“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, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
II Peter 1:6-8
When one is grounded in faith and keeping themselves from sin; when they are growing in knowledge of God and when they are practicing discernment to choose right over wrong and battle against the flesh, the world and Satan and when they make that the habit of their life so they persevere in that path, God transforms their minds and thoughts into the image of His Son. That is what is called Godliness. As one writer explains “This is beyond mere human goodness. This is Godly character. This is a moral excellence which reflects the nature of God Himself instead of the temporary, earth–bound “goodness” of men. The Greek word translated “Godliness” means “a proper response to the things of God”, which produces obedience and righteous living. Scripture gives us insight into what this is. I Timothy 3:16 tells us that godliness is a mystery. “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness…” A mystery in Scripture is something that God knows but has not revealed to us until this time. A mystery is that which can only be known through the revelation of God. Godliness was first revealed through Jesus Christ who showed us the example of God living the spirit-filled life under the conditions and circumstances we face. Paul tells Timothy this was first seen in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” (3:16) This verse tells us an amazing truth about Godliness. He was manifested in the flesh – Christ’s incarnation – born to serve God and do His will. Vindicated by the Spirit Led by the Spirit to serve God Seen by angels – Actions watched in heaven Proclaimed among the nations – His life proclaimed as brining glory to God throughout the world Believed on in the world – Seen as truth and evidence of God Taken up in glory – His reward In other words Godliness permeated every aspect of Christ’s ministry. Godliness is not something we do on Sunday morning, it is the way we live every part of our life. It is not put-on behavior but the Spirit of God living through us. (Remember Moses, after he had been with God, his face shone but he did not know it?). God’s word gives us insight into Godliness. “Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.” Godliness with contentment over what God provides in our lives keeps us from greed and worry. We trust God to meet our needs. The world hates Godliness. Those who practice it will be treated as Jesus was treated. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” Knowing that this world will pass away and only what has been done for God will count is a great motivator to live Godly lives. “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…”What can we learn? Paul counseled Timothy in I Timothy 4:7-8, “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”. Like an athlete trains hand self-disciplines himself, believers are to train themselves to become like Christ. May our faces shine because we have been with Jesus but let it be done so naturally that we do not even know it. Then God gets the glory!