Lesson 7

Get A Good Grip Godliness

2 Peter 1:6

We use the word "godly" or "godliness" frequently in connection with Christian people, but what does it really mean?

We might compliment a person as a "godly" man or woman, but what do we mean when we use that word?

It goes without saying that "godliness" is a Bible word, used 15 times in the New Testament. I Timothy 2:2 tells us to pray "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty." I Timothy 2:10 speaks of "women professing godliness with good works." I Timothy 4:7-8 tells you to "exercise thyself rather unto godliness" and that "godliness is profitable unto all things." I Timothy 6:6 says that "godliness with contentment is great gain." I Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, ... follow after ... godliness.

There are places in the Bible where word "godly" is synonymous for a Christian (II Peter 2:9). II Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Titus 2:12 says that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

The text that we have given ourselves to study uses the word "godliness" several times. II Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, II Peter 1:6-7 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. II Peter 3:11 - Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.

Again and again, the Bible calls us and urges us to godliness. But just exactly what does that mean? Godliness is one of those terms whose definition is vague and unclear. We all sort of know what it means but perhaps not precisely.

Let's see if we cannot get a good grip on godliness.

Fast lane living in the 1990's does not lend itself to the traits we have traditionally attached to godliness. Remember the words to the old hymn?

Take time to be holy, speak oft with the Lord

Abide in Him always and feed on His Word

Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;

Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone.

Chances are good that we who sing those words believe them and would even defend them, but we sigh as we confess that, more often than not, we are strangers to them. Quiet time spent on a walk or on a porch swing contemplating our walk with the Lord, well, that's some relic from another era. The idea of taking time to be holy that our grandparents once did is rather dated.

Does this mean, then, that we cannot be godly? Does a fast-paced lifestyle force us to forfeit godliness? Must we return to "The Little House On The Prairie" in order to be godly? Obviously, the answer is, "No." Godliness is not linked and limited to a certain culture or era.

What Is Godliness, Anyway?

What does it mean to be godly? Now, be careful with your answer. Does being godly mean living high up in the mountains, cutting wood to heat a log cabin, and reading the Bible by the flickering light of a kerosene lamp? Does godliness mean that you don't watch much TV? Can a person be godly and yet be a sharp and successful businessman? Is it possible to be godly and drive a new Suburban? Or to be godly and single? Are some people just disqualified from godliness by virtue of their status in life? Does being godly require that I squat on a hillside, strum a guitar with my eyes closed, eat a bag full of birdseed and write religious music from the book of Psalms? Please understand that I am asking questions (not making accusations). I'm probing, honestly trying to discover the answer to a simple question: What is godliness?

Godliness is not skin deep. I Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature ... for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. Don't measure godliness on the basis of the things that you see.

A godly person is one whose heart is sensitive toward God, one who takes God seriously. A godly person hungers and thirsts for God. Psalm 42:1-2a - As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. A godly person may be young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural, leader or follower, active or quiet, married or single. None of these things relate to godliness. But what does matter with regard to godliness is the individual's inner craving to know God, to listen to Him, to worship God and obey Him and walk humbly with Him. As I mentioned, the godly take God seriously.

Now, don't misunderstand what I have said. I am not suggesting that all godly people are serious all the time, without laughter or a merry heart. To take God seriously is to give yourself completely to Him - it is to seek God's will and to submit to God's Word.

This, beloved, is authentic godliness!

Religious, But Not Godly.

The truth is that it possible to be religious without being godly. Religiosity is outward, godliness is within.

An Negative Example. Would any of us doubt or deny that the ancient children of Israel were religious. They talked about God all the time. They had their religious rituals and ceremonies on the calendar every year. They were indeed religious. But were they godly? Paul wrote about his ancestors in I Corinthians 10:1-13 and answered that question for us. This passage of Scripture tells us that Israel had every reason to be godly, but they were not. They had experienced supernatural guidance (the cloud and the fire), supernatural deliverance (at the Red Sea), supernatural leadership (from Moses) and supernatural provisions (food and water). They had plenty of reasons to be godly. Miracles were, more-or-less, everyday occurrences for them. God's presence was constant and His workings were evident. Everyday there was "God-talk." For Israel, life was like an ongoing Bible Conference or Church Camp. You might assume that God's people would flourish in such a hot-house.

Wrong! Verse 5 says that God was not pleased with them. Why? They were not godly. In their hearts was lusting after evil things (v. 6), worship of other Gods (v. 7), sexual sins (v. 8), presumption of God (v. 9) and constant complaining (v. 10). Verse 7 more or less, sums it all up when Paul says that the people "rose up to play." They did not take God seriously. They did not thirst for God, but in their hearts they thirsted for the world. Thus, they were religious, but they were not godly.

That can happen so easily to us, vs. 11-12 (It can happen to you!). We can run with religious people, learn the lingo and never miss a lick - publicly, that is. We can be so over-exposed to God that His image is lost to us. This is the peril of a Christian home. This is the potential of living in a church. You can get use to God, so that what is suppose to be worship becomes routine and ritual, so that God's Word becomes academic and commonplace, so that godliness becomes religiosity.

A Positive Example. In contrast to the ancient Israelites spoken of in I Corinthians 10 is the personal example of Paul demonstrated in I Corinthians 9:24-27. Here is a man who is not playing games with his life. Therefore, he refuses to let his body become his master, v. 27. Why? He doesn't want to finish his life as a washout. He dreaded the very thought of being disqualified. He did not want to be strong preacher of righteousness who ultimately shriveled into a weak victim of his own fleshly desires. The race that he ran, the fight that he fought, the truth that he lived, demonstrated that Paul took God seriously. His heart and soul thirsted for God. This is authentic godliness.

And, beloved, it is to this that we have been called. WE must start with faith. Faith in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial death on the cross for our sins. We are saved by faith alone but saving faith is never alone. And so, to your faith you are commanded to add virtue (excellent morals) and knowledge and temperance (self-control) and patience (staying power) and godliness (a heart that is serious about and sensitive toward God).

Beloved, add to you faith ... godliness!

(Bow for Prayer. Invitation - It is possible that your Christian life lacks the authenticity of godliness and eroded to mere religiosity. Like Israel in the wilderness. I call you back to God.)