Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 21
October 9, 1969
NUMBER 23, PAGE 1-2a

A Semblance Of Godliness

Robert H. Farish

Too many Christians are indifferent to the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the Saviour, in consequence of which, zeal for soberness, righteousness and godliness is absent.

"Hard times," according to the New Testament, are times when men are "lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affections, slanderers, without self control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof. . . ." (2 Tim. 3: 1 — 5).

The acknowledged atheist is not the character here described; but rather here are people who hold a form (semblance) of godliness, but who, by their attitudes and behaviour, deny the power (ability) of godliness to fulfill the need of man. These are hypocrites who profess godliness while practicing ungodliness and worldly lusts. By a semblance of godliness they seek to lay claim to love God, but in reality as demonstrated by their practice, they love self. They are lovers all right, lovers of self, lovers of money, and lovers of pleasure, but not lovers of God. Many acknowledged atheists are lovers of self, lovers of money, lovers of pleasure, addicted to boasting, railing etc., and are certainly not lovers of God, yet these do not pose the threat to the faith of men as do "pious" pretenders. The practical infidel equates godliness to a way of gain; with him it is a commercial devise to be used for selfish, sensual advantage. The destructive nature of the teaching of those motivated by the supposition "that godliness is a way of gain" is dealt with extensively by Paul in his letters to Timothy.

What is it to deny the power or ability of godliness? The answer to this is found in the graphic picture drawn by the apostle in the verses preceding the generic statement, "holding a form of godliness but having denied the power thereof..." The lover of self demonstrates his lack of confidence, in the ability of godliness, to fill his need by his pursuit of money, pleasure, etc., and by his attitude toward parents and other authorities. Such things are the distributives which make up the generic — they affirmed godliness with their lips while denying it by their behaviour.

We have no disposition to defend anyone, young or old, who "hold a form of godliness" but deny by their actions the ability of godliness to satisfy the soul's profound needs. Neither do we feel disposed to abandon living soberly and righteously and godly in this present world simply because some, who are disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection etc., lump the older generation together and slander them as hypocrites. It is imperative that we realize that all men, young and old, need to "deny ungodliness and worldly lust" and affirm soberness, righteousness and godliness by living "soberly and righteously and godly."

One does not deny ungodliness by denying the power of godliness. Godliness is not a way of gain — with contentment it is gain — great gain. It is "profitable for all things, having promise of the life which now is, and that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:8).

Success in "denying ungodliness and worldly lusts" and in "liv(ing) soberly and righteously and godly in this present world" cannot be had except by "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a people for his own possession, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:12-14) Too many Christians are indifferent to the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of the Saviour, in consequence of which, zeal for soberness, righteousness and godliness is absent.

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