5. What is the power of godliness (v.5)?
Power refers to the present, effective working of God in and through the lives of believers. It encompasses the Holy Spirit's work in purification, unification, revelation and empowerment. We are given new life and the sustaining power to live out that new life in victory against the world, the flesh and the devil. We are fruitful (Gal 2:22-23), authentic p, sensitive to God’s leading, desiring God’s will and word and teaching with moral authority
'Christlikeness' is a good summary of what godliness is. He not only ministered to others with power, but also lived a sinless life. What power that must have taken - to face the full strength of temptations and to overcome them.
6. What does having a form of godliness but denying its power tell you about the kind of religion the depraved ones practice?
What is to 'deny' the power of godliness? It may mean that one says that 'such a thing does not exist' or to reject its truth, or (c.f. 'denying Christ') that 'it exists but for my own reasons I say it does not' - to be false to oneself. Or functionally, it could mean, to act like something is not true or does not exist, or has no power over us' (c.f. 'denying self'). The third meaning is probably in view: these live as if the gospel had no power and God were not real. It is to be divorced from the spiritual realities one purports to have.
The religion these people practice would therefore be for external show. Since they do not value the realities, their efforts are so that they obtain what they truly value - what they can get for themselves from others by appearing godly. Their religion is showy, dramatic. It probably appeals to the emotions and is centred around personal experience rather than truth.
Do you cherish any of the false loves Paul names in 2 Tim 3:2, 4? If so, how might the power of godliness (3:5) enable you to grow less attached to what you love more than God?
Jesus comments on "the form of godliness in Luke 11:37-54, 12:1-3, 20:45-47. John 15:1-17 may shed light on the power of godliness.
Jesus in these passages criticizes the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and lawyers. He speaks about the vine and the branches that do not bear fruit.
The power of godliness does not compel others while not willingly subjecting oneself to that same compulsion.
The power of godliness is not afraid of exposure to the light. It is genuine.
The power of godliness does not care if people do not see it at work.
The power of godliness displays itself in spiritual fruit - internal and external.
I think we are all prone in some way or another. We try to hide our true selves in front of others and are a different way in private with others.
We spoke briefly about healing - why it was that as Christians we look for doctors and medication (or COVID vaccines) rather than relying on the power of God.
Scripture is clear that medical means were employed (Is 38:21 1 Ti 5:23) for healing. The deeper question though, is whether we can expect to be always healed physically. Some Christians teach that we should "take authority" over illness and "claim" or "command" healing. This is not the view of Scripture (Phl 2:30, 2 Ti 4:20). We do not have the perfect alignment with the Father's will Jesus had when He healed. If we could invariably expect healing with every prayer, the will of man would be superior to the will of God. And all failure to heal would be attributed to lack of faith by the one prayed for.
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