The Centre for Christian Living, Moore Theological College, considers how the cross of Christ influences Christian Ethics

1. THE CROSS AND ETHICS:
WHAT HAS THE CROSS GOT TO
DO WITH ETHICS?
CCL Open Night 8

2. Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only
to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19For this is a
gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows
while suffering unjustly. 20For what credit is it if, when you sin
and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good
and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight
of God.
21For to this you have been called, because Christ also
suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might
follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit
found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in
return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued
entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore
our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and
live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
25For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to
the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:18-25

3. 1. Freedom
2. Insight
3. Purpose
4. Inclusion
5. Adversity
6. Style

4. ch. 15: cross
(ch. 29: forgiving)

5. 1. FREEDOM
 vv24b-25:
‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree …
By his wounds you have been healed. For you were
straying like sheep, but have now returned to the
Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.’

6. John Stott
‘The Cross of Christ’
The mysterious unity of the Father
and the Son rendered it possible for
God at once to endure and to inflict
penal suffering. [Here is] only unfathomable mercy.
For in order to save us in such a way as to satisfy
himself, God through Christ substituted himself for
us. Divine love triumphed over divine wrath by divine
self-sacrifice. The cross was an act simultaneously of
punishment and amnesty, severity and grace, justice
and mercy.’

8. 2. INSIGHT
 v24:
‘He himself bore our sins in his body on the
tree, that we might die to sin … By his wounds you
have been healed.

9. 3. PURPOSE
 v24:
‘… that we might … live to righteousness.’

10. 4. INCLUSION
 v21:
‘For to this youz have been called, because Christ
also suffered for youz, leaving youz an example, so
that youz might follow in his steps.’

11. 5. ADVERSITY
 vv 19—21:
‘For
this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of
God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
‘For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten
for it, you endure? But if when you do good and
suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in
the sight of God.
‘For to this you have been called, because Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so
that you might follow in his steps.’

13. 6. ‘STYLE’
 vv 19—21:
‘For
this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of
God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
‘For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten
for it, you endure? But if when you do good and
suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in
the sight of God.
‘For to this you have been called, because Christ
also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so
that you might follow in his steps.’

14. 6. ‘STYLE’
 v 23:
‘When he was reviled,’ says Peter, ‘he did not revile
in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but
continued entrusting himself to him who judges
justly.’

16. We who settle things are ourselves subject to
settlement. Humility is the first condition for any
humane justice. Only God has a right to carry justice
to its limits, and, if he did, as Shakespeare asks us,
How would you be
If He, who is the tops of judgment, should
But judge you as you are? O think on that;
And mercy then will breathe within your lips
Like man new made.

18.  Service
 Kindess and compassion
 Forgiveness and reconciliation
 Grace

19. ‘theology of the cross’
or
‘theology of glory’?