Godliness

Because of a lesson that I am preparing to teach I have been doing a word study on the Greek word, eusebeia.

Eusebeia, yoo-seb'-i-ah; from G2152; piety; specially, the gospel scheme:—godliness, holiness. 

When breaking down the word it is like this:

Eu - well

Seb - sacred awe, reverence in ones actions

So it is behaving with piety, respect and honor toward God.

 

Eusebeia in the New Testament is  most often translated as "godliness." 

...seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, (eusebeia) through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3 NASB)

It isn't to be used as " religious." The word goes deep. It isn't just attitude. It is attitude, behavior, actions, being in awe and wonderment and acting accordingly.

With all of that being said, where is our godliness? What has happened to the reverent respect that used to be in our services?

It is hard to tell the honest to goodness Christians in a crowd and even our churches are acting more and more like the world. 

I, for one, would like to see God's people behaving godly. And not just at church but in everyday life. 

Eusebeia - godliness

In continuing on with my study of godliness I came across a few interesting verses on the subject.

First because of the grace of God we can renounce ungodly behaviors and live self controlled, upright and godly. Godly people no longer live or appear worldly.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:11-13 ESV)

Paul equates godliness with knowing God's Word and living faithfully in action and knowledge.

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, (Titus 1:1 ESV)

Only those that live out holiness and godliness will be spared the destruction of the earth.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! (2 Peter 3:10-12 ESV)

Godliness can be described as walking with God. Wouldn't it be great to be known as a person that walks with God.

When Enoch had lived 65 years, he fathered Methuselah. Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Thus all the days of Enoch were 365 years. Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him. (Genesis 5:21-24 ESV)

And in the faith chapter of Hebrews 11, Enoch was spared a physical death because his godly life "pleased" God.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.

By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:1-2, 5-6 ESV)

Godliness is not a religious thing. It is not behavior reserved for Sundays. Godliness is a part of one's character. It is similar to knowledge in that it is part of our being. And it should be ever deepening. And it is always sincere.

It is my hope to live and grow in godliness until the day the Lord calls me home.