Godliness – The Forgotten Result of Grace
Any good thing we experience in this world is a grace thing. The Bible says in Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” These verses are very clear that we should not think for a moment that our goodness has earned us any good thing from God. There are some core statements and beliefs that I often share in our church that I want to share with you, all of which are made possible because of grace:
- God is GOOD all the time!
- God’s not mad at you no matter what you’ve done or where you’ve been
- Having a problem is not a problem at FBC
- If it’s not good, it’s not God
- If God was out to get you, He already would’ve
- 453 times the Bible says, “It Came To Pass”, therefore your problems are not going to stay but come to pass
- You can’t make God love you more and you cannot make Him love you less
- God has never caused one moment of pain in your life
Recently I read these statements in one of our services and then posed the following question to our people -- and I pose it to you as well. As grace people, are we in love with these statements and concepts of freedom or are we in love with the God who makes them a reality? The truth is that while these statements are true, if all they ever are to us are statements or concepts of freedom, they will not empower grace in our lives. The reality is this: if we are in love with a message of freedom and not the one that gave us our freedom it will be very easy to use our knowledge to justify immoral living in the name of freedom. The only thing that changes our lives is a relationship with our God who loves us with no conditions. Concepts and knowledge of freedom will not change us -- in actuality they can lead us to destructive lifestyles and the searing of our conscience.
The Apostle Paul says in 1 Tim. 4:2 that one of the indications that we are in the last days would be that there would be groups of people whose conscience would become seared, calloused and beyond feeling. Webster defines the conscience as the inner sense of what is right or wrong in ones conduct. I have often heard people say, let your conscience be your guide. In reality that may not be a good idea. The Bible is our standard regardless of what our conscience says and is the truth to which we refer in order to see if our conscience is true. 2 Cor. 6:17 says; “So leave the corruption and compromise; leave it for good," says God. "Don't link up with those who will pollute you. I want you all for myself.” Sadly, many “grace people” do not know the difference between not being judgmental and compromising their standards. There are two extremes in the body of Christ, one is being judgmental of anyone with a problem and the other says I will compromise my standards for the sake of reaching people. Jesus NEVER compromised His godly character for the sake of reaching people, yet people flocked to Him and loved being in His presence.
Paul writes in 2 Tim. 3:5 that there would come a time when people would have a form of godliness, but would deny the power thereof; and he said from such turn away. All my ministry life I have heard this verse preached like this. In the last days people will have a form of godliness but deny the power of God. As I took a second look at this verse recently I saw something I had not seen before. It says that in the last days people would deny the power that’s in godliness or godly living. There is power in godliness. The power of your witness hinges on godliness. Grace empowers us to live godly lives – lives that reflect the attitude, character, and heart of God. Titus 2:11-12 says, “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Paul is saying to young Timothy that grace teaches us to stay away from and deny ungodliness and to live with the attitude and character of God. In no way does grace give access into ungodliness. A love for a message and concept will not produce godly living but a love relationship with God will. Grace empowers and brings forth godly lifestyles and this grace is a product of relationship and not concepts.
As believers – recreated in Christ -- we are called to demonstrate who God is. When we choose to apply biblical standards by grace, we will show people the God we believe in. But we must always remember that we do good, not to become righteous, but because we are righteous. Paul says in Eph 4:1, “I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called -- with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God's service.” (AMP)
We all know that Paul’s revelation of righteousness apart from works brought us to freedom. And yet somehow many “grace people” have skipped over the verses, like the ones below, where he charges us to live godly lives and in which he gives us a picture of what grace should be producing in our lives.
“So this I say and solemnly testify in [the name of] the Lord [as in His presence], that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness [in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls and the futility] of their minds. 18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. [They are] alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God (with no share in it). [This is] because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart [to the insensitiveness of their moral nature]. 19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless, and have abandoned themselves [a prey] to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity [that their depraved desires may suggest and demand]. 20 But you did not so learn Christ! 21 Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as [all] Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him], 22 Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; 23 And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], 24 And put on the new nature,(the regenerate self) created in God's image, (Godlike) in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor, for we are all parts of one body and members one of another. 26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath, your exasperation, your fury or indignation last until the sun goes down. 27 Leave no such room or foothold for the devil (give no opportunity to him). 28 Let the thief steal no more, but rather let him be industrious, making an honest living with his own hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. 29 Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth; but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, (do not offend or vex or sadden Him) by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin). 31 Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). 32 And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph. 4:17-32 AMP)
These verses represent standards of moral conduct, but they’re not your righteousness --.they are the product of grace in our lives. We make a decision to live with moral and godly standards because we are righteous, not in order to become righteous. Whether we like it or not our behavior as believers influences people who do not know God. We need to be friends with people who do not know the Lord, but we cannot become like them in order to win them.
How Was Jesus The Friend of Sinners?
1. He did not condemn people with problems.
2. He had something they wanted but did not have.
3. Jesus didn’t become like them in order to win them -- He always showed them a better way.
4. He showed them what God was like.
In Matt 5:13-16 Jesus says, "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand — shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” (THE MESSAGE)
Our conduct influences others! We do not have a choice in how we live IF we want to touch people with the good news of God’s love.
I want to challenge you to make some decisions if you have not already done so:
- Never use your freedom as an excuse for ungodly behavior.
- Reevaluate the moral standards in your life and make the needed adjustments.
To live a godly life without allowing it to become your righteousness