By Garry Knighton Church of Christ/North - Shreveport, La.
	QUALITIES OF A CHRISTIAN SERIES A Study of Second Peter 1:5-9 GODLINESS Lesson Six of Eight

• INTRODUCTION:
• • Godliness is often viewed as being "devoted to God." while this is true, it carries a much deeper and more defined meaning.
  • We often speak of being "Godly." What does it mean?
  • If there is a quality that we need to develop, we need to know what it is.

• WORD DEFINITION.
  • Godliness - EUSKBEIA - from EU - well, and SEBOMAI - to be devout, denotes that
    piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well pleasing to Him.
  • The Greek background of the word is used to describe the idea of honoring some
    god through rituals and acts performed in a pagan temple.
    • Example: Acts 17:23
• USES IN THE N.T.
  • I Timothy
    • 2:2 - doing something that honors and pleases God.
    • 3:16 - being consistent with God's way.
    • 4:7,8 - not arranging your life in man's way.
    • 6:3,5,6 - teaching that which honors God.
  • II Timothy
    • 3:5 - (1-5) - something that "looks" like God's way.
  • Titus
    • 1:1 - truth that leads one to God's way.
  • II Peter
    • 1:3,6,7 - living God's way in order to be partakers of His Divine nature.
    • 3:11 - the direction of life toward God.
  • Acts 17:23 - worship

• CONCLUSION:
  • It speaks of our attitude toward God.
    • Not: Not of the sinner who shakes his fist toward heaven and says, "I will do things my way."
    • Not: Not of one like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 who bragged to God of his righteous life.
  • It is: One like Isaiah (Isa. 6) who saw God in His greatness and Holiness and altered
    his life and attitude accordingly.

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