2 Peter 1, Part 7

 Godliness

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Welcome. We are currently going through 2 Peter 1. We are doing this in-depth study nearly word for word. If you have been with us you know we went through the greetings and the "For this very reason" or the reason we need to listen to what Peter is telling us here. Last time we talked about steadfastness. If you are following along it looks like this.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness,

We talked about the reason why, faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, and standing firm. If you missed anything up to now you can go back in the archives and get caught up if you so choose. Today, we are going to talk about godliness.

What does that even mean? The world says this

Godliness = the quality of being devoutly religious; piety: "a man of great godliness"

What does the Bible say? It tells us there is a vast difference between being godly and worldly.

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." Psalm 1:1-3

What it is saying here is that you have choices to make. You can go along with the world, agree with the world and live the worldly way, or you can pick this up {Holding up the Bible} and read it. Live the way God tells you to. Look here.

"If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in their minds and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, " 1 Timothy 6:3-6

This is why it is so very important that you never take what anyone, even me, or your local Pastor, says as absolute truth and facts. Look it up yourself. Read this {Holding up the Bible} If I or anyone else tell you something that is not in here, or it does not go along with what this says, it is a lie.

Not to pick on anyone here but some examples? Don't eat meat on Friday. Not here. Praying to this or that Saint? Not here. Worshiping Mary? Not here. Killing non-believers? Not here. Keeping women down as lesser people? Not here. Racism? Not here. Any other way to God or heaven without Jesus? Most definitely NOT here. Accepting sin and living to let live? Not here. Not doing anything following your conversion? Not here.

Simply put, if you read the Bible, pray, and spend time with God, you will know the truth when you hear it. You will be able to test the spirits.

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already."

We have entire churches today, TV Ministries, local churches, and secular outlets, all agreeing that sin is good and good is sin. They talk with beautiful words that are designed to make you "feel" that they are right and compassionate, and good. Do not fall for the lies.

"Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this, we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error." 1 John 4:1-6

Please do not misunderstand. Being "godly" or living a life of godliness is NOT being holier than thou. It is not attempting to force your will or beliefs on others. This is not what it is about. It is about your one-on-one relationship with God. It is about a relationship with your daddy. As a matter of fact, we are warned against even dealing with people like that.

"Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people." 2 Timothy 3:5

Before you can be concerned with anyone else, you have to get right yourself. Pray, read, and spend time with God.

"I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1

Does this mean we should not share the gospel? Of course not. We should share the gospel as often as God gives us the opportunity. That is our obligation, at least one of our obligation, as a child of God. However, if you are not prepared? I would not recommend it. Look here.

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," 2 Timothy 3:12

That does not say "may." That does not say "some." Read that again.

"Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," 2 Timothy 3:12

If you are not prepared and well equipt, you may fall for lies and attacks and become unfruitful for the kingdom of God. You would be like those that Jesus calls "rocky grounds," or those amongst the thorns.

"As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful." Matthew 13:20-22

Being godly, or living in godliness, is all about you and your relationship with God. Does this mean you are perfect? No. Of course not. Does it mean you are better than anyone else? No. Of course not. Does it mean you are holier than others? No. It means you got yourself right with God. You spend time in preparation and you spend time with God. You learn and grow and try to keep yourself unstained from the world. Then you can follow through with the next thing Peter talks about here.

"For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection,"

Join us next time when we dive into "brotherly affection." Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, You shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, comment, questions, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until Next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord.