What it Means to Be Godly

Saturday, August 03, 2019

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1 Peter 1:13–16

When people talk about godliness, there is often a great deal of confusion about what it means. Some equate godliness with a solemn form of religious observance. Others measure godliness by conformity to an outward code of behavior. While genuine worship and righteous living are important, godliness simply means that we are living as God says. The trait which He has chosen to emphasize above all others is holiness. In his vision of Heaven, Isaiah saw specially created six-winged seraphs who sole responsibility is to continually proclaim God’s holiness. “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” (Isaiah 6:3).

Peter wrote, “in all manner of conversation,” or in other words, in every part of our lives we are supposed to be holy. There is no area of life—business, home, church, school, hobbies, entertainment or anything else—that should not be subject to God’s control. He calls us to be obedient to His Word, and that is the foundation of holiness. When our hearts are in tune with Him as they should be, we will not find it burdensome to give up the things of the world. God has nothing to do with the things of the world, and we shouldn’t either. “And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world” (John 8:23).

Today's Growth Principle: 

We cannot be like God unless we are willing to turn our lives over to Him in obedience.