Godliness Has Value For All Things

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you exercise godliness? Do you train in godliness?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to value godliness like we value exercise and diet for our physical body, because it has values in everything and carries a promise in this life and life to come.

IV. TEXT:

1 Timothy 4:8 (Amplified Bible)

For physical training is of some value (useful for a little), but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way, for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come.

V. THESIS:

Train and exercise in godliness to get promise benefit in this life and the life to come.

VI. TITLE:

Godliness has value for all things

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: About 64 A.D., but uncertain

C. To whom written: Timothy, Paul's true son in the faith

1 Timothy 1:2 (New International Version)

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. Main themes: Advice and exhortation to a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work

E. Keyword: conduct

F. Key verse:

1 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

Godliness is "eusebia" in Greek meaning piety.

Piety in principle,

is a compound of veneration or reverence of the Supreme Being and love of his character, or veneration accompanied with love; and piety in practice,

is the exercise of these affections in obedience to his will and devotion to his service.

A. Physical training has some value

"For physical training is of some value (useful for a little),"

Exercise is "gumnasia" in Greek word meaning "training", "exercise".

Colossians 2:21-23 (Amplified Bible)

Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],

Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.

Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]

1 Corinthians 8:8 (Amplified Bible)

Now food [itself] will not cause our acceptance by God nor commend us to Him. Eating [food offered to idols] gives us no advantage; neither do we come short or become any worse if we do not eat [it].

Hebrews 13:9 (Amplified Bible)

Do not be carried about by different and varied and alien teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established and ennobled and strengthened by means of grace (God’s favor and spiritual blessing) and not [to be devoted to] foods [rules of diet and ritualistic meals], which bring no [spiritual] benefit or profit to those who observe them.

Physical body exercise or training has some body value in this life.

B. Godliness has value for all things

"but godliness (spiritual training) is useful and of value in everything and in every way,"

Godliness is compared to bodily exercise and training including diet

1 Timothy 6:6 (Amplified Bible)

[And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.

Job 22:2 (Amplified Bible)

Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he that is wise is profitable to himself.

Titus 3:8 (Amplified Bible)

This message is most trustworthy, and concerning these things I want you to insist steadfastly, so that those who have believed in (trusted in, relied on) God may be careful to apply themselves to honorable occupations and to doing good, for such things are [not only] excellent and right [in themselves], but [they are] good and profitable for the people.

C. Promises for both present life and life to come

"for it holds promise for the present life and also for the life which is to come"

Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)

But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides.

Matthew 19:29 (Amplified Bible)

And anyone and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands for My name’s sake will receive many [even a hundred] times more and will inherit eternal life.

Isaiah 3:10 (Amplified Bible)

Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.