Add to Your Faith... Godliness
Embark on a journey of spiritual growth as we consider godliness and its significance in Christian living.
We've been examining this passage of scripture in 2 Peter, which provides a road map for Christian growth or building our Christian character. It tells us to add to our faith various Christian graces. We're going to focus on the idea of adding godliness.
2 Pet 1:5-6
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance GODLINESS,
Peter encourages us to start with faith, but there are many other things that we're told to add and we've looked at them in previous lessons in this series—the idea of virtue, knowledge, self-control, and we've looked at perseverance in a recent lesson. But this morning, we're focusing on godliness. What is godliness? We're also going to look at several other texts that focus on godliness in the New Testament, one of which talks about things that could hinder us from godliness. So, we're going to explore some spiritual misunderstandings, that can hinder us from godliness, and then we'll focus on the truth about godliness in the latter part of our lesson.
What do we mean when we talk about godliness? The dictionary defines this word as piety or the fear of God that prompts a person to live in a way that pleases God. It also involves being like God in holiness and righteousness. There are some ways in which we can't be like God because we're not infinite beings, and so we don't have all knowledge and power, and we can't be present in all places at one time. But there are aspects of God's character and nature that we can imitate, and that is the foundation of godliness—being like Him in love, patience, holiness, and righteousness, as mentioned in this dictionary definition.
However, there are some misunderstandings or myths that can discourage or hinder us from pursuing and attaining godliness.
Myth 1: Godliness Has No Value
A really big one that we encounter in our society today is the idea that godliness has no value. There's a lot of emphasis on things that we are constantly told have value, but how often do we hear messages telling us how valuable godliness is? In fact, if there are any messages about godliness in our culture, it's predominantly messages like this: "It's ridiculous to worry about what God might think about our behavior", or "It's unfair of God to try to control us." So, there is a prevalent opinion in our society that godliness is worthless, and if we don't value it, we'll end up acting ungodly and receive God's wrath as punishment.
Rom. 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
The Gentile cultures of Paul's day didn't like to retain God in their knowledge, so they definitely weren't interested in godliness; they did not think it was valuable. We're told there that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Rom 5:6-8
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
These verses tell us that when we were without strength in due time, Christ died for the ungodly. How valuable is godliness? Well, we may not appreciate it, but God does, because His demonstration of how important it is is that while we were still sinners, God sent His Son, Jesus. He died, was buried, rose from the dead, and ascended back to Heaven so that we can not just value godliness but be godly. That's what Jesus did for us.
Notice what it says here about godliness:
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
We're told in this passage of scripture that the grace of God is what makes it possible for us to turn our backs on ungodliness and helps us avoid eternal punishment, live godly lives, and have hope of eternal reward. So, when we realize that is the choice between a life of ungodliness with eternal punishment versus a life of godliness connected with eternal reward, that helps us to really value godliness, doesn't it? And the grace of God is part of what helps teach us that value.
Myth #2: Faith Alone can Save
When we think about other misunderstandings or myths that hinder our godliness, one is the idea that faith alone will save. Sometimes, an incomplete presentation of the Gospel teaches that faith alone can save, leaving out the importance of repentance. Repentance is the idea that we need to change our minds, not just to believe that Jesus died and is the Son of God, but to change our minds about our own sins and recognize that we stand condemned before God because of the wrong things we have done. So, if faith alone can save us, why should we repent? Why should we turn away from sin?
Myth #3: A Christian Cannot sin so as to be Lost
Sometimes we hear that once we're saved, we're always saved, but this is another message that will hinder us from seeking godliness because if there's no way we can be lost, why should we try to follow in the footsteps of Jesus?
Myth #4: The Christian Life is Easy
Another idea that may hinder us in our Christian life from pursuing godliness is if we have the idea that if I become a Christian, then my life will be easy. Again, sometimes there are presentations of the Gospel that are incomplete or confusing, giving this impression. But the reality is, although becoming a Christian is the right decision and will definitely be a blessing, it does not instantly solve our problems. So, if we have the idea that it will, we might be disappointed when we encounter hard times as a Christian.
The Truth about Godliness
What is the truth about godliness? We're going to look at two key texts of Scripture, one in 1 Timothy and the other in Titus, to get the truth about godliness, which will help us as we're seeking to add to our faith this important characteristic.
Here in 1 Timothy 4, Paul tells this young evangelist, Timothy,
1 Tim 4:7-11
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, GODLINESS IS OF VALUE IN EVERY WAY, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.
So, let's look at this text in a little bit of detail, verse by verse, and see what we can learn about godliness from this instruction that Paul gave to Timothy.
First of all, we can observe that godliness requires training and hard work. After saying, in verse seven of this text, to have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths, which would include those myths or misunderstandings that would hinder us from godliness, he says, "Rather, train yourself for godliness."
What kind of training? The text we started with in 2 Peter 1 can answer that question. It tells us as we are adding to our faith, some of the training we need is that we need to add knowledge. If we don't know what constitutes godly behavior, we need to add to our knowledge so that we know what is godly. But knowledge by itself won't help us to actually do the hard work of being godly. We will need self-control and perseverance. Once we know God's character and how we should live our lives, it's going to require self-control and perseverance.
We saw in those lessons, particularly in the lesson about self-control, that self-control can help us to accomplish just about anything. So, those who are most successful in this life have developed a level of discipline and self-control that enables them to decide what they want to do and through their self-control, they're able to achieve what they really want.
Within the Christian life, one of the things that needs to be our objective is godliness. So, that is what we apply our self-control to. I want to be godly, I want to have Christ-like character. So, with the knowledge of what that means and with self-control and perseverance, we get the end result of becoming more and more godly as we seek to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. But our passage here tells us that's not easy; it's going to require some training, it's going to require some effort.
Another passage of scripture that talks about this is in 1 Cor 9:24-27.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. THEY DO IT TO RECEIVE A PERISHABLE WREATH, BUT WE AN IMPERISHABLE. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Our Christian life is a lot like running a race. You see these athletes who are exercising a lot of discipline and self-control, and their goal, though, is a wreath, a trophy, a medal. But what is the crown for us in our Christian life? Well, it ultimately is heaven, but on the way there, when we achieve greater levels of godliness, those are imperishable awards or accomplishments as we are becoming more and more like Jesus. That is definitely worthwhile, and whatever effort we put in pursuing godliness is worth it.
Another important truth about godliness is that it's more valuable than physical fitness. Our text brings out this contrast in 1 Tim 4.8:
"For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."
He probably didn't have to try to convince Timothy that bodily exercise is of some value, but he says how much more value is godliness? Godliness gives you value in this life and the life to come. Now, how much you can bench press or how many marathons you run in this life is not going to matter in the life to come, but godliness is. Whether we develop godliness will matter in the life to come, and it also has promise in this life as well.
It just so happens that the same God who created the universe ordered it in such a way that when we're living in alignment with His character, it is better for us in every possible way. So, whether our life goes smoothly or in a rough way, the same God who designed the universe wants us as human beings to live godly lives, and it has promise in this life and the life to come.
Another important truth about godliness is that everyone needs to know about its value. Paul is telling this to Timothy and telling him that godliness is valuable in every way and has promise in this life and the life to come. The next thing he says is,
1 Tim 4.9
"This is a faithful saying and deserving of full acceptance."
I think the point of that is that Paul wants everyone to know this, and everyone needs to know this because Timothy is not just a personal friend but also an evangelist serving the church in the city of Ephesus at this time. He's really telling him, Timothy, make sure that the Christians in that church where you're teaching and preaching know how important godliness is so that they will be pursuing it in the same way that you are. That also is the proclamation to the world that Christ is making: we need to be godly, and the way to godliness is through Jesus Christ.
Another truth about godliness is that, since it requires hard work to be godly, hope motivates us in the hard work of godliness. That is what will help us and motivate us in applying the effort necessary to be godly. After saying that godliness is profitable for all things and is a faithful saying, Paul goes on to say, in 1 Tim 4.10:
"For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."
So, essentially, Paul is saying he is willing to put extreme effort into the end of godliness because he has hope in the living God who is the Savior of everyone, especially those who believe.
Let's turn back to the passage we looked at in Titus 2:11-12 and read that again.
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Why are we seeking godliness? Because we know that one day, Jesus is going to come again, and we want to be ready for that day. He is coming to bring His people home, and His people are not people who never do wrong. Godliness is not living sinlessly perfect; godliness is striving to follow Jesus, and when we stumble, going to Jesus for forgiveness, mercy, and grace.
But the grace of God does not teach us to not worry about it and live any way we want to as long as we have faith in Jesus. No, the grace of God teaches us to follow Jesus, to follow in His footsteps, to do the best we can, to repent when we stumble and fall. By pursuing godliness, we will have hope when Jesus returns because He is faithful. He will forgive us even though we stumble and fall, and if we take seriously our responsibility to seek after Jesus, we will be ready when He comes, and that is the best hope that we could possibly have: that when Jesus comes back, we will be ready and watching for Him because we want to be where He is, in heaven with our heavenly Father forever.
