Overview of A Practical Guide to Biblical Ethics

‘A practical guide to biblical ethics’ was written to help Christians follow and understand God’s law, so that they may live a lifestyle that honours God. By using the expression ‘God’s law’, Smith means the moral will of God as to what is right and wrong. This is encompassed in the Ten Commandments and expanded on throughout the Bible. Kevin Gary Smith(2012:6-9) wrote the book for believers whose prayers are to live a righteous life. The book is, however, not written only for academics or full time pastors, but is aimed for all Christians to understand. The book is practical; therefore, it is structured and worded in a way that it can be applied to the reader’s life. Through reading ‘A practical guide to biblical ethics’, believers can live a way of life that brings glory to God.
The most important spiritual truth that I learnt is that law is not the opposite of grace, but grace is the fulfilment of the law (Smith 2012:10-11, 13-15). In many church circles, ‘law’ is viewed as archaic and constraining. They see law and grace as two contradicting ways of life. Paul’s teachings are often used to fuel this argument. Here, however, Paul uses ‘law’ to mean earning salvation through works, as opposed to grace. The perception that grace and law are opposites is unbiblical and stems from an incorrect view of God. God’s plan for the world is perfect (Psalm 18:30) and therefore, both law and grace are instrumental in His plan. Jesus says in Matthew 5:17-18 that he came to fulfil the law. He did this through four things; He kept the law perfectly, He exemplified the prophecies in the law, He clarified the meaning of the law and He came as a sacrifice so that animal sacrifices are no longer needed in Christianity. In Ephesians, Paul explains...

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...that can be followed by any believer. One of the keywords in the book’s title is ‘practical’ as Kevin Gary Smith successfully brings his points across so that readers can apply them to their day-to-day lives. When partnered with the Holy Spirit, however, the book not only fulfills it’s aim but also gives it’s audience a clearer picture of God’s greatness and the incredible worth of His Son’s sacrifice upon the cross. I would recommend this work to all Christians. It is important to understand how the Old and New Testaments work together to paint a picture of God’s incredible grace and love for His people. Kevin Gary Smith not only achieves his purpose, but God works through His Holy Spirit to enlighten believers through this book.

Works Cited

Smith KG 2012. A practical guide to biblical ethics. Johannesburg, South Africa: South African Theological Seminary Press.