From the Greek word eusebeia (eu, meaning "well," and sebomai, meaning "to be devout.") It means a piety (a devotion, loyalty or allegiance) which is characterized by a "Godward attitude" (a leaning toward or reaching toward or for God) which strives always to do that which is well-pleasing to Him. This is godliness, or being godly. We "lean toward or reach for" God's teaching instead of false teaching when we pursue the doctrine which is according to godliness, (1 Timothy 6:3-5), thereby doing that which is well-pleasing to God: "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching [devotion, loyalty or allegiance to teaching that is from God, and well-pleasing to God], he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the Truth and who think that godliness [a devotion, loyalty or allegiance to doing all things according to God's commands, and therefore being well-pleasing to God] is a means to financial gain." Titus 1:1 says "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the Truth that leads to godliness..." "The Truth that leads to godliness" is that Truth which produces godliness. This is shown in the one whose character is reaching toward or for God, seeking a knowledge of the Truth that is from God, being totally devoted, loyal or in allegiance with this Truth by living it, and thereby becoming well-pleasing to God. Through our knowledge of God's Truth, He gives everything we need for life and godliness, (2 Peter 1:3-4). In 2 Peter 1:6, "godliness" is one of the characteristics that every Christian is told to add to his faith. In short, godliness is a genuine reverence toward God that governs (rules, controls) a person's attitude toward every part of his/her life. This attitude reaches for God (His teachings in His Word) at all times, incorporates them totally into daily life and seeks to be well-pleasing to God. This godly person, who has been made perfect by the blood of Christ, is in the process of being made holy (Hebrews 10:14) by his/her striving to live the life that is pleasing to God through obedience to His Word. Romans 6:22-23 says, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
See Gospel / Good News.
From the Greek word arete, goodness, or virtue, indicates whatever procures an outstanding judgment or opinion for a person or thing. This would be the essential, or real, or actual position or rank of a person or thing. The position or rank is not attained by outward forces and maneuvering, but is attained by simply being a person of moral excellence who is, therefore, looked up to and emulated by others. This person is known abroad for his/her excellence and may be praised for showing or living that excellence in moral goodness. Does the person or thing have excellent qualities? Are they full of moral goodness? Do they live an example of the highest qualities of character at all times because this pleases God, and therefore there is no other way they can be? Then that person is in the process of adding goodness, or virtue, to their Christian maturity in the Lord. It is the first thing that is to be added after the root of obedient faith begins to grow, (2 Peter 1:5).
Goodness, or virtue, said of God is the manifestation of His divine power, His excellent and perfect Being and what impression He makes on others. In the case of God, He did not have to add goodness to His character. He IS God, and He IS goodness. Therefore He is to be held in awe, respect, honor, fear, renown and praise by all others. We, therefore, are to be as HE IS--complete and perfect (mature) in goodness, or virtue.
From the Greek word euangelion. The English word "Gospel," or "good message" is the equivalent of euangelion. In English, this translates "evangel." Our word "evangelize" comes from this translation of the original Greek word. The "Good News" is the good tidings of the Kingdom of God, also being the Kingdom of Heaven, and of salvation through Christ. The "Good News"--the Gospel--is to be received by faith in the atoning death of Christ, His burial, His resurrection and His ascension back to God. When the Gospel is received by faith, it then demands the ACTION of obedience as set forth in its Words, and a continuation in that Word, the Gospel, to grow and mature as a child of God. The Gospel in and of itself is COMPLETE, but the believer is not complete until the complete and perfect Word of God has been obeyed and is working daily in the believer's life. One can be just a hearer of the Word, and not a DOER of the Word, (James 1:22-25). This makes the believer incomplete, a deceiver of himself, and not blessed in what he does. One can cry, "Lord, Lord," and not enter the Kingdom of Heaven because one does not do the Will of the Father in heaven. (See Matthew 7:21-23 and John 6:46-49.) The consequences of failure to know God through the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the failure to obey the Gospel are "everlasting destruction" and to be "shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of His power..." (See 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.)
NOTE: When one reads about "the Truth of the Gospel" in Galatians 2:14, it is not talking about whether or not the Gospel is True. The Gospel Words are the very Words of God, and the Gospel is ALWAYS True. The "very Words of God" is Christ (John 1:1-4, 14), and Christ IS Truth (John 14:6). It is talking about the True teaching of the Gospel, in contrast to perversions of it by false teachers. False teachers can and will take the absolute Truth of the Gospel and pervert, or distort and twist, it. They corrupt God's perfect Word and turn aside followers to themselves who "turn their ears away from the Truth" of the Good News--the Gospel of Christ. (See 2 Timothy 4:1-5.)
(See also Word....)
From the Greek word charis. It means to have a friendly feeling toward someone so that you give kindly actions, graciousness, loving kindness, good will, favour (favor), and blessings. Jesus came "full of grace," (John 1:14), and grace "came through Jesus Christ," (John 1:17). This grace was God's loving kindness toward us, showing His mercy in His willingness to redeem us IN and THROUGH Christ. This grace, or kindness, or loving mercy is for all people who will ACCEPT it. Upon accepting God's grace, we are promised pleasure or joy as we live IN this grace, or kindness, or loving mercy which is from God and from Christ, Who is God. God's grace grows in us more and more when we listen to the Scriptures (the Word--Christ) instead of listening "without reason." (See James 4:4-6.) The Holy Spirit of God is envious of any competition with worldliness within us. Being friends with the world makes us enemies of God. But the humble person who casts aside self and, thus, the world, and who accepts and lives God's Will (the Holy Spirit having His way with that person) receives even greater grace from God. We cannot begin to imagine the grace--kindly actions, graciousness, loving kindness, goodwill, favour, blessings--God bestows on the humble who turn away from the world. (See 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Isaiah 64:4).
This grace from God cannot be earned by man. God gives His grace freely to all who listen to and obey His Son. Man cannot earn, or merit or deserve this Gift of God. God's grace is rich and full. God's grace is His kindness towards us. God's grace IS Christ Jesus, and man was created IN Christ Jesus, being born again to be a new creation, (2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Galatians 6:15). Ephesians 2:1-10 says: "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature [flesh] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by GRACE you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the GIFT OF GOD--NOT by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
(See also Mercy / Merciful, Reconcile / Reconciliation.)
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