The ethical system taught by the Lord Jesus Christ is greater than one taught by an Einstein or Newton. It surpasses incomparably the eightfold path taught by Siddartha, it makes modern utilitarianism simplistic and entails Kant’s categorical imperative while transcending it. No other man in history has presented such a vast, comprehensive ethical system for human behavior that works in the real, live human social environment.
The Buddha’s ethics were that of abnegation in the realization that temporal life is comparatively meaningless in contrast to eternity or nothingness before and after personal existence. Abnegation or indifference about what occurs in life is a reaction to existential facts, and a way of experiencing the good and bad of reality yet it does not construct a rational ethical system for human advancement to an ideal condition. The ethics of the Lord Jesus does that, and is effective even if the application is incomplete and only a portion of humanity comprehends.
Consider this excerpt from Matthew chapter 5;
“3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for their’s is the
kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be
comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after
righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called
the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for
righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and
persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your
reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets
which were before you.
13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost
his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth
good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden
under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an
hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a
bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all
that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven.
17 ¶ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the
prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,
one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till
all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be
called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever
shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in
the kingdom of heaven.”
Jesus’ ethical system is insinuated throughout the New Testament. The ethical genius of the Lord Jesus is applicable to this temporal realm yet also prepairs the saved for the world beyond. The system brings humanity to a better condition even when the belief of the people does not extend unto the post-temporal destiny of heaven or hell.
Within the temporal, comparatively illusory world experience of human life in the steady-state thermodynamically in motion Universe the ethics of the Lord draw humanity to cohere together with respect of liberty and justice for all. It is not a warrior religion urge to conquer and force everyone to submit to a trans-temporal deity. The ethics of the Lord Jesus draw humanity toward social perfection temporally, and that is a penultimate minimalistic transformation toward the fulfillment of each human soul in God’s eternal plan actualized through the saving grace of the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.
The ethics of the Lord are worthy of a lifetime study one goes about their ordinary work-a-day existence. Regardless of one’s having faith in eternal life or not when the temporal experience terminates, to learn to know Jesus Christ and his ethics is to transform one’s temporal way of being discretely. A soul learning the Lord’s way of ethics becomes a universal citizen contributing to the advancement of society. As he or she is drawn to the perfect way of the Lord and knows his way even those disbelieving in eternal life may encounter a regenerative experience and even accept the Lord as their personal savior and understand the sacrifice he made at Calvary to atone for their original and subsequent sin.
The ethics of the Lord are a continuousregenerative factor for human social existence leading some of the elect unto eternal life with God.
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