Victor begins by addressing the original question: can unbelievers do good works? He emphasizes that this depends on how “good” is defined. He argues that if goodness is measured against a standard, specifically God himself, then there are absolutes by which to assess good works. Victor references Romans 3:23, which states that man has sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, suggesting that man is no longer an image bearer and thus does not represent goodness.
He explains that man has exchanged the glory of God for the worship of himself, resulting in a subjective morality. Victor critiques society’s tendency to adopt situational ethics, saying that many believe what is good for one person is not necessarily good for another, leading to a flexible social construct of morality. This reflects the principles outlined in Romans 1, where mankind suppresses truth and progressively embraces idolatry, worshiping the created rather than the Creator.
Delving deeper, Victor highlights how the rejection of God as the source of goodness allows alternative moralities to arise. He cites Dostoevsky’s notion from “Brothers Karamazov” that if God is absent, then anything is permissible. He discusses the consequences of rejecting God’s absolute standards, leading people to establish their own subjective moral guidelines.
Victor then contrasts this wacko morality with the truth of God’s word, reiterating that humanity is created in God’s image to glorify Him. He stresses that Christ came to restore this image, inviting unbelievers to turn from self-idolatry and place their faith in Him. He emphasizes that true goodness and good works come only through Christ.
