Daily Bread - APR/05/07

2 Peter 2:9 - The Lord knows to deliver the godly from temptation but the unrighteous are kept to a day of judgment being punished.

Now the Lord has set apart him that is godly for himself (Psalms 4:3). There are four Greek words translated godly in the New Testament; three of them share common roots whereas the fourth is the same word that is used to translate God (theos). "For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death" (1 Corinthians 7:10). All four of these words denote the opposite of unrighteousness and ungodliness.

Godliness is the nature of holiness that we have all been given by the Holy Spirit. Every day if we give ourselves to the realms of the Kingdom of God and yield to the word of God and the Holy Spirit, we are taught how to walk in godliness (2 Peter 1:6). One of the primary words in the New Testament that is translated godliness (eusebeia) is given a clear definition by its application in 1 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:3. In these verses godliness is defined by the life and nature of Jesus Christ and as the divine nature that has been given to everyone who has been born of God.

We are taught of God that we are to deny ungodliness and live soberly, righteously, and godly (eusebos) in this present world (Titus 2:12). There should be no mistake: godliness is something that God demands of our lives. He has called everyone of us to take hold of "the doctrine which is according to godliness" (1 Timothy 6:3).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org