We know from the Bible that it is God’s will for Christians to live godly lives. He desires that we live in a way that is Christlike— reflecting his character and bringing honour to him. To this end God has given us the wonderful gift of his Holy Spirit, and he expects us to be aiming towards holy living each day:
Finally, brothers and sisters, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that, as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God (as, in fact, you are doing), you should do so more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication . . . For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness. Therefore whoever rejects this rejects not human authority but God, who also gives his Holy Spirit to you (1 Thess. 4:1–3, 7– 8).
The Bible is very explicit in telling us just how holiness, godliness and Christlikeness are to be cultivated in the Christian life. Of course, it is primarily the work of the Holy Spirit. However, it is not an activity done ‘over the top of us’ or independently of our direct and deliberate participation. The will is deeply involved, and therefore self-discipline and self-control are fundamental to our spiritual growth.
Paul tells young Timothy that he must discipline himself towards godliness: ‘Train yourself in godliness’ (1 Tim. 4:7). He urges Timothy to be self-oriented towards godly living. Clearly, godliness does not just happen in the life of a Christian. God does not come and ‘zap’ us the moment we are converted. It is not automatic, nor does it come about by some sort of natural progression.
Godliness comes in the Christian life first and foremost as a result of our new relationship with the Father through Christ and his forgiveness. We are accounted holy and righteous by God because of the death and resurrection of his Son. As we have come to faith in Christ, so we have been united to him. We have come to participate in his holiness. We share his righteousness. We are declared to be all that he is in the eyes of the Father. We are ‘in Christ’.
But day-to-day holy living is another matter. It is to flow out of what we already are in Christ, and, among other things, comes in conjunction with self-discipline. Day-to-day godliness comes as a result of being obedient. Godliness comes as we exercise our wills to do and to be what God instructs us to do and be, now that we belong to him and are in Christ. Godliness results from consistent effort and perseverance and endurance. In other words, it is the result of persistent self-discipline, according to the promises, exhortations and teaching of Scripture.
This is not to say that disciplined living is to be equated with holy living. It would be a gross error to think that discipline could ever be a substitute for holiness. The fact is, it’s possible for a person to be very disciplined but without having God or holiness as their object. Paul instructed Timothy to be disciplined, specifically with a view to godliness. So, then, self-discipline is but one of the many important and valuable tools by which God enables us to grow in maturity and become more and more like Christ.
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