Sermon Title: The Substance of Godliness
22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Genesis 5:22-24)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
Under Enosh, Adam’s grandson, corporate, public prayer and worship began – as “people began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26); openly expressing their love, loyalty, faithfulness and dependence on God.
Thus, two radically different family groups developed on the earth.
The godly – those who were for God; and the ungodly – those who were against God.
Every person belonged to one or the other family group.
There was no family group that represented the pretentious ‘middle-ground.’
To consider any compromise it to be outrightly against God.
The ungodly family line of Cain developed and centered their lives around forms of arts, culture, technology and business that was intentionally separate from God (Genesis 4:20-22); establishing a lifestyle of self-serving, human-centred self-reliance.
Cain’s family line was fundamentally a human society deliberately devoid of the Presence of God; an ungodly humanity nothing less than anti-God - vehemently defiant against God’s ordained design of Mankind.
They knew who God is, and yet, they outrightly rejected and defied Him with every ounce of their being.
To Moses, the state of the world required that Genesis 5 brings the reader back to the divine affirmation of what Mankind was created and designed by God to be.
“When God created mankind, He made them in the likeness of God.
2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.” (Genesis 5:1-2)
Where God so named, it becomes clear that He alone is the Creator and Mankind was created by Him; creatures of His likeness, belonging to Him and part of His universal Creation.
Even though most of the world chose to depart from God, there remained a line of Mankind who remained godly - faithful solely to God.
Genesis 5 documents a list of Adam’s descendants through Seth, up to the great flood; and reflects this godly line who publicly expressed their love and loyalty to God in the midst of an increasingly corrupt and wicked age.
Let’s be clear.
By no means were members of Adam’s godly line sinless; but they loved God, and their hearts belonged to God, not unto themselves.
From Adam to Seth, Enosh to Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah, who became father to Shem, Ham, and Japeth (Genesis 5:3-32), each “had a son in his own likeness, in his own image” (Genesis 5:3) – which provides a clear biblical allusion that godly parents begets godly children.
Even then, their decreasing longevity is evidence that – in spite of their godliness – the effect of sin and death remained their present reality.
It was inevitable that the corruption of sin would affect all of Creation alike; but more significantly, Genesis 5 remains stark testament for the case for godliness and faithfulness unto God in glaring contrast to the ungodly line of Cain who would understandably have far shorter lifespans due to their deliberately corrupt lifestyles that would lead them to indulge in every carnal proclivity.
From the godly line of Adam, Hebrews 11:4-6 highlights two individuals who set themselves apart from their perverse generations and chose to please God by their faith.
“4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.
And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death:
“He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”
For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:4-6)
Abel and Enoch were among the “remnant chose by grace” (Romans 11:5) – the remaining few who loved God and resolutely remained faithful to Him.
They refused to go the way of Cain and of the world.
By the time of the flood, every human heart was completely wicked and against God – with the exception of Noah and his family.
We must understand that at every point in human history – including ours - only the faithful remnant will truly worship God, remain faithful to Him, know and obey His word and patiently wait upon His Promises.
Godliness is the narrow gate; only the faithful few would find it, and walk through it.
Our Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:13-14:
“Enter through the narrow gate.
13For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Though few, the assurance of those who would be known as the faithful remnant is that God will mark each of their names - not merely in Scriptures - but forever in the Book of Life. (Ref: Revelation 20:15, Luke 10:20, Hebrews 12:22-23)
Though few, we are never alone in our faith in Christ.
Though few, we are sufficient in our numbers to continue in Christ’s Kingdom Work of making disciples of all nations; and to bring forth godly generations to come who will see to the return of Christ our King.
What must we do to bring forth godly descendants?
How must we live to belong to God and His faithful remnant?
We must – in the very earliest of traditions – be godly.
To this, we look to Enoch.
“Enoch walked faithfully with God.” (Genesis 5:22,24)
Undoubtedly, Enoch was godly.
What is the substance of godliness?
(1) He “walked faithfully with God”.
Imagine what a life of “walking faithfully with God” looks like.
How must your life look like if you were known by your family and friends as someone who is conscientiously and constantly walking faithfully with God?
Do you work on walking faithfully with God?
Do you talk about walking faithfully with God?
Do you read about how to walk faithfully with God?
Is walking faithfully with God your life’s guiding principle?
Are you passionate about walking faithfully with God?
Is your ultimate goal in life to walk faithfully with God?
To walk faithfully with God means that your life’s desire is to know God more; to be completely focused on fulfilling His Will and serving only Christ throughout your life.
Nothing can shake your faith in God when you are truly walking faithfully with Him.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Godliness is a corporate endeavor.
It is to live by faith in God, learning, and trusting His every Word and Promises (Ref: Hebrews 11:5-6); making every effort to live a holy life together as a family of God (Ref: 1 John 1:7); communally embracing only God’s Holy Ways – all this while standing firm against the wickedness and ungodliness of a generation.
As the Apostle Paul states resolutely, “To live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21)
(2) He preached the Gospel of Christ; denouncing sin and the lifestyle of the godless by warning his world about the Coming of the Lord, and announcing godliness in preparation for His Return together with those who are holy in Christ.
Jude 14-15 reveals the prophetic and evangelistic aspect of Enoch’s godly life:
“14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them:
“See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Enoch’s message resonates Christ’s own words in Mark 1:15, “The time has come... ...The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Are you ever prepared and willing to preach the Gospel of repentance and the return of Christ together “with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones?”
Indeed, Christ is coming!
And He is coming to inbreak the Kingdom of God; but not before judging, and convicting every person who has not received the Salvation that our Lord Jesus – Himself – wrought for us on the Cross at Calvary for the atonement of the sins of the world.
With “thousands upon thousands of His holy ones”, Christ Jesus returns specifically to judge and convict every human being left on earth after the rapture (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) specifically of “all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Every true Christian must strive to the ultimate calling and task as one of “His Holy Ones” who would judge and convict unbelieving sinners – the ungodly - during that time; and the only way to its fulfillment is if and only if we strive this day to be godly through our Lord Jesus Christ in our thoughts, speech and testimonies that speak clearly to His Return (Ref: Acts 1:11), which heralds the fateful time of judgement and conviction that marks the end of the age of fallen Mankind, and precedes the inbreaking of God’s Eternal Kingdom.
We must always be ready and willing to preach His Gospel as the Spirit gives us utterance. (Ref: Acts 2:4)
And this is the message nestled within Enoch’s message to every authentic born-again believer.
Though not everyone may be bestowed this divine call to prophetically preach the Gospel and the Coming of the Lord to this world like Enoch’s, every single one of God’s Holy Ones is presently called to make disciples of all nations, and when the Lord returns, called to judge all unbelievers and convict them of their ungodly acts and defiant words spoken against Christ.
Understand this well.
This must be the reality of every true believer - that on that day of days, you would be faced with the divine task of judging and convicting people whom you knew well in this life.
Are you prepared for this ultimate calling?
Are you prepared today to be set apart and made holy in order to fulfill your role as one of God’s Holy Ones?
(3) He pleased God.
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death:
“He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”
For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)
With his life of utter faithfulness, godliness and prophetic evangelism, Enoch pleased God so much that God honored him by taking him away from the earth to be with Him forever without experiencing death.
This sounds almost like the first living rapture – albeit yet without the gift of the eternal, new creation body.
Do you strive to please God in every aspect of your life?
Do you know His Heart? Do you yearn for His Favour?
Are you filled with the Presence, Purpose and Power of His Holy Spirit?
Godliness and holiness are synonymous; and can only be found in a human being who is filled, and fueled by the Holy Spirit of God.
The Christian must constantly and conscientiously strive to be godly in Christ – now and forevermore.
In spite of the darkness and wickedness of a world out to defy God, Enoch exemplified the substance of godliness.
He walked faithfully with God; preached the Gospel, denounced sin in preparation of the Coming of the Lord; and lived a life pleasing God.
Likewise, in spite of our present existence in an evil and ungodly generation, we must:
(1) Walk faithfully with God;
(2) Preach His Gospel - denouncing sin and warning the people in our lives against disobedience to God and unbelief in Christ, and announcing the Salvation of God through Christ and our lives of godliness - in preparation of the Coming of the Lord; and
(3) Live our lives pleasing to God in everyway.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, convict my heart this day of all ungodliness; that I may fully repent and return to You. I believe that Christ’s finished work on the Cross has fully atoned for, and wiped out my sins. Yes, Lord – may I live fully in Your times of refreshing! (Ref: Acts 3:19-20)
In spite of this evil and ungodly generation, may I be filled with Your Presence and Power Lord Jesus, that I may forever walk faithfully with You, preach Your Gospel – denouncing sin and ungodliness and announcing Your message of repentance and pending return; and in everything, live my life pleasing in Your Holy Sight.
May my life bring forth godly descendants.
May I acknowledge daily that I belong to You in every way; and through Christ, have been counted worthy to be part of Your faithful “remnant chosen by grace”. (Ref: Romans 11:5)
Thank You, Lord, for Your Grace and Mercy – having rescued me from Your wrath that I fully deserved as a sinner. (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Today, I am born again in the Spirit -through faith in You, Lord Jesus.
Prepare me this day, Lord – that I may be counted as one of “Your Holy Ones” when You “come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” And if I am still alive and are left, I know that I “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Prepare me this day, Lord – that I may fully live out the substance of godliness – and return with You as one of Your “holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against” You. (Jude 14-15)
Lord Jesus, make me godly and holy – that I may be found in Your own likeness, in Your own image” (Genesis 5:3)
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
22 After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters.
23 Altogether, Enoch lived a total of 365 years.
24 Enoch walked faithfully with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. (Genesis 5:22-24)
Dearly Beloved,
Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Risen Savior, Jesus Christ!
Under Enosh, Adam’s grandson, corporate, public prayer and worship began – as “people began to call on the name of the Lord” (Genesis 4:26); openly expressing their love, loyalty, faithfulness and dependence on God.
Thus, two radically different family groups developed on the earth.
The godly – those who were for God; and the ungodly – those who were against God.
Every person belonged to one or the other family group.
There was no family group that represented the pretentious ‘middle-ground.’
To consider any compromise it to be outrightly against God.
The ungodly family line of Cain developed and centered their lives around forms of arts, culture, technology and business that was intentionally separate from God (Genesis 4:20-22); establishing a lifestyle of self-serving, human-centred self-reliance.
Cain’s family line was fundamentally a human society deliberately devoid of the Presence of God; an ungodly humanity nothing less than anti-God - vehemently defiant against God’s ordained design of Mankind.
They knew who God is, and yet, they outrightly rejected and defied Him with every ounce of their being.
To Moses, the state of the world required that Genesis 5 brings the reader back to the divine affirmation of what Mankind was created and designed by God to be.
“When God created mankind, He made them in the likeness of God.
2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind” when they were created.” (Genesis 5:1-2)
Where God so named, it becomes clear that He alone is the Creator and Mankind was created by Him; creatures of His likeness, belonging to Him and part of His universal Creation.
Even though most of the world chose to depart from God, there remained a line of Mankind who remained godly - faithful solely to God.
Genesis 5 documents a list of Adam’s descendants through Seth, up to the great flood; and reflects this godly line who publicly expressed their love and loyalty to God in the midst of an increasingly corrupt and wicked age.
Let’s be clear.
By no means were members of Adam’s godly line sinless; but they loved God, and their hearts belonged to God, not unto themselves.
From Adam to Seth, Enosh to Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech and Noah, who became father to Shem, Ham, and Japeth (Genesis 5:3-32), each “had a son in his own likeness, in his own image” (Genesis 5:3) – which provides a clear biblical allusion that godly parents begets godly children.
Even then, their decreasing longevity is evidence that – in spite of their godliness – the effect of sin and death remained their present reality.
It was inevitable that the corruption of sin would affect all of Creation alike; but more significantly, Genesis 5 remains stark testament for the case for godliness and faithfulness unto God in glaring contrast to the ungodly line of Cain who would understandably have far shorter lifespans due to their deliberately corrupt lifestyles that would lead them to indulge in every carnal proclivity.
From the godly line of Adam, Hebrews 11:4-6 highlights two individuals who set themselves apart from their perverse generations and chose to please God by their faith.
“4 By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings.
And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death:
“He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”
For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:4-6)
Abel and Enoch were among the “remnant chose by grace” (Romans 11:5) – the remaining few who loved God and resolutely remained faithful to Him.
They refused to go the way of Cain and of the world.
By the time of the flood, every human heart was completely wicked and against God – with the exception of Noah and his family.
We must understand that at every point in human history – including ours - only the faithful remnant will truly worship God, remain faithful to Him, know and obey His word and patiently wait upon His Promises.
Godliness is the narrow gate; only the faithful few would find it, and walk through it.
Our Lord Jesus taught us in Matthew 7:13-14:
“Enter through the narrow gate.
13For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Though few, the assurance of those who would be known as the faithful remnant is that God will mark each of their names - not merely in Scriptures - but forever in the Book of Life. (Ref: Revelation 20:15, Luke 10:20, Hebrews 12:22-23)
Though few, we are never alone in our faith in Christ.
Though few, we are sufficient in our numbers to continue in Christ’s Kingdom Work of making disciples of all nations; and to bring forth godly generations to come who will see to the return of Christ our King.
What must we do to bring forth godly descendants?
How must we live to belong to God and His faithful remnant?
We must – in the very earliest of traditions – be godly.
To this, we look to Enoch.
“Enoch walked faithfully with God.” (Genesis 5:22,24)
Undoubtedly, Enoch was godly.
What is the substance of godliness?
(1) He “walked faithfully with God”.
Imagine what a life of “walking faithfully with God” looks like.
How must your life look like if you were known by your family and friends as someone who is conscientiously and constantly walking faithfully with God?
Do you work on walking faithfully with God?
Do you talk about walking faithfully with God?
Do you read about how to walk faithfully with God?
Is walking faithfully with God your life’s guiding principle?
Are you passionate about walking faithfully with God?
Is your ultimate goal in life to walk faithfully with God?
To walk faithfully with God means that your life’s desire is to know God more; to be completely focused on fulfilling His Will and serving only Christ throughout your life.
Nothing can shake your faith in God when you are truly walking faithfully with Him.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
Godliness is a corporate endeavor.
It is to live by faith in God, learning, and trusting His every Word and Promises (Ref: Hebrews 11:5-6); making every effort to live a holy life together as a family of God (Ref: 1 John 1:7); communally embracing only God’s Holy Ways – all this while standing firm against the wickedness and ungodliness of a generation.
As the Apostle Paul states resolutely, “To live is Christ.” (Philippians 1:21)
(2) He preached the Gospel of Christ; denouncing sin and the lifestyle of the godless by warning his world about the Coming of the Lord, and announcing godliness in preparation for His Return together with those who are holy in Christ.
Jude 14-15 reveals the prophetic and evangelistic aspect of Enoch’s godly life:
“14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them:
“See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Enoch’s message resonates Christ’s own words in Mark 1:15, “The time has come... ...The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
Are you ever prepared and willing to preach the Gospel of repentance and the return of Christ together “with thousands upon thousands of His holy ones?”
Indeed, Christ is coming!
And He is coming to inbreak the Kingdom of God; but not before judging, and convicting every person who has not received the Salvation that our Lord Jesus – Himself – wrought for us on the Cross at Calvary for the atonement of the sins of the world.
With “thousands upon thousands of His holy ones”, Christ Jesus returns specifically to judge and convict every human being left on earth after the rapture (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) specifically of “all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
Every true Christian must strive to the ultimate calling and task as one of “His Holy Ones” who would judge and convict unbelieving sinners – the ungodly - during that time; and the only way to its fulfillment is if and only if we strive this day to be godly through our Lord Jesus Christ in our thoughts, speech and testimonies that speak clearly to His Return (Ref: Acts 1:11), which heralds the fateful time of judgement and conviction that marks the end of the age of fallen Mankind, and precedes the inbreaking of God’s Eternal Kingdom.
We must always be ready and willing to preach His Gospel as the Spirit gives us utterance. (Ref: Acts 2:4)
And this is the message nestled within Enoch’s message to every authentic born-again believer.
Though not everyone may be bestowed this divine call to prophetically preach the Gospel and the Coming of the Lord to this world like Enoch’s, every single one of God’s Holy Ones is presently called to make disciples of all nations, and when the Lord returns, called to judge all unbelievers and convict them of their ungodly acts and defiant words spoken against Christ.
Understand this well.
This must be the reality of every true believer - that on that day of days, you would be faced with the divine task of judging and convicting people whom you knew well in this life.
Are you prepared for this ultimate calling?
Are you prepared today to be set apart and made holy in order to fulfill your role as one of God’s Holy Ones?
(3) He pleased God.
“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death:
“He could not be found, because God had taken him away.”
For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5)
With his life of utter faithfulness, godliness and prophetic evangelism, Enoch pleased God so much that God honored him by taking him away from the earth to be with Him forever without experiencing death.
This sounds almost like the first living rapture – albeit yet without the gift of the eternal, new creation body.
Do you strive to please God in every aspect of your life?
Do you know His Heart? Do you yearn for His Favour?
Are you filled with the Presence, Purpose and Power of His Holy Spirit?
Godliness and holiness are synonymous; and can only be found in a human being who is filled, and fueled by the Holy Spirit of God.
The Christian must constantly and conscientiously strive to be godly in Christ – now and forevermore.
In spite of the darkness and wickedness of a world out to defy God, Enoch exemplified the substance of godliness.
He walked faithfully with God; preached the Gospel, denounced sin in preparation of the Coming of the Lord; and lived a life pleasing God.
Likewise, in spite of our present existence in an evil and ungodly generation, we must:
(1) Walk faithfully with God;
(2) Preach His Gospel - denouncing sin and warning the people in our lives against disobedience to God and unbelief in Christ, and announcing the Salvation of God through Christ and our lives of godliness - in preparation of the Coming of the Lord; and
(3) Live our lives pleasing to God in everyway.
Shalom.
Let us pray.
Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your Kingdom come, Your Will be done; on earth, as it is in heaven.
Holy Spirit, convict my heart this day of all ungodliness; that I may fully repent and return to You. I believe that Christ’s finished work on the Cross has fully atoned for, and wiped out my sins. Yes, Lord – may I live fully in Your times of refreshing! (Ref: Acts 3:19-20)
In spite of this evil and ungodly generation, may I be filled with Your Presence and Power Lord Jesus, that I may forever walk faithfully with You, preach Your Gospel – denouncing sin and ungodliness and announcing Your message of repentance and pending return; and in everything, live my life pleasing in Your Holy Sight.
May my life bring forth godly descendants.
May I acknowledge daily that I belong to You in every way; and through Christ, have been counted worthy to be part of Your faithful “remnant chosen by grace”. (Ref: Romans 11:5)
Thank You, Lord, for Your Grace and Mercy – having rescued me from Your wrath that I fully deserved as a sinner. (Ref: 1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Today, I am born again in the Spirit -through faith in You, Lord Jesus.
Prepare me this day, Lord – that I may be counted as one of “Your Holy Ones” when You “come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.” And if I am still alive and are left, I know that I “will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
Prepare me this day, Lord – that I may fully live out the substance of godliness – and return with You as one of Your “holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against” You. (Jude 14-15)
Lord Jesus, make me godly and holy – that I may be found in Your own likeness, in Your own image” (Genesis 5:3)
I thank You and pray all these in the Name of our King, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.