Main Idea: Remember: True godliness comes only from God
1. We have been made eternally righteous by the blood of Christ,
- 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 – Christ is our holiness and righteousness
- You are perpetually in His favor. At your best and at your worst.
- Romans 8:38-39 – Nothing can separate us.
- “Beautifully broken.” I am living in a grateful state of becoming.
- Ephesians 1:13-14 – Sealed with the Holy Spirit until Christ comes back.
2. We are also called to earthly godliness as His people.
- Titus 2:11-14 (NIV) – Grace teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and to be eager to do what is good.
- Don’t become what you detest.
- Praying for our president is the right thing to do.
- Timothy 2:1-6 – Pray for all who are in authority.
- God wants us to live in accordance with our Christ-given status, not succumb to a lower existence. Why? Because that is where the abundant life He desires for us rests.
3. But true godliness begins with our hearts, not our habits.
- Romans 12:21 – Don’t be overcome with evil but overcome evil with good.
- There is always some benefit to doing the right thing.
- But the second part of the verse is a picture of freedom: “but overcome evil with good.”
- God wants to bless us with a godliness that comes from a deeper and freer place than just gutting it out.
- We have been given new hearts in Christ and if we live from those hearts, the Lord’s, godly habits will follow.
- So where does this full and free godliness come from? How do we live from the “new hearts” we’ve been given?
4. The kind of godliness that pleases the Lord is fueled by our relationship with Him.
- Philippians 4:12-13 I can do all things through Christ.
- How much ungodliness would be reduced if contentment reigned in the hearts of men and women.
- It also comes from giving thanks to Him
- Psalm 62:8 Pour out your heart… God is a refuge..
- He knows the whole story, not just about what you did, said or thought in a given episode of your life, but the whole story of
- The Lord wants to be our refuge – not our judge.
Don’t let the evil one bully you into shameful silence. Instead, as the old hymn reminds us, “Jesus knows our every weakness. Take it to the Lord in prayer,” not expecting Him to “lower the boom,” but to shelter you with His care.
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