What does it mean to say that someone has a form of godliness?
Self-Improvement → Spirituality
- Author James Rondinone
- Published July 21, 2022
- Word count 702
PART 13 THE CHURCH OF GOD OR CHURCH OF MAN
HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS
As Christians, what are we desirous of?
Is church a place where we call out God’s name but never get a response back from Him?
Is church a place where we try to behave better, but we truly don’t understand how to address areas of weakness, regret, addictions, etc.?
Is church a place where we greet those who attend in a kind way but don’t know how to help them in their temptations and easily besetting sins?
Is church a place where we perform our weekly duty, give financially as we’re asked, and yet live the rest of the week with the same carnal thoughts, words, and actions?
This characterized me in my younger years. I went to catechism, was confirmed, became an altar boy, followed the tenets of the faith, and yet something was amiss. I decided to attend other religions and what I found out was that God was someone that would be pleased with me if I obeyed the teachings set forth by those in authority which in most cases had to do with following certain dos and don’ts. I was as someone the following verse contests.
2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
I had a form (outward appearance) of godliness. What is godliness? Godliness is having the life of God in our souls. Godliness is having an inward living power.140 And if all I have is an outward semblance, then what I’m actually doing is denying the power thereof. This means to deny that such life or power is here to be experienced or known.141
This is why I wrote this book. If you’re a new Christian and you follow the guidelines presented in this study, then you’ll find a Spirit-filled church and grow to spiritual maturity. If you’ve been a Christian for some time, having received the Holy Spirit, but this idea of being Spirit-filled has been a foreign concept to you in the church you’re attending, then you likewise can use the checklist and set out on a different course.
And finally, if God’s power has never been experienced in your life at any time. If you’ve never heard of the gospel of Christ but are going to church, then you sound like how I was, i.e., a religious young man without knowing God personally. If this is indeed the case concerning yourself, then I’ll leave you with a prayer to recite quietly or out loud. This will allow you to embark on a spiritual journey that begins by receiving God into your life by means of the person of the Holy Spirit.
God the Father, I’m a sinner. I acknowledge and want to turn from these sins: fornication, stealing, alcoholism, adultery, homosexuality, drug addiction, polygamy, pedophilia, incest, etc.
I believe in your Son, Jesus, one of the members of the Trinity, the others being God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, who left heaven and came to earth, God incarnate (God come in the flesh), deity (possessing a divine nature), being born of a virgin, that lived a sinless life, died on a cross paying for and forgiving me of all my sins, rose again after three days never to die again, and ascended into heaven.
If you’ve said this prayer, then the Holy Spirit has now come into your life to provide you with His guidance, influence, the conviction of sin, spiritual qualities, presence, promptings, etc. to help you experience this new life that you’ve received.
In closing, may the words of this verse become a reality in all of our lives?
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Website: http://bit.ly/1RQnYJ8
Endnotes
140Adam Clarke’s Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2004. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 21 February 2022
˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
141Adam Clarke’s Commentary Pc Study Bible version 5, 2004. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 21 February 2022
˂http://www.biblesoft.com>.
I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.
I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership course of study, and graduated as valedictorian (summa cum laude).
I’ve written and published a number of spiritual books on various biblical topics.
Article source: https://articlebiz.comRate article
Article comments
There are no posted comments.
Related articles
- What does it mean when God says you are dead to the law?
- The Trumpet has sounded: Will you heed the call?
- WINNING THE BATTLES OF OPPOSITION A MUST FOR A VICTORIOUS LIFE
- PART 20 I AM
- What does it mean when God says you are righteous?
- PART 18 I AM
- What does it mean when God says you are beloved?
- What does it mean when God says you are dead to sin?
- Distant Healing
- What does it mean when God says you are washed?
- What does it mean when God says you are accepted?
- What Lies Under The Layers?
- What does it mean when God says you are a new creature?
- What does it mean when God says you are redeemed and forgiven?
- What does it mean when God says you are perfected?
- What does it mean when God says you are sanctified?
- What does it mean when God says you are justified?
- What does it mean when God says you are an heir?
- What does it mean when God says you are saved?
- What does it mean when God says that you are sealed?
- Is Salvation Conditional Based on the Committing of Continual Sin?
- Is Salvation Conditional Based on Obedience to the Commands of the Mosaic Law During the Church Age?
- Was Salvation Conditional in the Old Testament Based on Obedience to the Commands of the Mosaic Law?
- What Does It Mean to Say That You Are in Christ?
- What is the gospel that if responded to will cause an unbeliever to become saved and receive the indwelling Spirit?
- GOSPEL MESSAGE #6 - IS SALVATION BY REPENTANCE, BELIEF, WATER BAPTISM, AND GODLY WORKS?
- GOSPEL MESSAGE #5 - IS SALVATION BY REPENTANCE, BELIEF, AND GODLY WORKS?
- GOSPEL MESSAGE #4 – Is there such a thing as HOUSEHOLD SALVATION?
- IS SALVATION BY WATER BAPTISM?
- GOSPEL MESSAGE #3 - IS SALVATION BY GOOD WORKS?