⁷… On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; ⁸for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Those forbidding marriage and eating certain foods (see 1 Tim. 4:1–3) would most likely claim the higher ground of self-discipline as the means to godliness, as do legalists of all generations. But Paul was not giving way to that false claim. Indeed, as he writes Timothy, there is value in self-discipline as a means to godliness, but not in the legalistic sense. Self-discipline must be controlled by and exercised in the context of truth. That truth is the core doctrine of the gospel, namely, the grace of God which saves us. Earlier, Paul defined true godliness as being rooted in God’s work in and through Christ (see 1 Tim. 3:1). In Him, we see what the “mystery” of godliness looks like, and this is the pillar and support upon which the church and Christian living are based.

Therefore, self-discipline is essential, because we see this in Christ, and we should exercise self-discipline so that we can enjoy God’s blessings. The legalists remove that enjoyment with their misplaced attempts to control fleshly desires. The discipline Paul speaks of is not the physical restraints (as seen in resisting marriage and certain foods) but spiritual restraints. And that means resisting the legalistic tendencies that prohibit enjoying God’s grace in the spiritual realm.

There is, of course, some value in resisting things on the physical level, but the legalists made that the major focus of the effort. Paul, on the other hand, asserts that true godliness has greater and wider value. Legalism narrows down life and living; true godliness expands life. And this expansion not only means a fuller life here at this present time but also for our future life (our earthly future and our eternal future).

Nothing is more detrimental to Christian living than thinking oneself godly but wasting time and energy on legalistic rules and regulations. Disciplines of the spiritual life are important, not as an end in themselves, but as a path to a greater purpose. The real focus is to be like Jesus and to walk in His grace. The spiritual self-disciplines of reading, praying, resisting sin, and so on, are the safeguards against our hearts wandering from the Lord and not depending on Him and His grace. Those things are not works of legalism in themselves but are strategies to guide our walk in grace. The fundamental question is this: are we motivated by our desire to enjoy God’s grace (true godliness), or are we trying to earn His grace (legalism)?

Lord, help me fully understand what it means to embrace true godliness.