GODLINESS (FOLLOWING JESUS)

1 Timothy 4:1-10

Read Verses 1-7 first...........

What was happening around Timothy, for Paul to write this letter?

Doctrines of devils, seducing spirits, they were speaking lies. Now this might not seem as a doctrine of devils, but anything that causes us to not rely on the Person & Work of Jesus Christ , then we have a severe, eternal problem.

This is what was happening! There were folks telling the people that in order to be right with God, they had to not eat certain foods and they were forbidding folks to marry.

Attempting to add to the work of Jesus Christ!

In doing so, there were people listening to these false teachers and this would put an undo burden upon them, that would not merit anything to God! Jesus did the meriting!

These false teachers were hypocrites, as well! They wasn’t doing anything that they told folks to do.

Every food (creature/meat) is good! Nothing to be refused!

I like that! But, Why?

Because it is sanctified by God, all the dietary laws have been set aside. All meats are good for the eating because of God saying so!

Also by prayer! Most of us pray before we eat a meal. Sometimes, it becomes a habit or maybe it becomes a means by which we want others to hear, but could we just say it to God, quietly and be thankful for the food that He has given us?

Truly, there is nothing you have eaten ever in your life that God didn’t give us! Only by grace are we able to have and do!

It is interesting that it seems that the dietary laws were given to separate the Jews from the world! The way they ate and lived was separate from everyone else.

In Acts ch. 10 Peter has a vision, right before he is sent to Cornelius the centurion (Gentile). The vision was a sheet coming down and Peter saw all manner of fourfooted beasts, wild beasts, creeping things, birds of the air. Then God told him to kill and eat......Peter said this......

Acts 10:14 “But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.”

Acts 10:15 “And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

What God has cleansed do not call it unclean! This was meant for Peter to not call the Gentiles unclean! What God has cleansed is not unclean and in that teaching God has set aside the dietary laws!

Continually, putting ourselves and other in remembrance of what is good nourishment for the soul! What nourishes our souls?

words of faith-Scripture---God’s Word for us to believe!

good doctrine-Rightly teaching the Gospel!

Profane---worldly/godless.......Old wives fables----myths, something told to people who are uneducated. Yes, it sounds sexist, but that it is what it means!

Foolish and trivial discussions and fanciful theories have often been allowed to overlay the truth of God, to its complete hiding, or at least to its sad enfeeblement.

Let the truth about sin, and about Christ the Saviour from sin, be kept in the light; and beware lest it be covered over and forgotten under oratorical prettinesses, or philosophical speculations.

The man of God has something better to do than amuse his imagination or the imagination of others, and must “exercise himself rather unto godliness.”

Exercise----this could be translated to train or discipline. This has an athletic reference. Instead of involving ourselves in fables and worldly things, let us train ourselves in Godliness!

The pursuit of Godliness!!!

This brings us to our main point today…Godliness…let’s start out with what it is....then we will move on through verses 8-11.

Up till now, Paul has told us about what or who not to listen to. Again, there were some teaching about things that will never lead to “Godliness”.

He tells Timothy to always put folks in remembrance of Jesus Christ, He is the Word of faith and everything He done and taught is good teaching and is Godliness!

Therefore, exercise following Christ, train yourself, discipline yourself in Godliness!

One writer wrote: “The nature of godliness. 1. Knowledge of the perfections of God—of the person and work of Christ as the Mediator—of man’s state as a fallen creature—of his duty and privileges as redeemed by Christ. (1) As to the perfections of God. This knowledge is to be found nowhere but in the Book of God. (2) Here alone we obtain a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. (3) Here we are made acquainted with man’s state as a fallen creature. (4) As to his duty and privileges. Now, the knowledge of all this is essential to true religion in any soul. 2. Obedience to the commands of God. 3. The transformation of the soul into the image of God.”

Knowledge of the perfections of God—that can only be found in the unadulterated Word of God, in the person and work of Jesus Christ! I have said it many times, but Jesus has told us that if you have seen me you have seen the Father!

Through this our fallen nature is brought to life in our eyes and reasoning! Through that knowledge can bring us to turn from that fallen nature and take on Christ and His life!

Obedience in following Christ, not because we have to but because we have changed our desires and we want to follow Christ!

This is the transformation of the soul, “......It is no longer I that lives, but Christ lives in me.....”

When this transformation begins in our life, then our passions change, they change in what we live for....listen to this commentary...

“Where there is knowledge of God, saving knowledge, there must be love to God; and no man can love an unknown object Then just in proportion as we love God (and this is essential to godliness) we shall be concerned to entertain intimacy with God. 5. Then perceive that this will lead to conformity to God—likeness to God. Such, indeed, is the very nature, such the constitution of the human mind, that it contracts a resemblance to those objects with which from inclination it is the most conversant. Apply the remark where you will, it will hold. Look at the man of this world; where are his thoughts? Why, the world is his object, and he becomes more and more worldly: and so of every other class. Now look at the man of God: his thoughts rise to God, his affections are spiritually placed on God: there is his object, there is his all; and, beholding the glory of God in the face of Jesus, he catches the impress of it…...”

This is Godliness, this is the motivation behind of this new life...

Godliness is defined as piety.....Piety meaning devotion to religion! Some people get scared at the word “religion” but if the One True God and Jesus Christ Whom God sent is your religion then you have nothing to fear of that word!

We conform to the ways of God through Jesus. You might ask why conformity? The answer lies back in our knowledge of Jesus, there our fallen nature is revealed! We see and understand the holiness and purity of God and cannot find it in our human existence!

We conform because our way is completely opposite to God’s and that is why we are called into Godliness and then told to discipline ourselves in this new life, because the flesh will be against this new life!

Paul uses the term exercise, to explain that this is like an athlete training for an upcoming event. Everyday you train or discipline yourself, you will grow stronger in what you training yourself to do!

Let’s read on through now........verses 8-11.....

Verse 8 is a verse that I joke about sometimes.......bodily exercise profits little.......Tracey and I was talking about this a few nights ago, but we must understand what Paul is conveying to Timothy.

This can be used in 2 ways and still work......

Some believe that seeing as Paul used an athletic reference that he is referring to actual physical training (lifting weights, running, etc.).

This can work here, because physical exercise can only train, get us better for this temporary. Which only profits very little!

Godliness (following Christ/living for God), however, profits greatly both in this life and the life to come!

Some also believe that seeing as Paul referred to what was being taught by those seducing spirits, those teachings of do this and don’t do that..........disciplining yourself in that only profits little!

It has no heart to it, it has no eternal value!

Godliness, which has a meaning of an intimate relationship with God through Jesus, profits greatly, because it is established in the heart and brought to life through love.

Therefore, the profit in this life is that people see Christ and not some ritual or practice being done!

Let’s go back to praying over our food for a moment! What profits more for people to see us, recite a prayer or to be truthfully thankful for a meal that God has given you and allowed you to have!

The profit in this life is bringing others to this saving knowledge, this relationship with God through Jesus Christ!

The earthly profit is Jesus and the profit to come is eternal life with Jesus!

Paul also wrote this to Timothy....1 Timothy 6:3-10........

There are a lot of people out there that teach all different things. They try to get you to train yourself in their ways (worldly)!

I heard a commercial the other day for “Holy Water” wanting you to try this water from God and it will heal and restore! There are so many teachings out there....that promotes nothing of God but uses God’s and Christ’s name to try to get some legitimacy!

Paul says that they do not even agree with the wholesome Words, the teaching of Jesus Christ! In the teaching of the person and work of Jesus Christ, there we will find Godliness!

Those that does not teach those things are arrogant, they know nothing! They have a morbid interest in questions and causing strife.....these guys are destitute of the truth they have nothing.....they teach that gain is godliness......

Job’s friends were that way, they supposed that Job had sinned and therefore God was punishing him! Job had a lot and now he don’t. He must of sinned!

Withdraw yourself from anyone that teaches that!!

Rather follow Christ in His wholesome Words that is only found in God’s Word! Godliness with contentment is great gain!! Great gain for now in this life and for the life to come!

Just in having the basic needs of survival, let us be content!

Jesus is actually the true source of contentment!

Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”

People that teach anything else, is attempting to place you in bondage out of those teachings and that life arises envying, strife, evil suspicions, and constant friction! Not ever satisfied, because you are living for the temporary!

Paul also spoke about contentment in Philippians 4:11-13 “11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

He had to learn this life, Paul grew in trusting in Christ! He began to believe more and more everyday that following Jesus was right and that the life of Jesus was the only value in this world!

A mind and heart with that direction, will be hard to effect by troubles and riches of this world!

Here is the point to all of this, when the sum and substance of our life changes and is being disciplined into this relationship (Godliness/following Christ) it releases us from the captivity in all that the devil hangs over our head!

Paul said it best in Philippians 1:20-21 “20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Paul believed, and so should we, that the greatest life to live down here is Jesus Christ, everything He said, everything He done, and in His fulfilling of the law through Him crucified and also through His resurrection. In the earthly mind it doesn’t seem like much, but it is the greatest life to live and then when my life ends here, I will just become an immortal being in the presence of God and Jesus!

There has been a lot go on over the last year or so and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. It seems everyday we are faced with new challenges or new fears, but if we can train ourselves to trust in Jesus’ Way, Truth, and Life, we can have a peace that does surpass all understanding!

This is Godliness! If I do have, I am still holding to Jesus.....If I don’t have, I am trusting in Jesus! What looks good to the world, I will abstain from, because following Christ is best!

Continuing in sin???? Nah,.......Mercy is not offered for us to go back into sin, but to turn away from it and trust in Jesus!

Godliness is profitable now and in the life to come!! This is a trustworthy statement deserving acceptance! Paul and the apostles labored in this teaching and life, they suffered reproach for IT, because they trusted in the living God, Who is the Savior of all men, especially those that believe!

God has made salvation available to all men through Jesus Christ, those that believe are and will enjoy the fruits of following Jesus!

Command and teach this truth!!

I will leave you with this........In John chapter 6, Jesus had taught some difficult words to the Jews and to His disciples, many disciples went back and walked no more........Jesus then asked those that were left “Will you also go away?” Peter said this in John 6:68-69 “68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

1. If we can ever get ourselves to this place in our hearts and minds, “where else can we go? Jesus only has he Words of eternal life.....He is the Christ (anointed Messiah) the Son of the Living God, we will have a new vision and a new establishment, that cannot be shaken by the world!

2. Our gain will be in the will of God through Christ Jesus, not by mortal means but by immortal lives!