“What does it mean to live a godly life and what do we need to do to accomplish it?”
Once again, thanks for all the answers and some questions. It is a great blessing to me personally to know that you have spent time in the Word of God and have discussed the questions throughout the week with fellow believers.
Here is a summary of the answers given:
1. Most responses included the following Scripture verses: Romans 8:29; Luke 9:23; 1 Timothy 4:7, John 1:1; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Proverbs 27:17; Acts 1:8; Galatians 5:25; 1 Corinthians 7:17-24;
1 Thessalonians 5:18; Titus 2:11-13; Ephesians 2:8; Jeremiah 33:3; 2 Peter 3:10-12.
2. One person wrote: “In specific, practical terms I would have to begin with 1 Corinthians 7:17. Only led each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned him, and to which God has called him.” This is an individual, (between you and God) pursuit. So, to approach this question, in light of this verse, can only be done with a great degree of introspective evaluation, prayerful consideration, entwined with intentional Biblical study.”
3. A person wrote: “Living a godly life starts with salvation in Christ. Our salvation through faith must pursue devotion to Christ and seeking the knowledge of Jesus in the Bible (2 Peter 1:3-8).”
4. And here is a third person’s response: “What I think it means to live a godly life is to give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). I believe it is important to give thanks because if you where not thankful for everything you have then what evidence is there that you are thankful for God sending his only son to die for you? So, my conclusion to living a godly life you need to show loving kindness to others.”
As you can read, there is plenty of material supplied through the answers to address the first part of the question: What does it mean to LIVE A HOLY LIFE? Before we can answer that question we perhaps should first take a look at the word HOLY itself. What does it mean? We all know that the Bible declares GOD IS HOLY. In other words, God is separated from sin and its consequences. When we speak of a holy life, we speak of a separated life. Separated from sinful behavior. That would automatically mean to live a life fully OBEDIENT TO GOD. This is exactly what the Apostle Paul was saying in Romans 6:11 “Count yourselves dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus”.
To the Galatians Paul is writing: I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). That reveals to us the source of a HOLY LIFE. The source is Jesus Christ who lives His life through me. This is also known as bearing the IMAGE OF CHRIST. Wherever I go, I reflect the life of Christ who lives in me. As some pointed out in their answers, the proof of this reflection, the visible manifestation of Christ’s life in me is the FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, explained in the same letter to the Galatians, in chapter 5:22-25. Just prior to these verses, the Apostle Paul is warning us not to be led by the spirit of this world, not to act according to our fleshly impulses or what we feel we should do, BUT TO WALK BY THE SPIRIT, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). This is the answer to the second part of the question:” What do we need to be able to live a Holy Life?” It is our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit and not to our fleshly desires. The Apostle Paul finishes up with these words: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:18). Here he simply states that the battle between our desires and the Holy Spirits desires is real and it is up to us individually which desires we want to satisfy. Verses 19-24 in the same chapter reveal the results of our decision. A HOLY LIFE IS A SEPARATED LIFE FROM SIN AND ITS CONSEQUENCES. And to be able to live such a life we need the Holy Spirit, our helper, the Spirit of Truth, who will guide us into all truth if we are willing to WALK IN THE SPIRIT.