1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself rather to godliness. The apostle gives us here a short, but substantial description of the Christian life. It is an exercise, it is not a name. Again, Christianity is not an easy exercise, but such as wrestlers or runners used, exerting all their might and skill to gain the victory. The true Christian life is heart exercise to godliness. For illustrating this I shall — I. SHOW SOME WEIGHTY TRUTHS IMPORTED IN THIS. 1. Habitual godliness is absolutely necessary to salvation. 2. No person goes to heaven sleeping. The Christian life is an exercise. 3. They must have true courage that shall come to heaven. They have to wrestle also with the world. No man can go through it to heaven, but he will find it a place filled with snares, and that will require courage to face the difficulties in it. 4. People must either give up the name of Christians, or else abandon their old exercise to sin and ungodliness. II. SHOW SOME THINGS IN WHICH THE EXERCISE TO GODLINESS CONSISTS. 1. In carrying on a constant trade with heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Again, the exercised soul is employed in exporting his weakness, poverty, and wants, and importing strength and fulness from God. "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength." 2. In a spiritual performance of duties. (1) In getting the soul fixed in that point, what is sin and what is duty in particular cases, before we put hand to it. (2) In doing the duty because it is the will of God, which must be not only the rule but also the reason of your duties, otherwise they are but bodily exercise. (3) In doing our duty to the glory of God. (4) In doing our duties in the strength of Christ. (T. Boston, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.WEB: But refuse profane and old wives' fables. Exercise yourself toward godliness. |
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