We want to be fruitful Christians going forward/growing, becoming mature as Christians
Think of the beginning of creation
Human beings made in the image of God – explanation
Sin came into the world and ravaged it
World wars ≈ 80 to 100 million
Today we witness great evils – examples
God did not leave His world like this but sent His Son Jesus Christ to give us a heart of flesh (instead of a heart of stone)
Christians are new creations, born again, made into the image of Jesus Christ
Eph 4:24 – "put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness"
A work of the Holy Spirit to make us like Jesus Christ
Christian growth is necessary and imperative
Are you growing?
We have all the resources we need to grow – 2 Peter 1
Example
We are to add to our faith – virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance and …
… godliness
Looking at this today
Why we read from 1 Timothy 6 [also 1 Timothy 4]
What does godliness mean?
We will look at this
Overview:
What is godliness?
How to grow in it?
What is godliness?
You may think it means being like God
Greek: eusebeia – it means devotion, reverence, loyalty, worship
Ungodliness means the opposite
The Psalmists says "I have set God always before me"
Godliness covers the whole of life – there is no secular/spiritual divide
The whole of your life before God – Quote from CH Spurgeon
Heb 12:28-29 – "since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve (worship) God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire"
This continues in Heb 13:1-5
There is a great connection between these two passages (Heb 12 and 13)
Worshiping and serving God translates into these practical ways of living
It is not just a religious life – examples of godliness
1 Tim 2:10 – "professing godliness, with good works"
Paul warns about those who have a form of godliness but denied God’s power (2 Tim 3:5)
The inner did not match the outer
Religious scandals
Eph 5:1-2 – "be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us"
How could we ever imitate God?
We see the attributes of God in Jesus Christ
Only be the help of the Holy Spirit
We are to love like Christ – sacrificial love
Eph 5:10, Col 1:10, Phil 1:10 – a high calling is given to God’s people
Rom 12:1 – "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service."
Rom 12:2 – "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
The world tries to squeeze us into its mould – examples
Resist
Live a godly life before God in everything
Be separate from the world and live for God
Jesus is our model
2 Pet 1:3 – "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness"
How to grow in godliness?
Sanctification (different) to justification
Justification – God declares you not guilty but innocent
Our sins are put to Jesus’ account
Jesus’ righteousness is put to our account
Example
A single act that occurs outside of us
Santification
A continual act/process that occurs within us
We are involved – we must give "all diligence"
We must make effort
1 Tim 4:8 – "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things"
Read and meditate upon the word of God
Think about/meditate on sermons
Quote from CH Spurgeon – "15 minutes of prayer may do more good than 1 month of sermons"
Practical examples:
Rule your feelings
Keep short accounts with God
Listen to your conscience
Keep short accounts with others – forgive where needed
