Do Christians have a Code of Conduct?

Law of Love - Code of Conduct

• Traces for Christians the path to a life freed from the slavery of sin

• Expresses the fundamental duties of man towards God & neighbor

• very much an ‘in-our-face’ reality

The 10 Commandments (The Decalogue)

• Are a gift - a gift we can use by the grace of God & his Son, Jesus

• The principles that articulate how we live in an intimate relationship with God

• The key to aligning ourselves with God

• Follow to continue enjoying the grace of this saving relationship

• (Mark 12:29-31) Sum of the 10 commandments - 1st three teach us about love of God, last 7 teach us about love of neighbor

• Reinforces the crucial notion that love of God & love of neighbor can not be separated

Beatitiudes (The Counterintuitive Commandments)

• Respond to the desire for happiness God has placed in the human heart.

• Express the vocation of the faithful; foundation of a life of authentic discipleship

• Sheds light on the actions & attitudes characteristic of the Christian life

• Confronts us with decisive moral choices about earthly goods; invites us to purify our hearts to seek the love of God; calls us to conversion

• Teaches us that true happiness is found in God alone, the source of every good & of all love

• Heart of Jesus’ preaching

• Reveal the goal of human existence

• Goes against common sense

• Gives spirit to the 10 commandments

Virtues

• 7 good habits or principles

• Key to living as disciples

• Referred to as habits bc they need to be used or will be lost

• the fruit & seed of morally good acts

• dispose all the powers of the human being for communion with divine love

• Cardinal virtues - acquired by education & good actions

  • Prudence

  • Justice

  • Fortitude

  • Temperance

• Theological Virtues - From God & lead to God

  • Faith

  • Hope

  • Love