Perhaps you have spent time in the presence of a believer, after which you have said to yourself, “That is the godliest person I believe I have ever been around.” Maybe a mentor, a pastor, a shut-in, a missionary, a mother or father, or someone you met through reading about in a book. Can you remember someone who has left you with the feeling that they possess a godliness that you would like to emulate in your own walk with Christ?
Peter lists godliness as the fifth quality that we ought to add to the building block of faith. (2 Peter 1:6) These are sometimes called the fruits of faith. In Galatians, Paul lists nine “fruit of the Spirit” that are manifest in lives of believers who are yielded to the Holy Spirit and “walking in the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:16,22,23) In that passage, Paul establishes that one who is not walking in the Spirit as a believer is walking in the flesh and is carnal. In 2 Peter 1, Peter concludes that the believer who has not added to his faith these building blocks is barren, blind, and forgetful. (2 Peter 1:8,9) It is imperative, therefore, that we are diligent in adding to our faith each of these Christian distinctives.
Let us consider, then, the quality of godliness: what godliness is not, what it is, where it comes from, and how it manifests itself in a believer’s life.
- What godliness is not
a. It is not prosperity: “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness; from such withdraw thyself.” (I Tim. 6:5) Pharisees in Christ’s time advocated that those who were prosperous, like Abraham and other Old Testament patriarchs, were godly as evidenced in how God had blessed them materially. Job’s friends were operating under this delusion. (Job 15:20,23,29)
b. It is not outward show: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (2 Tim.3:5) Praying, giving, fasting and other visible acts can at times mimic true worship, so that these acts in and of themselves are not necessarily evidences of godliness. (Matt.6:2; Mark 12:41-44; Luke 18:10 ff.)
c. It is not activity done under the guise of religion. “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little, but godliness is profitable unto all things.” (I Tim. 4:7,8)
So, the gain, the garish, and the goings of those who mask their motives under the label of religion are not to be confused with what God calls godliness.
- What true godliness is
a. Internally, it is a holy disposition of the soul toward God, worship.
b. Externally, it is an expression of the internal disposition; worship translated and transferred into daily action. David’s soul thirsted and panted after the living God, (Ps. 42:1,2) waited upon God, (Ps.62:1) and then exclaimed: “I will praise the Lord with my heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.” (Ps.111:1)
- Where does godliness come from?
a. It comes as a gift to those who have received eternal life: “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” (2 Pet.1:3) It is not manifest in the life of a carnal Christian. (Romans 8:5)
b. It comes from knowing God: “Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness.” (I Tim.3:16) The mystery of godliness, His manifestation in flesh, justification in the Spirit, being “seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory,” can be known only by the Spirit of God’s opening the understanding of the believer’s mind and heart unto these precious truths concerning our Savior’s life, death, and resurrection. An intimate knowledge of God will manifest itself in one’s life as true godliness. It is sound doctrine accompanied by sound living: “If any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud.” (I Tim. 6:3,4a)
- How Is godliness manifest in a believer’s life?
a. It shows itself in one’s life in such a way that we “may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (I Tim. 2:2)
b. It causes us to engage in holy pursuits: “Exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” (I Tim. 4:7)
c. It manifests itself in our embracing a proper perspective of life, i.e. that “godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Tim. 6:6)
We have a mandate for godliness, (I Tim.4:7); a model of godliness in Jesus Christ, “who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good profession” (I Tim.6:11:13); and a motive for godliness: “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.” (2 Pet. 3:11)
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world.” (Titus 2:12)
YOU and GOD 