Christian Graces – Godliness
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TITLE: Christian Graces – Godliness
SUBJECT: Christian Living
PROPOSITION: When we have a right attitude toward God, we will 1) Fear God, 2) Worship God, 3) Love God.
OBJECTIVE: The hearer should have a fundamental idea of what it means to be godly: have a right attitude toward God.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: 2 Peter 1:5-9
2. About the Text:
1) Peter is listing a series of qualities the Christian must have to be faithful.
2) These qualities are: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
3) We need to develop these qualities in our lives.
4) Let’s talk about godliness.
3. Godliness is . . .
1) Not being like God, although we do need to be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1).
2) This is the idea of piety, or reverence and respect toward God.
3) Today, not many people see God like this.
4) They want God to be their grandfatherly figure who solves all their problems for them.
5) There is no commitment to God with this attitude, just expectations of Him.
6) They have it backwards; God has expectations of us.
7) We need to develop a better attitude toward God.
4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: Having the right attitude toward God means . . .
I. Fearing God
1. When we talk about fearing God, we are talking about reverencing and respecting Him.
2. Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.”
3. Hebrews 12:28-29 – “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”
4. Matthew 10:28 – “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
5. Godliness means having the appropriate respect and reverence for God.
6. Practically, this means that I am going to honor Him in my life every day.
II. Worshiping God
1. Worshiping God properly comes out of a healthy respect and reverence for God.
1) If we are to worship God, then we must do it God’s way, not ours.
2) We do not insist on worshiping God the way we want; this is not being godly.
3) Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9 – “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.”
4) We seek to please God, not self.
2. When we worship, we must do so with the right actions and attitudes.
1) John 4:23-24 states: “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
2) We want to be true worshipers.
3) This means we worship in spirit (right attitude) and truth (right actions).
4) This is who God is seeking to worship Him.
3. We worship God by . . .
1) Studying His Word – 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show yourself approved . . .”
2) Praying to Him – Phil.4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer . . .”
3) Giving – Acts 20:35 – “It is more blessed to give . . .”
4) Singing Praises – Hebrews 2:12 – “In the midst of the assembly I will sing praises…”
5) Observing the Lord’s Supper – Acts 20:7 – “Upon the first day of the week . . . .”
4. To be godly, we must worship God through His Son, Jesus.
III. Loving God
1. Loving God means desiring a healthy relationship with God.
1) This means that I live a life of faith – 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “We walk by faith…”
2) This means I let God and His Spirit lead me – Romans 8:1 – “Walk by the Spirit.”
3) This means that I listen to God’s word – Romans 10:17 – “Faith comes by …”
2. Loving God means acting according to God’s purposes.
1) I must love others – Matthew 22:37-40.
2) I must seek unity with others – Ephesians 4:1.
3) I must seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first – Matthew 6:33.
3. Loving God means seeking the lost.
1) Jesus made it his aim to do this – Luke 19:10 – “The Son of man is come to …”
2) If I am a disciple of Jesus, I will do this also.
4. Loving God means keeping His commandments.
1) John 14:15 – If you love me . . .
2) 1 John 5:2-3 – “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
CONCLUSION:
1. Be a godly person . . .
1) Fear God
2) Worship God
3) Love God
2. Invitation