大哉，敬虔的奧祕！無人不以為然：就是神在肉身顯現，被聖靈稱義（或作：在靈性稱義），被天使看見，被傳於外邦，被世人信服，被接在榮耀裡。～提前3:16～
敬虔是一種態度，一種氣質，是一種品格，合起來是一種生命。敬虔是基督徒當活出的生命品格。弟兄姊妹應當常常反省自己是否有這種生命。寫教牧書信的使徒保羅深深認識這敬虔的奧秘，活出這敬虔的生命，進而傳揚敬虔的奧秘。因此，我們在神的家中首先要認識，才能傳揚，這種認識不僅在表面的認識，而是從一方面漸漸深入並全面的認識，然後才傳揚。內在的認識帶來外在的傳揚。因此傳揚與認識和生命密不可分。
甚麼是「敬虔」呢? 敬虔的英文就是「Godliness」─「像神一樣」。 敬虔不是天生的，是需要追求的，是需要操練的，必須靠著信心活出來，無論思想、態度、言語、處世、待人接物、在家庭、在公司、學習、活出像神一樣的生命。一個敬虔的生命，需要除去不敬虔的心和世俗的情慾，追求公義、聖潔、信心、愛心、忍耐、溫柔、良善，活出一種像神一樣的氣質與品格。敬虔的奧秘是甚麼呢? 就是道成肉身的耶穌基督，神本體的真相，天使也同作見證。
低頭看看我們生命真的敬虔嗎？順服嗎？我們真的認識耶穌嗎? 我們真的在信心中等候主榮耀的降臨嗎？當我們傳揚主道時若不知道敬虔的奧秘我們如何傳? 因此我們當竭力認識道成肉身的耶穌基督，肩負傳揚福音使命的負擔，操練敬虔，滿懷盼望，等候基督的再來。
Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great: He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory. ～1 Timothy 3:16～
Godliness is an attitude, a temperament, a character, and it shows your life all together. All Christians should live out a life of godliness. We should always reflect on whether or not we are living a godly life. The apostle Paul, who wrote the pastoral epistle, deeply knew the mystery of godliness, lived out this godly life, and then spread the mystery of godliness. Therefore, in the house of God we must first know it before we can spread it. This kind of knowledge is not just a superficial knowledge, but gradually grows in depth and in breadth, and then we can share it. The inner knowledge brings the outer actions of sharing it. Therefore, our actions of spreading the Gospel and our knowledge of it are inseparable.
What is "godliness"? Godliness means "to be like god". Godliness is not inborn; we need to pursue it, practice it, and live it out by faith. We should life a life like God in our thoughts, attitudes, ways of talking and walking, relationships with others, whether we are at home, at work, or at church. To live a godly life, we need to get rid of ungodliness and worldly passions, pursue justice, holiness, faith, love, patience, gentleness, and goodness, and have a temperament and character like God’s.
Check ourselves. Are we godly? Are we obedient? Do we really know the Lord? Are we really waiting in faith for the Lord's glorious coming? When we are sharing the Gospel, if we don’t know the mystery of godliness, how do we share it? Therefore, we should strive to know Jesus Christ, shoulder the burden of preaching the mission of the Gospel, practice godliness diligently and wait in hope for the return of Christ.
～ Rev. Benguang Du 都本光牧師～