Posted in: SDS Study
Starting with I Timothy 4:7-8 begins my little mini-study of GODLINESS. I was still asking myself and God really if what I had concluded was true. My thoughts went back to a scripture that had jumped out a me(some days ago) as I read Ist and 2nd Timothy doing Lesson 1 of the SDS.
Definition: GODLINESS
Webster- A religious life; a careful observance of the laws of God and
performance of religious duties, proceeding from love and reverence for
the divine character and commands; christian obedience.
Strong’s concordance - pious, godly
So from these 2 definitions and from the context in the Word of God and how the word is used in this and other scriptures I feel it would be safe to say that godliness in a character trait…a christian character trait..
Godliness-being, acting like God. Having attributes, character traits like God; living a lifestyle Christ-likeness sincerely from the heart.
I Timothy 4:7-8 - King James
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
For
bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all
things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to
come.
I Timothy 4:7-8 - Amplified Version(I know PA recommends sticking with the King James but I like how the Amplified gives additional insight)
But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and
godless fictions, mere grandmothers’ tales) and silly myths, and
express your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness
(piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].
For
physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness
(spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every
way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life
which is to come.
So the bible(I Tim 4:7-8) says that bodily exercise has some profit(for the physical) but spiritual training in HAVING THE CHARACTER OF GOD or godliness has profit in all things and in every area, physical as well as spiritual.
conclusion: Building, molding, and shaping Godliness, or shall we say Christian character, in our children has profit for ALL things in their lives….for life here and now and that which is to come-10 years from now and when they get to heaven.
or
Building the spiritual will have an effect on the physical….internal produces external.
So now I’m beginning to see the value and the emphasis of PA in targeting the character of our children. From the life of Daniel I see that excellent character will serve my children well in their relationship with God, with society and in their future stations in life. Relationship with God is the primary objective and what flows out of an intimate relationship with God, what my children allow God to do in their hearts and minds as servants of the Most High will affect and flow over into their effect in society and their future stations in life….in our nation.
More proof…
2 Peter 1:4-11 (King James Version)
4Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption
that is in the world through lust.
5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8For
if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall
neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10Wherefore
the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Again, the Amplified version( I know it can be very wordy but it gives me more insight)
2 Peter 1:4-11 (Amplified Bible)
4By means of these He
has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that
through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay
(rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of
covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the
divine nature.
5For this very reason, [a]adding your diligence [to the divine promises], employ every effort in [b]exercising
your faith to develop virtue (excellence, resolution, Christian
energy), and in [exercising] virtue [develop] knowledge (intelligence),
6And
in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising]
self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in
[exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety),
7And in [exercising] godliness [develop] brotherly affection, and in [exercising] brotherly affection [develop] Christian love.
8For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [[c]full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
9For whoever lacks these qualities is blind, [[d]spiritually] shortsighted, [e]seeing only what is near to him, and has become oblivious [to the fact] that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10Because
of this, brethren, be all the more solicitous and eager to make sure
(to ratify, to strengthen, to make steadfast) your calling and
election; for if you do this, you will never stumble or fall.
11Thus there will be richly and abundantly provided for you entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The overall jist of these scriptures admonishes us to take heed to our character…to continue to allow our character to be built. WHY? WHY THE STUDY ON EFFECT OF CHARACTER? WHY THE EMPHASIS ON CHARACTER?
v4 says that by heeding the Word of God we will escape moral decay that is in the world and that we become partakers of God’s nature.
v5 says it is for the previous reasons in verse 4 that we need to add these various character traits to our lives BECAUSE
V8 says that if we have these character traits, this godly character, this Christian character in abundance(it never stops growing) then this CHRISTIAN CHARACTER will keep us from being idle or barren or unfruitful in understanding, in a more personal way, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…and the more we know Him the more we’ll be like Him.
v9 describes the state of the one who does not have these in abundance..who does not think it essential and priority to develop…who does not see that CHRISTIAN CHARACTER is the seed and will sprout many godly blessings in one’s own personal life and the nation/world
v10 encourages us to be serious about firming up our foundations of character and knowing why we believe(and live) what we believe-if we do this we will never stumble or fall
which will
v11 make our entrance into the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ all the more glorious and rich.
1 Timothy 6:11-13 (King James Version)
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
1 Timothy 6:11-13 (Amplified Bible)
11But as for you, O man
of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness
(right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the
loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness
(patience), and gentleness of heart.
The amplified uses the terms AIM AT and PURSUE developing Christian Character.
Psalm 4:3 (King James Version)
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him.
The Lord hears and answers one who lives a life of dedicated Christian character.
We’ll pause right here to digest all of this…
…more in next post….
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Wow, that was good. That first scripture got me thinking. I honed in on, “But refuse and avoid irreverent legends (profane and impure and
godless fictions, mere grandmothers’ tales) and silly myths, and
express your disapproval of them. Train yourself toward godliness
(piety), [keeping yourself spiritually fit].” So does that mean we don’t teach our children stupid silly stories like the Anansi stories I just bought for them to listen to? =) I thought when I bought it, oh great! Anansi! They liked the stories when I read it to them and listening to stories is a good thing for them. As I listened to it with them though, I was amazed at how ridiculous it all was. I’d have to go back and butt in every two seconds correcting something the storyteller said! Guess my great idea wasn’t founded in truth. That myth part also has me reconsidering the Greek myths…
Comment by Violet — March 27, 2007 @ 3:22 pm