I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      We Americans are endowed with many technological, societal, and cultural advances that have made life easier, but something is disappearing among us that makes life immeasurably more difficult.  We are losing the godliness that leads to the providential profit and blessings that come by God’s hand.

B.      The keynote message for this lesson and this series comes from 1Timothy 4:7-8 – "…Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

II.      GODLINESS DEFINED

A.      Our English word "godliness” is defined as the quality of conforming to the laws and wishes of God.  It is synonymous with devoutness or piety.

                                                             1.      Godliness is sometimes described as God-likeness, but it is more accurate to understand godliness as the quality of being directed by God.  Just as a westerly wind has its direction from the west, a godly deed has its direction from God.

                                                             2.      The exact opposite of godliness is worldliness.  In this sense of worldliness, the world is defined by God’s word as that which is directed by "the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life” (1John 2:16).  Such motivations are worldly (from the world) and therefore ungodly (not from God).

                                                             3.      Nearly everything can be categorized as godliness or worldliness.  Almost nothing is neutral, for any deed, word, or thought either conforms to the laws and wishes of God or else it does not.

B.      Let us notice the Greek words that are translated as godliness in the New Testament.

                                                             1.      The most common translation of godliness comes from the word eusebeia, which means reverence, respect, piety towards God, or godliness.

a.       This word is a noun that is made up of two other Greek words – eu (to be well off, to fare well, or to prosper) and sebō (to revere, to worship).

b.       By looking at the two parts of this word, we understand that godliness in the New Testament literally means good-worship or good-reverence.  This means that a godly person possesses a good, worshipful, reverent motivation for everything he does.

c.        Eusebeia is found in the following verses: Acts 3:12; 1Timothy 2:2; 3:16; 4:7-8; 6:3, 5, 6, 11; 2Timothy 3:5; Titus 1:1; 2Peter 1:3, 6, 7; 3:11.

d.       The adjective form of this word (eusebēs, meaning godly or devout) is found in these verses: Acts 10:2, 7; 2Peter 2:9.

                                                             2.      The other word that is translated as godliness is theosebeia, which means reverence towards God.

a.       This word is a noun that is made up of two other Greek words – theos (god) and sebō (to revere, to worship).

b.       By looking at the two parts of this word, we understand that godliness in this sense literally means God-worship or God-reverence.

c.        This word is found only in 1Timothy 2:10 ("women making a claim to godliness”).  The adjective form (theosebēs, meaning God-revering) is found in John 9:31.

III.   GODLINESS FOR PROFIT

A.      Consider the meaning of "profitable” in our keynote message of 1Timothy 4:7-8 and notice the three things that are called profitable in the New Testament.

                                                             1.      The word "profitable” in 1Timothy 4:7-8 is translated from the Greek word ōphelimos, which means advantageous or profitable.

                                                             2.      This word is used in three passages of the New Testament to describe three separate things.

a.       In our keynote passage of 1Timothy 4:7-8, godliness is described as profitable.  This will be the subject of this entire series of lessons.

b.       In 2Timothy 3:16-17, the inspired Scripture of God is described as "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

c.        In Titus 3:8, Paul wrote, "These things are good and profitable for men.”  In the context (Tit. 2:11-3:8), Paul was speaking of good deeds that are profitable.

d.       Note: The English word "profitable” is also found in other verses, but those cases it is translated from different Greek words (not ōphelimos as found in 1Tim. 4:7-8).

B.      Notice the two parts of our keynote message from 1Timothy 4:7-8 regarding the profit of godliness.

                                                             1.      The first part is a commandment: "Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness…”

a.       Christians are to discipline (Gr. gymnazō, to vigorously exercise) their bodies and minds.  This idea includes self-control both to abstain from what is wrong and to do what is right (Jas. 4:17).  It also includes self-denial in which one puts off his own desires in favor of the desires of Christ and others (Phil. 2:3-5).

b.       The motivation for keeping this commandment must be godliness.  Self-discipline for reasons other than godliness will not fulfill this obligation.  Only a genuine dedication to the will of God will satisfy God’s requirement of self-discipline.

                                                             2.      The second part is an explanation and a divine promise: "…for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”

a.       Paul explains that "bodily discipline” (physical exercise) has very limited, temporal benefits, but godliness has tremendous, lasting benefits.  It stands to reason that the Almighty God of providence would grant profit to those who choose to be directed by His will.

b.       Notice that this promised profit is "for the present life and also for the life to come.”

i.         It is well-accepted by Christians that godliness has profit for the life to come.  We understand that we will be recompensed at the Judgment for the good deeds we have done (2Cor. 5:10).

ii.        However, it is not as well-accepted by Christians that godliness actually leads to a better life in this world.  The goal of this series is to open our eyes to the truth of this promise and build our trust in God to practice true godliness.

C.      Note: The profit of godliness is not according to the "prosperity gospel” taught by many modern preachers.

                                                             1.      Such preachers as Joel Osteen, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Robert Tilton, and Pat Robertson teach that God has promised great financial gain for faithful Christians.  This is not the case.

                                                             2.      Paul addressed this false notion in 1Timothy 6:5-11, saying, "Godliness is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment,” and, "If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.”

                                                             3.      Instead, the profit that comes by godliness consists of such things as peace, satisfaction, joy, godly success, growth, love, unity, and many other valuable benefits that cannot be measured by monetary worth.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      In this modern age of humanism, many Christians have been convinced to live much of their lives by the wisdom of men rather than the wisdom of God.

                                                             1.      While all Christians recognize the need to follow God’s directions in spiritual matters, many have been deceived into following man’s directions in practical everyday matters.

                                                             2.      Those who have been deceived are following the directions of the so-called experts of this world (scientists, physicians, politicians, psychologists, theologians, businessmen, university professors, textbook authors, departments of education, Hollywood producers, etc.) regarding matters such as marriage, family, children, relationships, education, work, healthcare, money, food, entertainment, etc.  Many Christians are following these worldly leaders even when their directions contradict the plain teachings of God’s word.

B.      The result is that these Christians are missing God’s promised profit "for the present life,” and they stand in danger of missing it "for the life to come.”

                                                             1.      In this present life, we see the weakening of families, the destruction of marriage, the abandonment of children, and the general unhappiness of worldly-minded people even among self-proclaimed Christians.  It is the absence of true godliness that leads to these miserable lives.

                                                             2.      If we cannot muster enough faith to trust God’s directions and practice godliness as we live day to day, then how will we stand in the Judgment?

C.      This series of lessons is designed to get our minds back on God’s ways of doing things so that we may gain the profits that God wants us to have "for the present life and also for the life to come.”