Foundations In Grace – Denying Ungodliness and Worldly Desires
Ungodliness
Although many people think that ungodliness refers to acts that are wicked, evil, dishonest, etc.; the truth is that much that is highly moral is also ungodly. The godless or ungodly person is one who lives, acts, and thinks as though God could be ignored or spurned. Therefore, anything that an unsaved person or a believer does without taking God into account can be considered ungodliness.
“The history of man from Adam to the present day is a history of dependence upon self and independence of God. He has been largely left out of man’s thinking. Man has planned, acted, and lived as though God did not exist. All this is ungodliness.” J.F. Strombeck, Disciplined by Grace
Ungodliness in the life of the believer is anything, thought or deed, that leaves God out of the picture. Paul tells Timothy ungodliness is strengthened by worldly things.
But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:16
Worldly Desires
Worldly desires are any desire, craving, lusting or longing for what the world system has to offer. “Everyone lives in the world system. It confronts us wherever we go. It seeks our destruction. It surrounds us like the air we breathe. We take it in unconsciously like every breath of air we breathe.”
Kenneth Wuest, Word Studies from the Greek New Testament Scripture is clear:
“You adulteresses, do you no know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4
“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” 1 John 2:16
“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” Colossians 2:8
The parable of the sower - “And others are the ones on whom the seed was sown among the thorns; these are the ones who have heard the word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” Mark 4:18-19
The unbeliever who lives a worldly life is only living by his/her nature. The believer who walks by the Spirit is living by their true nature. The conflict arises when the believer lives a life that is contrary to his/her true nature. This is a recipe for disaster and explains why so many Christians are living defeated lives void of a close relationship with God.
The Evidence of Ungodliness and Worldly Desires
The Book of Galatians provides a foundational principle of how we are to serve the Lord. “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16). The implication is quite clear. If we choose to not walk by the Spirit, we can anticipate carrying out the desire of the flesh.
This can be seen from two perspectives:
1) Legalism (which looks good on the outside, but will inevitably eliminate the grace walk with God – it is human good which in effect is NO GOOD).
2) Licentiousness (the flesh expression in sin, inside and outside).
The Bible provides several lists in which the believer has a guide by which he or she can know if ungodliness and worldly desires are being manifested. For example: Galatians 5:19-21, Colossians 3:5-9, Ephesians 5:5-8, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.
The Power of Grace!
Even though the accusation is raised that teaching grace promotes ungodliness and worldly living, the opposite is actually true. Paul is very clear that it is grace that instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. Titus teaches the proper understanding of Grace. Grace does not teach the believer to live according to the flesh, but to the contrary, Grace teaches a positive approach to life – one of Holy Spirit control!
To be instructed by grace is to understand our standing - secure in Christ by grace alone, through faith alone, and our state – freedom to live the Christian life by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Our perspective shifts from what the world has to offer and our desires for those things, to God and our relationship with Him. The questions are no longer, ‘What can I do?’, but ‘How can I please my Lord?’
Godly living results from a relationship and walk with God rather than rules and regulations! We will see in the weeks to come that there are disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers that promote godliness, but these disciplines have to be by the power of the Spirit, otherwise they will simply become a set of regulations that we think will produce spirituality.