Godliness – The Essence Of The Christian Life

“Exercise yourself towards godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of life that now is and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance.” 1 Timothy 4:7-9

When you look at the Greek word for exercise, it actually means to train naked. In the time of the Graeco-Roman culture, people would literally train naked as a show of their dedication and discipline. The concept of the Christian life being a contest is seen throughout the scriptures. It is something that we learn to do and dedicate ourselves to doing it well.

Grace empowers us to be godly. Share on X

The Christian Race

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. ” – Hebrews 12:1-2

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24-25

This is what we are to be dedicated to and grow in – our exercising ourselves towards godliness.

Christianity As A Contest

Clement of Rome, the third Bishop of Rome said this regarding the Christian life.

“Let us have faith, brothers and sisters! We are competing in the contest of a living God, and are being trained by the present life in order that we may be crowned in the life to come.” 2 Clement 20:2

This was during a time when if you were discovered to be a Christian, you were executed on the spot. Spies were infiltrating Christian gatherings all the time. The church had to baptize people down in the catacombs because if you did it in a river, you would be arrested and thrown to the lions at the games. Their seeking godliness was a matter of life or death. They were willing to give up everything to be formed into the image of Christ and grow in godliness. This mindset was instrumental in the church’s victory over the biggest civilization in the world at that time, which was Rome.

Prayer is vital for us to truly know God because that is how we experience Him as we are meant to. Share on X

The Importance of Godliness

“If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing.” – 1 Timothy 6:3-4

We all need to grow in our understanding and revelation of what godliness is and its importance. In English, godliness means god-likeness or becoming like God. This does not imply that we become aware that we are God or become God. What it describes is a God-like character and sense of morality, sharing in His divine goodness as a person. This is the true path of a Christian – becoming more like God and the likeness of Christ.

The Greek word for godliness is Eusebia, which means “to live as God would have us live” or “to live as God has told us we should live” (Louw-Nida). This goes to show that the essence of the Christian life is morality. Many religions stir their followers to seek to become better people. However, the fullness of compassion is in Christ. The fullness of love, righteousness, and true moral path for the soul is found in Jesus Christ. Ethics is everything.

Connection, Reflection and Confession

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” – 2 Peter 1:2–3

Grace empowers us to be godly. To be more like God, we have to know what God is like. To know God is really simple, it just takes prayer and reading the Word. If you want to take your walk of godliness seriously, you need to connect to God to know what godliness is.

Through prayer, by seeking God’s presence, His face, and shutting out the things of this world in the secret place, you can experience God as He truly is. When you truly experience God, the goodness of God leads one to repentance. You see the holiness of God and are in such awe of who He is. Then, all you desire to do is be more like Him because that gives Him the most glory. Jesus said if you love Me, obey My commands. To truly love God is to obey Him and be like Him. Prayer is vital for us to truly know God because that is how we experience Him as we are meant to.

Godliness and the Word

When you read the Word of God, sanctification is happening, (John 17:17). When you read the Word, His truth sanctifies you in that moment. Reading God’s Word not only allows us to know what He is like but helps develop your spiritual discernment. Then you know the one you are communing with truly is God and you are not entertaining other thoughts. The Jews literally had the Word of God in the front and center of their lives. It was placed on every doorpost of their homes.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 describes the intense discipline and daily practice the Jews observed when it came to the Holy Scriptures. If they could give this level of commitment to the Old Testament, how much more should we as believers in Christ dedicate our lives and devote our time and attention to God?

The fullness of compassion is in Christ. The fullness of love, compassion, righteousness, and true moral path for the soul is found in Jesus Christ. Share on X

Confession Of Sin Restores Godliness

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9

Confession of sin brings a cleansing from sin and all unrighteousness. This is how we can progress in sanctification and becoming more like God. We never outgrow our need for repentance and confession of sin. We all have things both big and small that the Lord wants to have confessed, cleansed, and released out of our lives.

“Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” – James 5:16

Moral failings can corrupt the heart but the Bible says that when you confess them, there is healing. This is the process of becoming more like God. God wants us to be free, healed, and whole but He also asks us to grow to become more like Him morally. That is more important than the freedom or healing we receive. Many have to give up comforts and freedoms in order to live out their moral decisions. That is the first few hundred years of church history right there.

Right when we die, we begin to enter into the true life which is eternal life with God. Fixating our eyes and minds on this, on the things above, not the world below allows us to know the importance of godliness and taking care of our soul which lives forever. That’s what we need to be investing in. Hitting the gym, being fit, and looking good is great but let’s hit the gym of godliness. the number one thing we can do to be godly is love – love for God and as a result, love our neighbours. Jesus Himself said that this was the most important thing, (John 14:21).

“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” – 2 Peter 1:5-6

The best witness you can do is to grow in godliness. To show people and demonstrate who Christ is, instead of only telling them about who God is, (Galatians 2:20). People should be guided to God by our deeds.

Through prayer, by seeking God's presence, His face, and shutting out the things of this world in the secret place, you can experience God as He truly is. Share on X

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