Translated into action,” meaning, Christians are
expected to apply Biblical ethical principles in making moral-ethical decisions. This Mid Term, we will
continue to explore what is Christian Ethics and how it should be understood and followed by Christians.
Please read our objectives above, our time frame, and the topics which we aim to cover. As
usual, let us observe and honor deadlines for submission of required activities and performance tasks.
This gives your teacher enough time to read and evaluate your work.
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The Biblical Scenario: In the Book of the Judges 17:16, we find this
verse which states the scenario where there is no concept of what is
good and bad.
“In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own
eyes.”

This, unfortunately, is the standard of ethics for many today. Sadly, even our society is
becoming more of what is described in the Book of Judges. We are becoming a godless society.
Reports on the daily news is not encouraging but so depressing at times---killings everywhere,
drug related activities continue to flourish despite this COVID-19 pandemic, wanton corruptions
of government funds (e.g., Philhealth), scams of every kind abound, and the media entices
people to perpetuate violence and sex, and the youth now, are unfortunately being corrupted
by all these. Your earlier reading about the Good Manners and Right Conduct Act of 2017 is an
indication that there is really a problem that is affecting the youth in our society. It’s good that
our Lawmakers are at least aware and are trying to help rescue our youth before it’s too late

A. Two-fold standard/model of Christian Ethics and Morality

There are models, standards, or resources when we speak of
Christian ethics and morality, namely:

1. Jesus Christ- His example, His Life

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the
Father, but by me (John 14:6).
This verse speaks of who is Jesus Christ to believers- that Jesus is
acknowledged by most Christians as their Mediator between God and
Humanity. Jesus is the Saviour and in Him there is SALVATION. From this
understanding, Christians affirm that “Jesus is their Lord and Saviour” which
means, every professing Christian must fashion his/her life the way that is
acceptable to Jesus. BY this, faithfulness, obedience, humility, and charity are
expected values that are supposed to be observable in every person who claims to be
Christians.

2. The Word of God/Bible

“All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, for training in righteousness so that everyone who
belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good works.” (2
Tim 3:16-17, NRSV).
The Bible (the New testament) itself defines what is the “use” of the
Bible. This passage in Timothy provides us the reason why we claim that the Bible is important
in the lives of Christians. The Bible is a rich resource for education and it serves as a moral
compass on how we should behave as Christians.
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So, this will be part of our goal in this subject, that is to search and affirm the Bible as a new
found resource or moral guide in our daily living, affirming Jesus Christ as our companion in this
journey called life.

B. Biblical Concept of Sin

 Read Genesis chapters 2-3

Moral and ethical conduct dates back to the Garden of Eden. Even then they had to make
choices and God expected them to choose “right.”

Now the Lord God planted a garden on the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he
had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground-trees that were
pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the three of the
knowledge of good and evil.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care
of it. And the Lord God commanded the man; “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;
but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it
you will surely die.”
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the
eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her
husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and
they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for
themselves.

*Then the passing of the blame begun…

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the
garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
But the Lord called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and
I was afraid because I was naked; so, I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked?
Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The
woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the
Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent
deceived me, and I ate.”

The Consequences:

So, the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above
all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days
of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and
hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”
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To the woman he said, “I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful
labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over
you.”
To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate fruit from the tree about
which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat from it,’ “cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and
thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the fields. By the sweat of your brow you will eat
your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to
dust you will return.”

Temptation and Sin

Temptation- is a desire to engage in short-term

urges for enjoyment that threatens long-term goals.
In religious usage, temptation is the inclination to sin. In the context of
self-control and ego depletion, temptation is described as an immediate,
pleasurable urge and/or impulse (Wikipedia).
Sin- a. transgression of God’s known will or any principle or law regarded as embodying this.
b. the condition of estrangement from God arising from such transgression
Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion
against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18).

Reflection: Chapter 2-3 of Genesis narrates how Temptation and Sin distorted the relationship
of God and Humanity. Before the snake arrived on the scene, there was peace in the Garden of
Eden. Adam and Eve were just enjoying their lives together with the rest of God’s creation.
Humanity was God’s image and trusted steward. But in Chapter 3, the narrative introduces the
so called, “FALL OF HUMANITY.” Humanity is now fallen to sin. In religious thought, “Sin” is
called “transgression,” “missing the mark” or mistake or turning back against God. So that,
Chapter 3 of Genesis tells how man was estranged from God.

Continue with the reflection by re-reading Genesis chapter 2-chapter

3, and then answer the following questions:

1. Who are the characters in the narrative, “The Fall: in Genesis

Chapter 3?
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2.Name the two Trees mentioned in Genesis 2:16-17.

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3.From which three did Eve picked from? _______________________________________
4. List down the consequences or punishment pronounced by God to the following:
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Serpent/snake:
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Woman:
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Man:
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5. What is interesting about Genesis 3:19? ___________________________________________

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6. In your own words, what happened in Chapter 3?
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7. If you were God, would you give the same punishment? Why?
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8. Reflecting from Genesis chapter 3, what to you are the consequences of sin or wrong doing
or disobedience?
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9. Explain verse 22 of Chapter 3
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10. What did God placed in the Garden of Eden according to verse 24. What is its role?
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