The Power of God to Live a Godly Life
The Resurrection of Jesus and how it translates to real life.
“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4
In reflection of this past weekend, where the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the focus of this day. Or at least should be.
I had a portion of a verse come to mind repeatedly. Today, Tuesday morning before 5 am, I woke up with this again on my mind. Seems the Lord wanted to talk to me and by extension you that read what I write.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5
The context of this verse is of utmost importance because it highlights the need to understand the pernicious and potent nature of the poison of this false doctrine and the way people live because of it.
It seems that in this warning, Paul is warning Timothy and, by extension, the Church of that day, as well as you and me today, of a contagion we should avoid at all costs.
This sounds very critical and the prescription harsh.
How do other translations of the Bible render this? Below are the versions to add more clarity.
Amplified
“.. holding to a form of [outward] godliness (religion), although they have denied its power [for their conduct nullifies their claim of faith]. Avoid such people and keep far away from them.”
CAMP
For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
ERV
They will go on pretending to be devoted to God, but they will refuse to let that “devotion” change the way they live. Stay away from these people!
Let’s zoom out a little for context in these last two renderings.
PHILLIPS
But you must realise that in the last days the times will be full of danger. Men will become utterly self-centred, greedy for money, full of big words. They will be proud and contemptuous, without any regard for what their parents taught them. They will be utterly lacking in gratitude, purity and normal human affections. They will be men of unscrupulous speech and have no control of themselves. They will be passionate and unprincipled, treacherous, self-willed and conceited, loving all the time what gives them pleasure instead of loving God. They will maintain a facade of “religion”, but their conduct will deny its validity. You must keep clear of people like this.
MESSAGE
Don’t be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people.
Not a fan of the Message paraphrase in general, however, in some cases it does give a flavor that was intended in a modern verbiage.
Let’s look at this in the version I read most often.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7
This gives an exact description of our world today and what popular Christianity has become.
A form of godliness?
Today, I am not sure if most believers are familiar with the idea of “Godliness”. That is harsh, but it seems to be the case if we open our eyes.
Modern Gnosticism?
One false teaching that invaded early Christianity is recognized as a Gnostic influence. Some began to believe the body was seen as unimportant; some believed physical sins (e.g., immorality, indulgence) did not affect the soul’s purity, leading to disregard for moral conduct.
The influence of gnostic thought is believed to be the perversion of Nicholas, which Jesus references as the doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitans.
Jesus said in Revelation 2:6 ”But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.”
Jesus said in Revelation 2:15, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate.”
Early church historians describe Nicolaitanes as a sect promoting libertinism—teaching that Christians could engage in sinful practices (e.g., sexual immorality, eating food sacrificed to idols, as well as the perverse sexual practices ) without consequence to their spiritual state.
The Gnostic influence caused some to live so that physical actions were deemed irrelevant to spiritual salvation.
This diabolical doctrine and its associated deeds Jesus highlighted and stated he hated.
HATE? JESUS?
If that offends your sensibilities about Jesus, talk to Jesus about it. The Bible quotes Jesus, and I believe the Bible and I trust Jesus above all other opinions.
Sadly, this describes the state of modern Christianity in many sectors.
Many do not understand that light finds contrast in darkness.
Good finds contrast with bad.
Righteousness gains contrast in wickedness.
Heaven is contrasted with hell.
The Bible truth provides this beautifying quality, highlighted in contrast.
Sadly, too much modern messaging emphasizes sentimentality, comfort, and accommodating to what people want to hear.
Beware!
It does seem to be counterintuitive.
Jesus invites us all into a wonder-filled and joy-filled life of faith.
And yet Jesus and the apostles included stark warnings about the false.
The False.
Repeatedly. Over and over, we find these warnings preserved in the words of Scripture in our Bibles.
False?
Beware of the false.
There is a recurring theme in the New Testament about false doctrine, false teachings, false teachers, and false prophets.
I will minimize the font, but below the warnings are extensive.
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing..."Matthew 7:15
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” Matthew 24:11
“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies..." 2 Peter 2:1
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." 1 John 4:1
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Timothy 4:3-4
"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9
"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." Colossians 2:8
"As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do." 1 Timothy 1:3-4
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron." 1 Timothy 4:1-2
"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some." 2 Timothy 2:16-18
"For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake." Titus 1:10-11
"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God..." 2 John 1:7-9
"For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
"And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:" Galatians 2:4
Make it make sense!
Jesus and the message He preached and His Apostles in Acts and Epistles communicate evangelism and invitation.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..”
Cornelius - The First Gentile Convert
Acts 10 highlights this simple virtue. We are introduced to the first gentile who specifically was invited into the Kingdom of God.
“A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”
The first Gospel message preached outside of the Jewish circle, Peter says something instructive to our understanding. Peter begins his message by acknowledging Cornelius' qualities.
“Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34-35
God gave Peter a heavenly vision; in conclusion, he had a revelation. Those who seek to live a life that respects God in living a life of right, God is attracted and seeks to bless.
In this chapter, this prayerful, generous man of great respect among those who knew him motivated the God of heaven to use him as a case study for our reflection.
God respects those who live a righteous life.
What does righteous mean? Do the right things intentionally and on purpose.
Jesus taught, we can judge a tree by its fruit, and you can know without question a good person by the good they do.
And yet, some have been taught and fully embrace, “It does not matter what you do as long as you believe.”
It sounds like the same kind of False doctrine Jesus and the Apostles warned about.
So let’s return to the beginning.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:5
Jesus Christ rose victorious over death, hell, and the grave.
That same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead desires to live in us that we might be victorious over sin, shame, and condemnation. It’s not only possible, it is a promise.
This seems very relevant to the topic at hand.
Romans 8
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
What voices and influence should we avoid and warn others of hearing?
How have we ourselves been influenced in our conduct and compromised to believe this kind of deception?
In Closing Listen to Jesus.
“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
What is this “iniquity"?
Some failed to study the context of what some refuse to understand the simple explanation Jesus gave.
For those hungry and thirst for righteousness…
Read the words of Jesus.
Matthew 7
What can it mean? Jesus explains himself clearly for those who want to know the truth.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Wow! Just WOW! This is a powerful Word for all of us today!