Things That Pertain Unto Life And Godliness

by Taylor, G. H. | Category: General | Aug 1955

2 PETER 1.3-7. "His divine power hath granted unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, ... faith, ... virtue,... knowledge, ... temperance, ... patience, ... godliness, ... love of the brethren, ... love."

FAITH.-That shield wherewith believers are "able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one" (Ephesians 6.16). How essential it is to the maintenance of our spiritual life and godliness, protecting us in youth and through old age from the ceaseless attacks of the Adversary who is ever seeking to pierce our armour! Let us be certain that if we stand true to our Master the testing time will come, and the shield of faith will be needed in the combat.

Consider that wonderful portrait gallery of men of faith in Hebrews 11. for a moment. Let us stand and view the faithful Daniel, not mentioned by name in the chapter, but definitely by action. By faith he "stopped the mouths of lions." In supreme faith, when the edict went forth that no man was to petition any one save the king, he knelt down, as his custom was, with his face towards Jerusalem and prayed to the God of heaven. Daniel actively translated his faith into deeds! "Faith without works is dead," James writes, and in a wonderful way Daniel vindicates that principle. Faith has another important aspect, "Without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto God" (Hebrews 11.6). Service God-ward is our first responsibility, and this can only be by faith (see Hebrews 10.22). Faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen" (Hebrews 11. 1).

II.

VIRTUE." A virtuous woman who can find? "(Proverbs 31.10), asks Solomon. Truly this wonderful attribute is as rare today as it was then, yet it should characterize the young believer. It is a lovely practical word is "virtue," signifying excellence, carrying with it the thought of honour and purity.

Young believers should be honourable in all their dealings with one another and with those in the world, displaying that moral excellency and correct behaviour which is the hall-mark of virtue. There is one beautiful character in the Scriptures whom God caused to be recorded as virtuous. In Ruth, the great-grand-mother of king David (Ruth 3.11) we see the practical outworking of virtue; Ruth clave unto her God and to her mother-in-law with steadfastness of heart and mind; confident amidst terrible loss and sorrow; humble and hard-working in the gleaning of the field, and was ultimately raised, dignified and honoured to be the wife of Boaz. Many are the lessons to be learned from virtuous Ruth.

Paul, writing to the Philippians (chapter 4.8), gives that wonderful collection of things upon which they were to think. Among them we find the jewel of virtue-" think on these things." In verse 9 of the same chapter Paul adds a practical note, "the things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me these things do." Virtue (expressed in this verse by goodness) can only obtain in our lives in a real way as we allow the Spirit of God to take charge, and we put to death the old man with his doings.

Let our virtue so shine out in our lives that our companions, at work or at school or in the Assembly, will know that we have been with Jesus.

III.

KNOWLEDGE.-" The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1.7). Paul wrote to the Corinthians that "Knowledge puffeth up" (1 Corinthians 9.1), but the knowledge of which Solomon wrote is necessary, indeed vital for the believer. Our God is a "God of knowledge" (1 Samuel 2.8), and as His children, it should be our ambition to become "filled with the knowledge of His will" (Colossians 1.9). God's desire that His children should have knowledge according to His will, is re-echoed throughout Scripture. "That ye may know that I am the LORD "is repeated in various forms some sixty times in the book of Ezekiel. Christ Himself, during the healing of the man sick of the palsy (Mark 2.), used those remarkable words "That ye may know ... ," followed by the miraculous demonstration of His divine power.

The Proverbs of Solomon abound in references to wisdom and knowledge, commencing with the foundation stone quoted at the beginning. Paul's daily prayer for the Colossian saints was that they should increase in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1.10), to the all important end that they might "walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing." A walk without knowledge is unprofitable, and the Spirit of God works through the things we know to use us for God's glory. God can use stones (Luke 19.40) and even an ass (Numbers 22.), but in His sovereign will He desires to use devoted, enlightened, redeemed hearts, and minds filled with the knowledge of His will, for His glory and man's blessing.

"0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! " (Romans 11.33).

IV.

TEMPERANCE.-Although born again through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ and having become children of God (Galatians 3.26), we have still the old sinful nature in our flesh present with us and active. Paul could write to the Roman believers (chapter 7.) of the warfare which went on continually within himself, between the flesh and sin on the one hand, and the Spirit and righteousness on the other (Galatians 5.16, 17). Knowledge of God's will enables the believer to exercise that self-control, or temperance of mind and body which is a becoming testimony.

Temperance will enable us to fight a victorious battle against the desires of the flesh. To translate this into our every-day lives as young believers, our speech should be pure and devoid of what is described as "bad language "and" murky talk and innuendo," that our associates at work or in the home will recognize a self-control, a temperance beyond the ordinary, and our testimony will be strengthened, instead of marred. That we guard or bridle our tongues, that unrilly member, is the practical exhortation of James 1.26.

Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 9.25 of the athlete who strives in the games, how that he is temperate, exercising rigorous self-control over his life and actions so that his body will be in perfect trim for the contest. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6.19). Let us learn the lesson of the athlete.

Among the many qualities of the men who are called to be overseers in the Church of God is this important attribute, temperance. They are not to be hasty or extravagant of speech, not grandiloquent of manner or showiness of dress, not running to excess of riot in food, or drink, but to be clothed with humility, serving one another (1 Peter 5.5), adorning the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Be sober, be watchful "(1 Peter 5.8), continuing in holiness with sobriety (1 Timothy 2.9).

PATIENCE.-This wonderful characteristic, so valuable in natural affairs, is of utmost importance in our spiritual life. The proverbial expression, "the patience of Job," oft-times used in worldly conversation, places on record Job's great patience or endurance, exercised, with God's help, amidst great adversity with serenity of mind and heart. Adversity will come our way, and it is only as strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and armed with the Word and promises of God, that we can stand with patience.

Patient in well-doing (Romans 2.7, A.V.).

Patient in tribulation (Romans 12.12).

Patient toward all men (1 Thessalonians 5.14, A.V.).

We are to follow after it (1 Timothy 6.11), bring forth fruit with it (Luke 8.15), be sound in it (Titus 2.2), and have hope through it (Romans 15.4).

The Lord Jesus in His message through John to the Church in Ephesus (Revelation 2.2), says, "I know thy patience." What a lovely commendation! John could also write that he himself was a partaker with the churches in the patience in Jesus (Revelation 1.9). The supreme example is our Lord Jesus Christ,

"Behold the Man of sorrows,

In patient calm He stands,

And blood-drops stain His forehead,

And fetters bind His hands;

Betrayed, denied, forsaken,

Behold, behold the Man!

Let us never be impatient, but seek to overcome, by prayer and meditation on His patience.

VI.

GODLINESS.-" Exercise thyself unto godliness ... godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4.7, 8). In these striking words the aged Paul writes to young Timothy, stressing the most important aspect of the Christian's life. Truly it is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation (verse 9), and one we should have always before us. It is an all-embracing word covering all phases of our life, our words, our outward manner of life, our love, our faith, our purity and our innermost thoughts. We should be an example to those without, leading a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness. Peter writes to the elect of the Dispersion, "Like as He which called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living" (1 Peter 1.15).

Our holiness or godliness should not be a superficial "meeting going" expression, but rather the outworking of the heart and life, and our behaviour during the weekday, in a remote and perhaps solitary place, should conform to that reverence correctly evinced at the Breaking of the Bread on the Lord's Day morning. A delightful, practical picture is given in 2 Kings 4.8, 9 of a man whose life and walk were so consistent that a strange woman of Shunem who had observed him "oft as he passed by" could say to her husband, "Behold now, I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passes by us continually."

No better definitions of godliness can be found than those given in Ephesians 4.25-32 and 5.1,2. Here we are exhorted to put away falsehood, speak truth, let no corrupt speech proceed out of our mouth, steal no more, grieve not the Holy Spirit, put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, railing and malice. Be ye kind and tender hearted. "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you." No human words can so adequately express God's desire for His children.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6.6).

VII.

"LOVE OF THE BRETHREN, LOVE." The apostle Paul whose one absorbing object of affection was the Lord Himself-" For me to live is Christ "could write feelingly of the love which he had "more abundantly" for the Corinthian saints (2 Corinthians 2.4). To the Thessalonians he could write, "For ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another" (1 Thessalonians 4.9), and to the Romans he wrote, "In love of the brethren be tenderly affectioned one to another" (Romans 12.10).

Abundant love in our hearts for our Lord will beget love for our brethren, and gone will be the quarrels, petty differences and lack of co-operation which can so easily mar collective testimony, and bring dishonour to the Lord.

Love, all embracing, all conquering, the most powerful force for good in this evil world, found its zenith in the wondrous love of God. "For God so loved the world, that He gave ...", and to us, recipients of His love, comes the exhortation, "Be ye imitators therefore of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you" (Ephesians 5. 1).

"It passeth knowledge, that dear love of Thine, Lord Jesus, Saviour; yet this soul of mine Would of Thy love, in all its breadth and length, Its height and depth, its everlasting strength,

Know more and more."

And the greatest of these is love.

Follow after love"

(1 Corinthians 13.18; 14.1).

Taylor, G. H. | Aug 1955
General