A GODLY DISPOSITION
When people receive Christ, and perhaps even before, they become aware of God's presence in various ways and their thinking begins to change in the direction of godliness.
The unknown far off "god" becomes the God who is near. By the Holy Spirit, He becomes "Abba, Father" and .
Through Christ, godliness can be an ever-growing quality. And in one place each Believer is exhorted to: "... exercise yourself toward godliness" (1 Timothy 4'5).
Exercise is often associated with bodily fitness. And, of course, the Lord wants His Children to look after their bodies, so as be active and use them to glorify Him.
This exercise is spiritual and "toward godliness". One major exercise would be letting the Word of Christ become the way of thinking (Colossians 3'16).
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God," Romans 12'2.
Plus this:
"... godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance," 1 Timothy 4'7-9.
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Godliness is the disposition of those who are in Christ which shows in the various godly ways mentioned earlier.
Jesus displayed them all.
Godliness came with Jesus: walking, talking, looking, serving - all living in the awareness of His Father, and the Holy Spirit. Essentially, godliness is about thinking as He did.
1 Corinthians 2'16 proclaims that “... we have the mind of Christ".
And Philippians 2:5 urges Believes to "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus".
So what is having "the mind of Christ"? What is first in His thinking? His first recorded words provide the lead:
"... Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” (Luke 2'49).
The Lord's godliness is right there. His disposition is revealed immediately. "My Father's business."
Now, the Father's intention is that those He has redeemed do the same. Paul says that:
"... godliness with contentment is great gain," 1 Timothy 6'6.
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When Believers die and rise again by immersion in water the godly understanding is: "Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord," Romans 6'11.
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However, being godly is not without risk. For some Believers it means being persecuted. More today than ever before. Even in the "democratic" world Believers suffer in various ways.
Paul says:
"... what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them," 2 Timothy 3'11-14.