AUG. 3: GODLINESS

Focal Passage: I Timothy 4:6-16

The Point: A godly life points others to Christ.

Good character is one thing, but godly character is of another kind. While there may be many “good” people in this world, though ultimately there is none good, not one (Romans 3:9-18), rare is the person who is godly in such a way that their life points others to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Godliness can be defined as being like God to the degree that we reflect God’s character. Titus 1:1 notes this truth about godliness as Paul introduced that letter: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness …” In other words, godliness is rooted in God who has worked salvation in His people according to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Godliness begins with God’s work in us through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit – this is the new birth (John 3:3). Godliness continues as what God has worked in us is worked out of us in righteous living (Philippians 1:6). II Peter 1:3 notes that “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence.” 

These truths must have been on Paul’s mind when the Spirit had him pen I Timothy 4. The passage begins with a warning in 4:1-5. Paul reminds his young understudy Timothy that not all will endure to the end, proving that they were never saved to begin with (I John 2:19). Their consciences have become dead to anything good or godly. In the face of this ungodly apostasy Paul reminds Timothy of the truths that build godliness.

Godliness as a Priority (4:6-8) — Timothy must continually set before God’s people words of faith and sound doctrine. This is THE priority of the ministry. Avoiding silly myths or conspiracy theories and avoiding an overemphasis on bodily training (although we are to keep our bodies in shape as the temple of the Spirit), we are to exercise our godly muscles that strengthen our walk in Christ.

Godliness as Christ-centered Hope (vv. 9-11) — Godliness calls us to toil and strive in godly living because our hope is NOT set on the temporal but on the eternal. Godliness does not “hope” things will turn out OKAY based upon what is happening in this life. This life can be unfair, cruel, unjust, and not conducive to building hope or serving the Lord. But our hope is in God and in a promised future that is sure and secure. God is (1) the living God, (2) whose saving work benefits in some temporal way even the unsaved, but 3.) that is especially true for the genuinely saved.

Godliness as Encouragement (vv. 12-16) — Godliness as a priority and as Christ-centered hope encourages believers to move forward in the process of godly sanctification. The young Timothy was to serve as a godly example as well as teaching the Word of God to God’s people. Timothy’s progress in the faith (v. 15) was to serve not only as an example to other believers, but as a platform from which to see others saved. 

Godliness like holiness is essential to our walk with God. Without genuine godliness grounded in the new birth and that grows as we walk in the sanctifying power of the Spirit we will not see God (Hebrews 12:14). B&R