The young man who approached me after Sunday’s sermon was sincere in his question. He was quite astute in pointing out the tension in the texts we discussed about godliness in our lives. On one hand, we are instructed to pursue godliness, and on the other hand, godliness is the work of God. Exactly!

This is not a contradiction; it’s an example of truths being both/and rather than either/or. The Christian life is always in a state of tension: we cannot be godly without God, yet we are called to pursue godliness with all our might. This is the tension between God’s work in us and our active obedience.

Scripture repeatedly urges us to pursue godliness, holiness, and righteousness, yet it also reminds us that true transformation is entirely God’s work. The pursuit of godliness is both a divine work and a human responsibility. As Paul reminds Timothy (1:14; 2:21; 3:5, 12–17), godliness is never self-generated. It comes from God, His Spirit, and the transforming truth of His Word.

Without His active involvement, any outward appearance of godliness can be empty and powerless (2 Timothy 3:5). Left to ourselves, our efforts end up empty; a mere form of godliness that denies its true power.

At the same time, we must remember that Scripture never justifies passivity. Paul urges believers to cleanse themselves of what is dishonorable (2:21), pursue righteousness (3:12), and become fully equipped for every good work through Scripture (3:16–17). The Christian life is not a life of inaction. Faith is always an active trust in God’s Person, His power, and His promises by His Word. God provides the enabling power, but we are called to respond with obedience and discipline.

This tension—between God’s work in us and our active pursuit of godliness—is not a contradiction but a gracious partnership. We cannot produce godliness within ourselves. However, we are encouraged to believe, strive, and walk in His power. In this way, God provides the fruit of true godliness, rooted in Himself, not in our own efforts.

Ultimately, we must recognize that this tension is necessary. As we hold the two truths in tension—that we pursue godliness, and God produces it in us—it prevents us from emphasizing one over the other. For if you believe that godliness depends on you, then you'll constantly strive to become godly, but always feel disappointed in yourself. Conversely, if you believe that you just need to sit back and wait for God to change you, then you will end up being disappointed with God.

So, the young man who brought this up was right. The tension is real, but it is by God’s design. The tension trains us to accept our limitations and responsibilities while trusting in God’s abundant grace and provision for a life of godliness. 

Embrace the tension. When you do, you can say with the apostle Paul, “For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me” (Colossians 1:29).