His Divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness – practical religion - if Jesus is beautiful and He lived His life beautifully, then, in Him, our life is and should be beautiful, too and when we obey Jesus, our lives rea beautiful
1Peter 1:4 “By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.” New Living Translation
Life: real and genuine, actual
"a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed
this portion even now in this world of those who put their trust in Christ. And the next portion life eternal, the resurrection
Godliness: reverence, respect
Promoting godliness - as to reflect or imitate, God; Aims and acts of godliness - holy conduct toward God and others.
This life, this godliness, the fruit of our relationship with God, in Christ, by His Spirit – that Divine power, should result in something beautiful, that increases in its effectiveness and productivity: Life and godliness.
How are we to express this godly life, this goodness?
James 3:13,17-18 “13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom…
James 3:17...the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Good, beautiful - beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.
Beautiful, praiseworthy; beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.
Beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy; morally good, noble
This is not “good”, as unto righteousness (as to prove to, or appease, God. But, “good” as an expression of one’s righteousness in Christ as to imitate and please, that good which is done because one has believed in Jesus, been justified by that faith, and have had the righteousness of Jesus imputed in them, by and with the Holy Spirit.
**So this godliness Peter speaks of ought to result in an “A beautiful life is lived beautifully, a life lived beautifully, does beautiful things.” This IS good. What is godliness? It is a life lived to God, for God, as God does.
Our being saved “to obedience”(1Peter 1) is our life being saved and preserved, conditioned and equipped, empowered and enabled, created - beautifully, to be beautiful, that in doing what it, what we, were created to be like, we do, beautifully.
And that is beautiful. That is Jesus in me, living life with me, in a godly, or practical way - being good and beautiful, we do beautiful things.
God is love, God's love does; as we have been loved, and been made love, our love must also, do - and this is good and this is beautiful and this is “practical religion”.**
This is the “good” Jesus’ commends us to do that brings, that when seen, brings glory and praise to our Father in heaven (Matthew 5); Mary’s loving and gracious gesture of anointing Jesus feet (Matt 26:10; Mark 14:6); and that which Paul describes as that good which should grow weary of doing (Gal 6:9).
So, this life with live in Christ by faith, in the knowledge of God, this is a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another, and mutual concern - does. (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)
As God in His love, by His mercy, in His gracious faithfulness, did (and does). In the beginning, God, “did” for His beloved
Oftentimes, a beautiful act, have a good deed, done in humility and wisdom, in reverence for God, and subjecting ourselves to his prompting, directing, and empowering, will be at our own expense. Remember, God never asked us to do anything that he himself was willing to do. When we think of God loving I said his expense, we go right to the cross, but I began far before that. God would love Adam and Eve enough to sacrifice one of his beloved creatures, for their sake, (do not to sparrows…), Love does cover… Is Adamson, singular in the moment, would be the beginning of many sins, that an animal skin could not cover, but the skin of the sun would…
Gen 3:10, 21 “10He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid… 21The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
So, we, having experienced this love, now, do
1Peter 5:7-10 “7The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
James 1:26-27; 2:16
1:26-27 “26Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
2:16 “14What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
1Jo 3:17 “16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”
What has been done for us, we now get to return. In the practical religion and would be willing to practice and a half of the most beloved, we now have the privilege to join him in that righteousness, to participate in the divine, and love him as he has left us, by loving others as he has loved us. “As you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it unto me. “
Matthew 25:34- 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ; ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Jesus’ godly life, His practical religion in action. Jesus expresses this vigorous life, this fervent bubbling love, with real religion - love and concern expressed in practical help, the fruit of His love, His (mutual concern), in this case, at a wedding of a friend, for the bride and the groom, the hostess - His mother Mary - and the parents of the couple. Not to mention, the participants in the party.
This is the life that Jesus came to give - as represented in John 2. For us to get, have, and live this life, Jesus willingly laid down His life that He might give it - to have and live this life we must drink the wine of the Kingdom - which is Jesus, His blood, shed for us - His life, in us. (John 6:26-58)
Love is, this new and vigorous life, for which we have been given everything we need to live, expresses itself by mutual concern.
So, this a vigorous life, marked by practical religion and is best expressed by mutual concern for one another. (Isa 58:6-12; Gen 3:10,21; Matt 25:35-38; Mark 10:51; John 3:16; 5:19; 13:5; Rom 1:5; 6:17-18; 12:1; Eph 2:8-10; 1Pet 1:2; Acts 2:42-48; Ja 1:26-27; 2:16; 1Jo 3:17)
John 2:1-12
The reflection of this life now in us, more than just animated, but a life vigorous in Christ, that reflects the kingdom AND its divine power, is how we live - now - especially, among ourselves, Jesus’ disciples - it is to be as concerned for one another as Jesus was and is for us, me.
