Carl Witty
08/15/16
Webster’s Third New International Dictionary defines godliness as “the conforming of one’s life to the revealed character and purpose of God.” This month we are studying the quality of godliness and its part in the divine nature. God’s view of us includes not only a full knowledge of what we have been, but of what we are, and what we may become! Bro. A. J. Rollings was accustomed to saying in his public prayers: “Lord, we are but poor fractions of what we may become by thy mercy and grace ….”
You may have felt, as I have, somewhat overwhelmed in considering those qualities mentioned by the apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 1:4-7, as he exorts his readers to become “partakers of the divine nature.” It is no small effort to “add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness …” Really? Can I become that kind of person?
The book of Ephesians describes how those to whom Paul wrote were being molded into the divine image. Chapters 4 and 5 deal especially with this divine process. God takes those dead in sins and makes them alive in Christ through obedience to the gospel (2:1-6). Their salvation is the work of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Those responding to the gospel in faith and obedience are then to work at becoming what God wants them to be (2:7-10).
God counts us, as we come into Christ, as righteous, sanctified, wise, and redeemed (1 Cor. 1:30). He views us in the light of what we are becoming as we yield our lives to the service of God. We are viewed by God as “works in progress.” As we give Him our lives, He molds and shapes us into the image of His Son, partakers of the divine nature.
Notice how Paul describes this process to the Ephesian Christians. With reference to each other: become kind ones. In 4:32 – “be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” The word “kind” here is literally “kind ones”. We are to become this, even if at the present we do not fit that description. We are not to give bad treatment to one another, because we are members of each other (4:25). In our attitude there is to be an absence of bitterness, wrath, anger, and malice (4:31). In our speech there is to be no lying (4:25), no corrupt speech (4:29); no evil speaking/abusive language (4:31). In our actions there is to be no stealing (4:28) and no brawling uproar (clamor).
The “kind ones” we are becoming will be Christians with positive goodness bestowed on others. Paul shows the Ephesians that they are to become tenderhearted and forgiving toward others (4:32). Their speech will build others up (edify) and favor and bless those who converse with them (4:29). They will share with the needy (4:28). They/we will realize that while it is wonderful to be blessed, to be able to share with others is the greater blessing.
With reference to God and Christ, we are to become imitators, followers. This is the greatest basis for morality, and fits the definition of godliness mentioned earlier. Becoming careful followers of God is the most evident proof that we, as dear children (5:1) are trying to be like our Father. God has shown us how we should act in this family relationship. We are to become people who freely forgive each other (4:32), walk in love toward each other in the family (5:2), and have family love and care (5:25,29). David Lipscomb, in his commentary on Ephesians, wrote these words regarding how we are to become like God in love and forgiveness:
“How does God forgive? To forgive is to hold and treat an offender as though he were not guilty. A man cannot hold one as innocent until he repents of his sins, ceases to sin, and corrects his wrongs so far as possible. God cannot forgive sin in this sense so long as man persists in it. God never forgives sin until it is repented. But while man was a sinner God loved him and was so anxious for him to repent, cease to sin, that He might forgive him, that He gave his own Son to die to lead him to repentance. Man ought to hold himself in a forgiving spirit toward those who sin against him. He ought to be anxious for him to repent that he may forgive him. He should do good to him to bring him to repentance. Man ought at all times to cherish the forgiving spirit and be ready to do good to those who sin against him, that he may bring them to repentance.”
There are those we are to avoid. We are not to become partners in evil (5:7). Our safe course for the development of godliness is to have no fellowship with the activities of “darkness”. In chapter five, verses 2-8, those things are itemized which bring the wrath of God upon the “children of disobedience”. Verse 7 emphatically says to us “Be not ye therefore partakers with them.” Having no fellowship with such evil will serve to reprove them (5:11).
Finally, the Ephesian Christians are taught to become wise ones (5:17). This is accomplished by “understanding what the will of the Lord is.” The joy of discovering that will through an earnest and constant study of God’s revealed word will enable us to become wise with the “wisdom which is from above.” Paul illustrates this joy in 5:14 by quoting from Isaiah “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” What a way to live your life! Be thankful to God for the joy of knowing what you are becoming!