Exercise Unto Godliness

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

It is written: “...and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (I Tim. 4:7-8)

Let us turn our attention briefly to the meaning of the word “godliness.” If we are to have godliness in our Christian faith, we must of necessity understand what it is Biblically. The word “godliness” comes from the Greek word “eusebeia,” which itself is composed of two words: “eu” meaning “well or right,” and “sebomaie” meaning “to worship.” Therefore, godliness is to worship well or correctly. One is said to possess godliness when he worships God well and in the correct manner as set forth in the Holy Scriptures. It is not following the dictates of one’s own heart and conscience; rather it is following the dictates of the Holy Word of God, which is forever settled in the heavens. It needs no emotionalizing, sensationalizing, mystifying, or modernizing. God is eternal, and His Word is eternal, the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Hence, the way of godliness is eternally set, and we must press into it.

When Cain and Abel worshipped before God, Cain worshipped incorrectly, and Abel worshipped correctly. God accepted Abel’s worship but rejected Cain’s because Cain did not obey His divine command for correct worship. In retaliation, unrighteousness attempted to kill righteousness. One may kill a righteous man, but the righteousness of God cannot be killed. Acceptable worship before God requires one to worship rightly! God will not be forced into receiving so-called worship out of the wicked imaginations of men.

Godliness “relates to real, true, vital, and spiritual relations with God,” while religion, “relates to the outward acts of religious observances or ceremonies, which can be performed by the flesh.” (E. W. Bullinger) John Gill in referring to godliness wrote: “This is none other than the inward devotion of the mind, and fervency of the spirit in serving the Lord; it is a holy disposition of the soul towards God.” Real spiritual relations with God will bring forth holy and devout passions for right worship. The believer must constantly train himself out of the Word of God that he might not go astray in his worship.