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Thomas Watson, a 17th century preacher, once
said: “Godliness is a sacred impression, the workmanship of
God in a man. The man is transformed from carnal to
spiritual, and receives not a new soul, but a new spirit.”
This act may be comparable to that of ‘tuning a violin.’ The
violin does not receive new strings, but its strings are
tuned to produce new tones. Godliness is also defined as
having a spirit that “follows after God fully”. (Num 14:24).
How can Christians attain godliness? The Bible provides
advice on living a godly life in Titus chapter 3. While
chapters 1 and 2 speak on how to appoint godly leaders and
teach sound doctrine respectively, chapter 3 establishes and
encourages godly living by the church. It is aimed at
individual Christians who are united corporately in the
church body.
The basis for godliness can be divided into two portions:
(1) A personal relationship with God and (2) Fulfilment of
Christian responsibilities as God’s people.
In the first portion, we can cultivate a personal
relationship with God by taking ‘pro-active action’ to live
faithfully for Him. Titus 3:1b says “to be ready to every
good work” and verse 8: “be careful to maintain good
works.” By undertaking and maintaining good works for
God, we strengthen our personal responsibility to Him, and
commit more wholly to our relationship with Him. Walking in
His ways and pleasing Him enables our spiritual life to “abound
more and more” (1 Thess 4:1). Godliness is achieved when
God’s commandments are followed.
Realizing our blessed portion with God as people saved from
our past predicament of sin and hopelessness (Tit 3:3,
2:11), will also deepen our personal relationship with Him.
It encourages us also to look forward to “that blessed
hope, and the glorious appearing” of Jesus Christ (Tit
2:13), which is a sign of godliness (Tit 2:14).
Another way to strengthen our personal relationship with God
is to apply faith in our personal walk with Him. To examine
our level of faith, we can ask ourselves: Do I question God
sometimes about things that happen in my life? Faith
requires us to trust and rely on Him regardless of our
feelings. We are also encouraged to “work out” our faith
(Phil 2:12; 1 Thess 1:3) that others may see and come to
receive that same faith as we have in Jesus Christ.
In the second basis for godliness, instructions for
Christian living for God as a church can be found in Titus
3:1-2.
Subjecting to authority.
Paul encouraged Christians to subject to godly authority
(Rom 13:1), like children subjecting themselves to parents
and teachers. In church, members subjected themselves to the
church authorities and to each other in love.
Speaking evil of no man.
This involves sacrificing one’s pride to not always ‘win an
argument’ or ‘push for one’s own rights.’ We are called to
be “living sacrifices”. (Rom 12:1)
There were also things to avoid, in the pursuit of
godliness:
Avoiding foolish questions
(Tit 3:9). 2 Timothy 2:14 repeats this same principle: “...
strive not about words to no profit, but to the
subverting of the hearers.” Christians should not
promote things that the Bible did not say, causing divisions
and arguments. Bible verses shouldn’t be taken and attached
with new things to them, creating new distorted truths.
Christian responsibilities of the church also included the
discipline of heretics, known as people who cause divisions.
Heretics may reject the church’s preaching, but yet remain
in it to attack the preachers, members or authorities. 1
Thessalonians 5:14 says to “warn them that are unruly”
and if there were still no change in behaviour after a few
admonitions, heretics had to be asked to leave the church.
Exercise of church discipline is for godliness, to avoid “unprofitability”
(Tit 3:9) in her striving toward godliness.
Understanding the basis for godliness guides us in our
aspiration toward leading godly Christian lives. Titus 3:8
gives a beautiful summary of the two bases in which
godliness is grounded: “This is a faithful saying, and
these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God (1) might be careful to
maintain good works (2) These things are good and
profitable unto men.”
The faith we have in God, manifested in performing good
works for Him, will bear fruit in the form of a godly, “good
and profitable” life. |
