Being religious isn't the same as being godly. It is astounding that people can't differentiate between the two nowadays. A religion is a belief system carried out by a group of individuals who subscribe to its teaching and set of rules.
The Pharisees and scribes of Jesus' time on His earthly ministry are a good illustration of religious forks. In spite of the fact that they kept every one of the laws of Moses, they were blind to the presence of the Messiah living among them, despite the fact that Moses spoke about Him.
Notwithstanding all extraordinary works He did directly in front of them, which ought to have persuaded them without question of His identity, they questioned all that He did and wouldn't accept him.
The Pharisees complied with the laws of Moses to the letter however wouldn't acknowledge the power of salvation through Christ. They also did not believe in His message of love and mercy that he bring; rather, they believed that no sinner must go unpunished.
The Pharisees so much focus on their attention to looking holy rather than really living a holy life.
Rather than being religious, godliness is synonymous to being Christ-like and carrying on with holy life. A person is considered godly when the person has the nature of God. Godliness is substantially more than looking holy or acting holy; it is a way of life.
It's unfortunate that in the church, there are more religious forks than godly people. Religious individuals think that it is easy to chastise others, while they do worse things in secret.
They can quote a lot of scriptures by heart and know the right Bible passage that fits each situation. While this is good, religious individuals don't live as indicated by the scriptures they know and recite, on the grounds that their hearts are far from God.
Such people know every one of the rulers and doctrines of the denomination they are however deny the power behind such doctrine. Their main problem is that there is a separation between their external and internal man. The character they show to the world is different who they truly are.
The Bible rebukes us to move far away from religious people. They rush to call the head of any person in Christ who falls into sin, instead of restraining and correcting such a fellow in love.
If you think that it is hard to show love to people, but then you preach the gospel, you are practicing religion and godliness. Godliness, instead of religion, will bring you extraordinary gain in this world and in heaven.
Aside from getting your heart's desires on earth through Christ, godliness will likewise ensure that you partake in life in heaven.