Ungodliness: The Root of True Righteousness

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, it is crucial to understand the relationship between ungodliness and unrighteousness. Ungodliness, the lack of a right attitude towards God, is the root cause of unrighteousness, which manifests as specific sinful actions. This understanding is evident in the lives of Adam and Eve before the fall and in the life of Jesus Christ. When our relationship with God is right, our conduct naturally aligns with His will. However, when we stray from God, we fall into transgression. Therefore, it is essential to address ungodliness before unrighteousness to truly convict people of sin.

Many people mistakenly believe they are not sinners because they have not committed specific acts of unrighteousness. They fail to recognize that the essence of sin is ungodliness, the failure to acknowledge God's glory and holiness. This misconception leads to a false sense of righteousness, where individuals believe they can stand before God unaided. True conviction comes when we realize our unworthiness and uncleanness in the presence of a holy God.

The modern world and even the church have often reversed the order, focusing on morality and righteousness without God. This approach is not only sinful but also ineffective. True righteousness can only stem from godliness, and any attempt to achieve morality apart from God is an insult to His glory. The primary matter on which we will be judged is our relationship with God, not merely our actions.

Historically, there has been a tendency to emphasize religion and morality without a genuine relationship with God. This has led to a superficial form of religion that lacks true knowledge and thirst for God. The world today is proving that righteousness without godliness is impossible, as evidenced by the breakdown of morals and the prevalence of unrighteousness.

In evangelism, we must prioritize bringing people to a right relationship with God. The focus should not be on personal benefits or experiences but on aligning our lives with God's glory. True evangelism starts with God and leads to a transformation that reflects His holiness and love.

Key Takeaways:

1. Ungodliness as the Root of Sin: Ungodliness, or the lack of a right relationship with God, is the root cause of unrighteousness. When we prioritize our relationship with God, our conduct naturally aligns with His will. This understanding is crucial for true conviction of sin. [18:07]

2. Misconception of Righteousness: Many people believe they are not sinners because they have not committed specific acts of unrighteousness. However, the essence of sin is ungodliness, the failure to acknowledge God's glory and holiness. True conviction comes when we realize our unworthiness before a holy God. [20:47]

3. The Ineffectiveness of Morality Without God: Attempting to achieve morality apart from God is not only sinful but also ineffective. True righteousness can only stem from godliness, and any attempt to achieve morality without God is an insult to His glory. [23:31]

4. Historical Shift in Religious Focus: Historically, there has been a tendency to emphasize religion and morality without a genuine relationship with God. This has led to a superficial form of religion that lacks true knowledge and thirst for God. [26:37]

5. True Evangelism Starts with God: In evangelism, the primary focus should be on bringing people to a right relationship with God. The emphasis should not be on personal benefits or experiences but on aligning our lives with God's glory. True evangelism starts with God and leads to a transformation that reflects His holiness and love. [36:58]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:07] - Ungodliness and Unrighteousness
- [18:51] - Convicting of Sin
- [19:35] - Misconception of Sin
- [20:47] - Essence of Sin
- [21:17] - God's Glory and Holiness
- [22:00] - Ungodliness Before Unrighteousness
- [22:56] - Morality Without God
- [24:06] - Judgment Based on Relationship
- [25:12] - Historical Shift in Focus
- [26:37] - Religion Without God
- [29:38] - Social Emphasis in Religion
- [31:05] - Modern World and Morality
- [33:19] - Starting with God
- [36:58] - True Evangelism
- [40:19] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 3:23 - "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."
2. Matthew 22:37 - "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'"
3. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 - "All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them."

#### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon describe the relationship between ungodliness and unrighteousness? [18:07]
2. What misconception about sin does the sermon highlight, and how does it relate to ungodliness? [20:47]
3. According to the sermon, why is it ineffective to pursue morality without God? [23:31]
4. What historical shift in religious focus does the sermon mention, and what has been its impact? [26:37]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon suggest that ungodliness is the root cause of unrighteousness, and why is this understanding crucial for true conviction of sin? [18:07]
2. In what ways does the sermon argue that a false sense of righteousness can develop from misunderstanding the essence of sin? [20:47]
3. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between godliness and true righteousness, and how does this challenge modern approaches to morality? [23:31]
4. How does the sermon propose that true evangelism should be conducted, and what is the primary focus according to the sermon? [36:58]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you might be prioritizing morality over a genuine relationship with God? How can you address this imbalance? [23:31]
2. Have you ever felt a false sense of righteousness because you haven't committed specific acts of unrighteousness? How can you cultivate a deeper understanding of ungodliness as the essence of sin? [20:47]
3. In what ways can you ensure that your evangelism efforts focus on bringing people to a right relationship with God rather than just offering personal benefits? [36:58]
4. Consider the historical shift mentioned in the sermon. How can you personally contribute to reversing this trend by emphasizing godliness in your community or church? [26:37]
5. How can you incorporate the understanding that true righteousness stems from godliness into your daily life and interactions with others? [23:31]
6. Reflect on your prayer life: Are you seeking God for who He is, or are you more focused on the gifts He can provide? How can you shift your focus to desiring God Himself? [41:19]
7. Identify one specific way you can align your life more closely with God's glory this week. What practical steps will you take to achieve this? [36:58]

Devotional

Day 1: Ungodliness as the Root of Sin
Ungodliness, defined as the lack of a right relationship with God, is the fundamental cause of unrighteousness. When individuals prioritize their relationship with God, their actions naturally align with His will. This understanding is crucial for true conviction of sin, as it shifts the focus from merely avoiding specific sinful actions to cultivating a genuine relationship with God. Recognizing ungodliness as the root of sin helps believers understand that their conduct is a reflection of their spiritual state. Addressing ungodliness first allows for a deeper transformation that aligns one's life with God's holiness and love. [18:07]

Isaiah 59:2 (ESV): "But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear."

Reflection: In what ways have you prioritized actions over your relationship with God, and how can you begin to address this imbalance today?


Day 2: Misconception of Righteousness
Many people mistakenly believe they are not sinners because they have not committed specific acts of unrighteousness. However, the essence of sin is ungodliness, which is the failure to acknowledge God's glory and holiness. This misconception leads to a false sense of righteousness, where individuals believe they can stand before God unaided. True conviction comes when one realizes their unworthiness and uncleanness in the presence of a holy God. Understanding this helps believers to seek a deeper relationship with God rather than relying on their own perceived righteousness. [20:47]

Romans 3:23-24 (ESV): "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you relied on your own righteousness. How can you shift your focus to acknowledging God's glory and seeking His grace?


Day 3: The Ineffectiveness of Morality Without God
Attempting to achieve morality apart from God is not only sinful but also ineffective. True righteousness can only stem from godliness, and any attempt to achieve morality without God is an insult to His glory. This understanding challenges the modern world's emphasis on morality without a foundation in a relationship with God. It highlights the futility of trying to live a moral life without acknowledging God's sovereignty and holiness. Believers are encouraged to seek godliness first, knowing that true morality will naturally follow. [23:31]

1 Timothy 4:8 (ESV): "For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you have focused on morality without God. How can you invite God into this area to transform it into true righteousness?


Day 4: Historical Shift in Religious Focus
Historically, there has been a tendency to emphasize religion and morality without a genuine relationship with God. This has led to a superficial form of religion that lacks true knowledge and thirst for God. The world today is proving that righteousness without godliness is impossible, as evidenced by the breakdown of morals and the prevalence of unrighteousness. Believers are called to return to a focus on their relationship with God, understanding that this is the foundation for true spiritual growth and transformation. [26:37]

Jeremiah 2:13 (ESV): "For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water."

Reflection: Reflect on how your religious practices may have become routine. How can you reignite a genuine thirst for God in your daily life?


Day 5: True Evangelism Starts with God
In evangelism, the primary focus should be on bringing people to a right relationship with God. The emphasis should not be on personal benefits or experiences but on aligning our lives with God's glory. True evangelism starts with God and leads to a transformation that reflects His holiness and love. This approach ensures that the message of the gospel is centered on God's glory rather than human-centered benefits. Believers are encouraged to share their faith by pointing others to the transformative power of a relationship with God. [36:58]

2 Corinthians 5:20 (ESV): "Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God."

Reflection: Think of someone you know who needs to hear about God's love. How can you share the message of reconciliation with them in a way that emphasizes God's glory?

Quotes


Ungodliness, unrighteousness is a consequence if you like of ungodliness. If only the attitude of all of us were always right towards God, we would never be guilty of particular acts of transgression. As long as the relationship remains right, the conduct remains right. This is the controlling thing. Therefore, again, you see it in the life of Our Lord, you see it in Adam and Eve before the fall. While they maintain the contact, while they didn't allow that insinuation about God's character to come in, their conduct was all right. First of all, they fall away from God, and then they fall into actual acts of transgression. [00:17:55]

Many times I've had people saying to me something like this. They've said, you know, I've got to be quite honest. They say, if I said that I felt I was a sinner, I wouldn't be speaking the truth. You see, you know, I don't feel I'm a sinner. What they mean is, of course, that because they've never been guilty of these particular actions, they've never been guilty of any one of the things in their particular little list, they therefore feel that they are not sinners. [00:19:35]

There is no greater sin than this, than to feel that as you are unaided, you are fit to stand in the presence of God. Why is that sin? Well, I'll tell you. It just means that you've no conception of the glory and the majesty and the Holiness of God, and that in itself is sin of the deepest. You've got a little God of your own which you've conjured up in your own mind, a god who's more or less like yourself. [00:20:58]

It is sinful and insulting to God to believe that morality or righteousness is possible apart from him. And that is rarely what is implied when people put righteousness before godliness. I say it is sinful. It's insulting to God to suggest that you can have a morality apart from God. Incidentally, as I shall point out to you in a moment, you can't get it. It can't happen. [00:22:56]

The primary matter on which all will be judged is precisely this: our relationship to God, our response to God in all that he is and in all that he has done, including, of course, his sending of his only son into the world. But even before that is our relationship to God himself. Well, there you are. There are six reasons which show us the vital importance of putting God, godliness before righteousness. [00:24:48]

The trouble is that for a number of years, and it's true less speaking of the Christian church in general as well as the world, is that men have been interested in religion without God, or if you like, they've been interested in morality without God, or interested in righteousness without godliness. Now, to me, this is a very important and fascinating historical point. [00:25:47]

There are people, you see, who like to have an ordered society. They don't like drunkenness and immorality and all that kind of thing. They like a nice, decent, respectable, ordered, law-abiding society. That's what they really want, so that they can live in peace and without troubles and problems. And their danger always is to imagine that you can have a religion without this vital relationship to God. [00:27:23]

You can be religious without being God. You can enjoy public worship without knowing God. You can like the thing itself, religion, preaching, singing, praying, and all these things, but there's no real knowledge of God and no real thirst for him. And there is nothing more terrible than that. Now, I think if you work it out in your minds, you'll see how it happened, tended to happen along a number of lines. [00:28:55]

The world today is proving that you cannot have righteousness without godliness. It's proving it now. I've been tracing the history for you. The fact of the matter is today the world is full of unrighteousness and of immorality and of immorality, the sort of thing that Paul goes on to describe. We've come back to it. Why have we come back to that? We've come back to that for the very reason that I've been giving. [00:30:56]

If we start with man instead of with God, we are guilty of reversing this order in our preaching, in our evangelism, in anything else. And I solemnly suggest to you that we are in danger of forgetting God. I'm going to say something that's liable to be misunderstood, but it's very vital. There is a tendency to what I would call a Jesus olary. There are Christian people who never mention the name of God the Father. [00:33:15]

The primary purpose of evangelism is to bring men and women to God, to the right relationship to God, to have a right attitude to God. Nothing must come before that. No benefit must even be considered before that. We mustn't offer Christ as anything before we've started with that. Because can't you see that not only does it open the door to all the Cults and all these other agencies that can make people happy and give them deliverance and so on? [00:36:58]

Jesus Christ, the son of God, came into the world primarily to bring us to God. God was in Christ doing what? Reconciling the world unto himself. That's the first thing, bringing men and women back to the relationship in which he originally made them and for which he intended them. Very well, my friends, we leave it at that for this evening. [00:39:35]

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Transcript
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