Human beings have been created moral creatures in the likeness of God, who is the source and standard of all that is good.
Morality is grounded in the nature of God himself
Deuteronomy 32:4; Luke 18:18–19 See also Exodus 33:19, Exodus 34:5–7; Psalm 25:8–9, Psalm 119:68
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; all His ways are just. A God of faithfulness without injustice, righteous and upright is He.
Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.
Human beings are morally aware
They are created in God's image
They have a conscience
Romans 2:14–15 See also 2 Corinthians 4:2
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them
They have been given a moral law
Genesis 2:16–17; Mark 10:6–9; Genesis 2:23–24 Standards for marriage are implicit in the creation.
They are capable of sharing moral ideals
John 1:9; Romans 13:1–7; Ephesians 3:15 “whole family” is literally “all fatherhood”, implying that every understanding of fatherhood and family is derived from God; Philippians 4:8 refering to pagan virtues; Titus 3:1; 1 Peter 2:13–14
Immoral acts are unnatural
God's judgment implies moral responsibility
Jeremiah 17:10; Ezekiel 18:20–21; Amos 1:6; Romans 2:5–11
Human beings are morally flawed
Romans 3:23 See also Psalm 64:6; Isaiah 32:6; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 1:28–32, Romans 8:7; 1 Timothy 4:2
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.