TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY
(I Tim. 4:7b)
OVERVIEW OF I TIMOTHY 1:1 to 4:7
1:1-2 – Overview of Christian Faith based on His names and blessings.
1:3-4a False teaching in Ephesus and how humanistic philosophy effects us today.
1:4b-6 – Commanded to love. (Loving God, fellow Christians, the non-Christian world)
1:7-8 – The law’s deterrent, punitive and educative purposes
1:8-11 – “Whatever else …” The Gospel Ethic. (Law-Philia University)
1:11 – Our Relationship with “The Blessed God.” (Causing God pain or joy)
1:12-16 Why Paul considered himself the worst of sinners.
1:12-16 Conversion of the apostle Paul.
1:12-16 Paul’s call to ministry.
1:17 Paul’s doxology of praise for his conversion.
1:18-20 How to avoid shipwrecking our faith.
2:1-3 The Christian is to pray for all men.
2:4,6 Comparison of Calvinism & Armenianism.
2:5-6 The man, Christ Jesus, the only mediator.
2:1-7 The vision, the message, the means.
2:8-15 Treatment of women in the ancient world, the early church and the Bible.
2:8-15 Three key hermeneutic principles to follow when studying the Bible.
2:8 Praying Men with Peaceful Hearts
2:9-10 A First-Century Christian Woman’s Dress and Deeds
2:11-12 Does Submission Demand Silence?
2:13-15 Paul’s Logic for Requiring Women to Be Silent in The Ephesian House Churches.
3:1 Why Aspiring to Church Leadership Can Be a Good Thing.
3:2 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder – Teaching
3:2 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder – Hospitality
3:4-5 Spiritual Gifting Required of an Ephesian Elder –Leadership
3:2-7 Ethical Demands of the NT and the Ethics Tests for Elders
3:2-7 Ethical Qualities Required of an Ephesian Elder
3:8-13 The Ever Present Danger of Ethical Disconnect in a Christian’s Life
3:8-13 The Ministry of Deacons in the Early Church
3:9 Keeping Hold of the Deep Truths of the Faith
3:11 An Official Deaconesses in the NT Church?
3:14 Results That are Better Than Answered Prayer
3:15 God’s New Community – The Church of the Living God
3:15 God’s New Community – God’s Household
3:15 God’s New Community – The Pillar & Foundation of the Truth
3:16a Introduction to the Hymn in I Tim. 3:15 – The Mystery of Godliness
3:16a The Mystery of Godliness – A Life Focused on Christ
3:16b The Incarnation – He Appeared in a Body
4:1-2 How False Teaching Enters the Church
4:3-5 Common Grace
4:6 Word of God in Life of the Believer
4:7a Godliness – Divine / Human Role
4:7b Train Yourself to be Godly
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly (I Tim 4:7).
“Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit for both today and forever” (The Message).
INTRODUCTION:
1. Abbreviated version of John Stott’s definition of “godliness”
A godly person has experienced a Christian conversion. Whereas his life was previously focused on himself it is now focused on Christ. Knowing, loving and pleasing God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit dominates and gives direction to His life. A godly person lives a God-centered life.
2. A godly person will certainly manifest certain Christian characteristics which at least in part can be summed up as the “fruit of the Spirit.”
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Gal. 5:22-23).
Jesus challenged us to “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).
I. HOW TO BECOME A SPIRIT-FILLED, GODLY PERSON
A. We know salvation is by grace, it all starts with God.
B. There seems to be a “Second Work of Grace” after salvation.
1. Paul’s experience in Romans 5-8.
Romans 5 salvation is plain; Romans 6-7 Paul’s struggle to overcome sin; Romans 7:24-25 Paul’s second discovery that Christ does not only save him from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin.
2. Bible Students have through the ages studied this “Second Work of Grace” and classified it as: Deeper Christian Life, Crucified life, Identification with Christ, Abiding in Christ, Spirit Filled Life, Keswick Experience, Second Blessing, Perfect Love, Union with Christ, Divine Union, Oneness with Christ, The Exchanged Life, Total Sanctification, The Life of Rest.
3. Bible churches like Bethany would probably define the “Second Work of Grace” as follows: INITIAL AND CONTINUAL INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. There must be a filling of the Spirit by faith, a filling subsequent to salvation. In faith we pray and accept that the Spirit fills our life, even if there is no inward assurance. Now we move forward be continually filled and also being filled with the Spirit to grow into godliness.
4. Testimony of Henrietta Mears in her auto-biography pages 41 and 159.
5. Story of electricity in rural Missouri (Dallas Willard, page 30-31).
C. The Bible also speaks plainly about our personal responsibility to strive for godliness.
The NT is filled with commands to love, be kind, be patient, encourage, avoid envy, strife etc.
D. Producing godliness in the life of the believer is a “joint venture” between God and the believer.
“ … continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (I Tim. 2:12-13).
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him …. For this very reason make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge … etc” (II Pt. 1:3,5).
II. TRAINING THAT PRODUCES GODLINESS
A. Self-effort must be expended in producing godliness
“Train yourself to be godly” (I Tim. 4:7b).
“But you, man of God … pursue …godliness …”(I Tim. 6:11).
“Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12).
“Make every effort to add to your faith goodness etc…” ( I Pt. 3:5)
“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize” (I Cor. 9:25-27).
“strict training = “strict, rigid self-control”
“I discipline my body like an athlete” (NLT); “I discipline my body and make it my slave” (NASB); “I pommel my body and subdue it” (RSV); “I chastise my body and bring it to servitude” “I buffet my body and lead it captive” (Darby).
“train” is from the Greek word gumnazo from which we get gym and gymnasium and means to exercise vigorously, in any way, either the body or the mind.
B. The word “training” points to exercise, routine, perseverance, lifestyle.
QUESTION: If an Olympic athlete mentioned that he was in training, what words would the word “training” bring to your mind?
Exercise, routine, lifestyle, perseverance, striving, self- discipline, focus
C. The Bible indicates that there are “Spiritual Exercises,” that, if practiced, move us in the direction of godliness. Thes e “Spiritual Exercises” are also called “Spiritual Disciplines.”
III. SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES THAT HELP PRODUCE GODLINESS
QUESTION: What are the “spiritual disciplines” of the Christian?
Bible study, meditation, memorization, prayer, fasting, solitude, silence, service, worship, confession, church attendance (Bible study, small group, adult community etc), giving, journaling, devotions
QUESTION: Why do Christians and the church shy away from an emphasis on “spiritual disciplines” today?
“In too many cases today, Christians have resisted training by calling spiritual disciplines legalism or asceticism. That has resulted, however, in ill-informed, spiritually malnourished, and unprepared believers. To use Paul’s imagery, Christians want to be on Christ’s Olympic team, but they don’t want to live as athletes in training.” (Life Application Bible Commentary, pg. 83).
QUESTION: Of the spiritual disciplines listed, which do you feel are the most valuable in helping a person move towards godliness?
QUESTION: If we had to list them in order of importance, value what would the list look like?
IV. UTILIZING “SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES” IN TRAINING OURSELVES TO BE GODLY.
“Throughout much of Christian history, people have practiced the classic disciplines. Some of these, like study, meditation, prayer, and fasting, can be used for internal and private spiritual training. Others, such as solitude, silence, service, and submission, are external and visible experiences. Some, like worship and confession, require participation by other believers. All of them have been subject to misuse, but they have also proven to be effective “training exercises.” They are worth exploring. Even though initially they may seem ineffective (remember what it was like to run around the track the first time when you were out of shape?), they can bring about beneficial change in your Christian life.
How would you describe your present spiritual training plan? How many “exercises” are you practicing, and how often do you do them? Compared to a year ago, how is your spiritual training progressing? (From Life Application Bible Commentary, pg. 83)
SO WHAT?
1. God is far more interested in what we are then on what we do? So an emphasis on becoming godly people must be prioritized.
2. Godliness is not something left to us. Via the Cross Christ has freed us both from the “penalty” and “power” of sin.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin THE DOUBLE CURE.
Save from wrath and make me pure.
3. Yet, the Word is emphatic that we are to “train” ourselves in godliness, put off sin, put on righteousness, pursue godliness, work out our own salvation, make every effort to add godliness etc.
4. On one hand God has done it all …. So “let go and let God.” On the other hand we are to work it out so let’s set up a ‘strict spiritual training regimen.”
“Truth is not in the middle, and not in one extreme, but in both extremes.” (Charles Simeon in Searching for the Invisible God, pg. 93)