What is godliness?
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness…
– 1 Timothy 3:16
The mystery of godliness… is great.
great |grÄt| very large and imposing
If we look on our definitions page, we see godliness is doing the word of God; spiritual exercise. Here is the verse which explains the definition:
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things
– 1 Timothy 4:8
So we know bodily exercise is compared to godliness. Godliness is definitely not something fleshly, so it’s something spiritual. If it is compared to exercise, then you can’t get any more point blank than godliness being spiritual exercise. How? Because doing the word strengthens your spirit.
How do we practice godliness? By doing the word of God. What do you mean? I mean we can’t be hearers only. AND by practicing godliness we are showing God we love him. What do “words†mean if you don’t “do†anything??
Here is an example:
To love God is to do what he asks and in turn he will love us back. This is how love is portrayed in all instances, not just the Bible. It is not by words, but by actions.
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
– John 21:15-17
Jesus was asking if he was going to do what he asked to see of Peter loved him. And which scripture backs up this claim?
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
– John 14:15
If you love him, do what he asks.
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
– John 14:21
He commands us to “do†things: If we do them, then he loves us.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
– John 14:23-24
And here it shows: If we don’t “do†the things he asks us to do, then we aren’t loving him. Because of this, he will not love us back.
This works exactly like faith. I can say I have faith, but how do I show it? By my works, by doing the word of God.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
– James 2:18
We know without faith, it is impossible to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
– Hebrews 11:6
Therefore, we know faith pleases God. We must have faith, but how can anyone know we have faith? The answer is by our works, we show our faith. By doing the word of God.
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
– James 1:22-25
A doer doesn’t forget he is a child of God. When you do, you continue in the word and obviously you continue to remember. He will not forget because it is something he continues in, this makes him blessed.
Lastly but certainly not least
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
– James 2:20
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
– James 2:26
We know from these two scriptures faith without works is dead. Therefore works with faith is living faith, now faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
– Hebrews 11:1
As you can see, godliness definitely is “greatâ€. There is so much to practicing godliness, much of it is seems unknown until you start seeing what we are supposed to be doing.
Here is a list of a few things to “do†from the word of God, which hasn’t been listed above:
Pray without ceasing. – 1 Thessalonians 5:17
In every thing give thanks – 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Quench not the Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 5:19
Despise not prophesyings. – 1 Thessalonians 5:20
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Abstain from all appearance of evil. – 1 Thessalonians 5:22
Put on the whole armour of God… – Ephesians 6:11
Therefore be ye also ready… – Matthew 24:44
…be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh… – 1 Peter 3:15
But seek ye first the kingdom of God… – Matthew 6:33
Honour thy father and thy mother – Matthew 19:19
love thy neighbor as thyself – Matthew 19:19, 22:39; Mark 12:31; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God… Matthew 22:37
Acts 2:37-38
Luke 10:27
Ephesians 5:22
Ephesians 5:25
1 Peter 3:7-8
2 Chronicles 7:14
The list goes on and it only shows the greatness of godliness.
I hope by this point everyone understands godliness is “doing the word of God; exercising your spiritual manâ€.
There is a single thing I request for anyone who reads this: post a scripture in the comments showing something you can do from the word of God. I have given a list of several things, I know there are so many more. Please take a minute and post a scripture you know we must do to love God.
This isn’t one of those weird Facebook or Twitter things to “do this if you love Jesusâ€. This is just a simple way of showing how many things there are which we must do and to get some interaction here!
In all things, let the Lord be magnified!
7 responses to “Bible Study: Godliness”
Another passage from Matthew is 7:21 – “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
In Mt. 5-7 Jesus gives many commands that are part of his new covenant, all to be done through the power of his Spirit, which he gives to his disciples. Thus Jesus’ final command in Matthew is 28:19-20 — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to do all that I have commanded you . . .”
Right on!! Thanks for sharing Lucas!
John 15:12-17 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
Matthew 18:21-22 “Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”
Thanks for that as well, Vanessa!
Thanks much needed!
I am glad you liked it. :)
[…] Yes, he loves those which keep his word. He loves his church. Because he loves us (takes care of us) we love him (by doing his word). Lets not forget the “doing the word†is also spiritual exercise, which is Godliness. […]