Called To Godliness Series

April 16, 2001

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. Review of the previous topic—Called to Repentance

1. Important Things Discussed:

a. True Repentance Involves Four Things:

i. Putting our priority in line with God’s priority

ii. Discarding things that create disorder in our lives

iii. Replacing discarded things with the fruits of the Holy Spirit

iv. Willingness to hear and listen to God’s voice

B. Today’s Topic—Called to Godliness

II. BODY:

A. The Call to Godliness

1. Paul’s Counsel to the Young Timothy.

a. 1 Timothy 4:7-8

b. Other Counsels that Paul Could Have Given Timothy:

i. Counsel on money matters

1. Love of money is the root of all evil. 1 Timothy 6:10

2. Command the rich to be rich in good deeds and be generous in their giving. 1 Timothy 6:17-18

ii. Counsel to pursue higher Learning

1. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 1 Timothy 3:16

iii. Counsel on Leadership

1. Treat everyone with respect. 1 Timothy 5:1-3

iv. Counsel on how to be a good debater

1. Avoid foolish and stupid arguments because they produce quarrels. 2 Timothy 2:23

v. Counsels on How to Satisfy the Desires of Your Youth

1. “Flee the evil desires of your youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22

c. In all his counsels to Timothy, Paul’s counsels boils down to one word—Godliness.

2. Ellen G. Wrote: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this should be our first work.” Selected Messages, Volume 1, page 121.

B. What is Godliness?

1. Dictionary defines Godliness as obeying, loving, and fearing God.

2. Godliness is becoming like God.

C. Why Godliness?

1. Peter’s Five Important Reasons for Godliness. 1 Peter 2:9

a. We are a chosen people

1. It is the first responsibility of every person before God.

2. Illustration: Chinese moral teaching—the first and foremost responsibility of each person is respect for parents—versus what the Bible teaches—the first and foremost responsibility of each person is respect for God because God is the Creator.

b. We are a royal priesthood

1. We will reign with Christ. Revelation 20:4

2. Those who will reign with Christ is described as wearing white robes, symbol of holiness. Revelation 7:9

c. We are a holy nation

1. God is holy; His people must be holy.

2. God is just; His people must be just

3. God is love; His people must be loving

4. God is generous; His people must show generosity

d. We are a people who belongs to God

1. Redeemed by Christ’s precious blood. 1 Peter 1:15-19

e. We are called to declare His glory

1. We are witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8

D. The Way to Godliness. I Timothy 4:7

1. Avoid godless myths and old wives’ tales

a. Refrain from listening to things that does not build you up spiritually.

b. Avoid conversations that distract you from focusing on God.

2. Training and discipline

a. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

3. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

III. CONCLUSION:

A. Christ, Our Example of True Godliness

1. GOD’S TEN MOST WANTED MEN

a. The man who puts God’s business above other business.

b. The man who brings his children to church rather than sending them.

c. The man who is willing to be the right example to every boy he meets.

d. The man who thinks more of his Sabbath School Class than he does of his Sabbath sleep.

e. The man who measures his giving by what he has left rather than by the amount he gives.

f. The man who goes to church for Christ’s sake, rather than for his own or someone else’s.

g. The man who has more passion to help others than he had to be helped himself.

h. The man who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others.

i. The man who stands firm in his convictions, based upon the Word of God, that is a "backbone" Christian.