Men and women of God are given an abundance of wise instruction on how to live godly lives throughout the New Testament Scriptures, and in the final part of his first epistle to Timothy, Paul sums up many of these important instructions and wise exhortations on godliness.
We are to shun false teachers and flee from the proud arguments and empty philosophies of this world system. We are to flee from worldly pursuits and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness, which is honorable in God's sight.
We are to fight the good fight of faith and hold fast to that which is - to the very end. We are to take hold of the eternal life to which we are all called, and we are encouraged to make a good confession of our faith in the presence of many witnesses - and we are to do this for Christ's sake.
We are also reminded that Jesus is the perfect example of how to live godly lives - as we die to self, live for God, seek His will, surrender our lives to His guidance, and do only those things that we hear from our Father in heaven. And by His grace, all needful instruction for life and godliness is to be found in the holy Scriptures, if we will but take the time to read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all that is needful for the soul.
Paul also leaves us in no doubt about the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is God the Son and the Son of God... Who came down from heaven to be born as the perfect Son of Man. His life was spent doing good as he demonstrated the way all men were created to live... so that by His death and Resurrection, He would break the power of sin and remove the curse of the Law - in the lives of ALL who would trust in His name for the forgiveness of sin and the salvation of their souls.
Paul reminded Timothy that a day is coming when Christ would return to take His Church to be with Himself and that He would - at the proper time - set up His earthly kingdom which was promised to Abraham and his seed forever... for He is the blessed Son of the Almighty God, the only true Sovereign Lord, the almighty King of kings and eternal Lord of lords.
"He alone possesses immortality," for He is the eternal God and Creator of all Who upholds all things by the word of His power. "He alone dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen at any time.. nor can see." And yet God in His mercy took upon Himself the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men - so that by faith in His sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection, we could be conformed into His image and likeness and be clothed in His perfect righteousness.
