THE GODLY MAN’S PICTURE: DRAWN WITH A SCRIPTURE PENCIL, by Thomas Watson

A Brief Book Summary from Books At a Glance

by Steve West

 

This book is part of the Banner of Truth’s box set of Puritan Classics. Watson’s original work was first published in 1666.

 

Summary

Psalm 32 shows us that a godly individual finds true happiness in the forgiveness of sin. It is an act of pure grace when God forgives us for our sins. Through the blood of Christ, God cancels both sin’s guilt and penalty. When we repent, our sins are forgiven and forgotten by God. It is so sweet to have forgiveness, and so dreadful to be without it! When we are forgiven, we are to pursue godliness. We may understand godliness as, “the sacred impression and workmanship of God in a man, whereby from being carnal he is made spiritual.” Godliness is real, not a vain conceit of religious enthusiasm. It takes root deep in our heart by the supernatural work of the Spirit of God. Godliness does not touch only some parts of our lives but rather permeates every area. It makes us intense and makes us zealous; it is glorious and a permanent fixture in our lives.

Scripture tells us that there are many false professors and hypocrites who are internally corrupt while making a show of godliness. To have a show of godliness is to delude oneself and to enrage God. Hypocrisy is despicable to both God and man. Counterfeit godliness will be of no avail at the time of death, and the hypocrite will receive Satan’s scorn. Even godly persons may have a spot of hypocrisy, but it will never prevail everywhere with them. Those who are overcome with hypocrisy serve God for their own ends or cherish a sin they will not give up.

To sketch a picture of the godly man, we start with his knowledge. Those who are godly have supernatural knowledge of God and they walk in divine truth and wisdom. Their knowledge is well-grounded and gives them confidence. It allows us to see Christ’s proper worth, and it quickens us to serve him. Those with knowledge apply themselves to Christ, owning him not only as Savior but also as Lord, and their knowledge sanctifies them and stops sin. Such knowledge transforms us. It causes us to be emptied of self and pride. Those who know God increase in their knowledge and increase in their obedience. There are many who have head knowledge of Christ but who have not trusted him; they love darkness rather than light, and their judgment will be severe. People take great pains to increase in knowledge in many spheres, so let us take the greatest pains to increase in our knowledge of Christ. It is only by the Spirit that we can have the right knowledge of God, so praise the Lord if he has done this work in you! . . .

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