But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23
Good morning. For the past 6 weeks we have been discussing “The Fruit of the Spirit”. Scripture teaches us that, as believers, we are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in and through our lives. This fruit consists of several nutrients or attributes, all of which are produced supernaturally by the Holy Spirit who abides within us.
Last Sunday, we began our sermon with a review game. You did so well, I thought we might play again this morning. However, this week I will give you the simple definition of each nutrient we’ve covered thus far, and you will try to tell me which it is. Because we added another virtue last week, today we have 5 possible answers - love, joy, peace, patience, or kindness. Here we go…
“Gladness not based on circumstances” (Joy)
“Slow to speak and slow to anger” (Patience)
“Seeks the highest good of others” (Love)
“Merciful, sweet, tender” (Kindness)
“Contentment and unity between people” (Peace)
Excellent. You’ve done well again. I’m impressed. Okay, well let’s dig into the 6th nutrient of the fruit of the Spirit. Today’s message is on goodness.
I. GOODNESS DEFINED
Goodness is demonstrated through various moral qualities and characteristics, most notably kindness. In fact, these 2 words are oftentimes used interchangeably. Goodness, like kindness, is an expression of God’s gracious love which is shown through a selfless desire to be openhearted and generous to others above what they deserve. This is the most common use of the word goodness in the Bible. That said, goodness has a broader meaning that extends beyond kindness.
Goodness can be defined as “moral excellence”. According to 1 of the Bible dictionaries I looked at this week, “goodness in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.” When we do good, we are doing that which is right and that which honors God. In this sense, goodness is speaking and acting with integrity and uprightness.
Goodness begins with being good. It is a moral condition. Good is the opposite of evil. Good is the opposite of bad. God is perfectly good. He is completely holy, pure, and righteous. We should aspire to mimic these traits - to mirror His goodness. Thus, goodness is perhaps best understood as godliness. When we display goodness in whatever context it may occur, we are demonstrating a degree of godliness. The Greek work for goodness is agathosune.
II. GOODNESS EXEMPLIFIED IN CHRIST
Jesus is described as One who was anointed by the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the Devil (Acts 10:38). The gospels contain numerous examples of His goodness. Despite the controversy it caused, Jesus taught that doing good deeds was even permissible even on the Sabbath day. One one occasion, He healed a man’s withered hand while teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12). This kind act of healing was an expression of Jesus’ goodness.
Jesus referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). He explained that a good shepherd - one who truly loved his sheep - would lay down his life to save them from danger. This is, of course, exactly what Jesus did on behalf of fallen mankind. He laid down His life so that we might be forgiven of our sin and receive salvation. Jesus’ death and resurrection were the ultimate display of His goodness.
Jesus is the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity. He plainly stated, without ambiguity, that He and the Father were one (John 10:30). Jesus is of the same nature, essence, and being as the Father. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 1 God in 3 Persons. Therefore, when the Bible states that God is good it applies to all 3 (Psalm 100:5, 1 Chronicles 16:34, etc). Jesus is inherently good because He is God.
III. THE ELUSIVENESS OF GOODNESS
Jesus was approached by a rich young ruler who addressed Him as “Good Teacher” (Mark 10:17-18). Jesus responded by asking, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.” With this statement, Jesus highlighted His dual nature. Jesus is fully God and fully man simultaneously. With respect to His deity, Jesus was and is wholly good. However, with respect to His humanity, Jesus refused to refer to Himself as good due to the weaknesses and limitations of His flesh.
People are, by both nature and choice, woefully sinful, corrupt and unholy. The Bible teaches that “no one does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:12). People are, in and of themselves, not good. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). People are intrinsically evil and cannot practice genuine goodness, as it is contrary to their nature. No amount of good deeds can change this reality. In other words, we cannot become good by doing good. This is the elusiveness of goodness.
The only way to become good in the sight of God is through faith in Jesus Christ. When we trust in Him for salvation, He makes us righteous and good by the power of His grace. This change enables us to do the good works that God has set before us (Ephesians 2:8-10). We do these good works as a testimony of His goodness (Matthew 5:16). God urges Christians to do good and not grow weary (Galatians 6:9-10).
CONCLUSION
God also demonstrates His goodness to us through blessings and answered prayers. Like a loving father who gives good gifts to his children, so also God showers His goodness on those who ask for it (Matthew 7:11). In fact, the Bible teaches that every good and perfect gift we receive comes from God (James 1:17). He is the source of all goodness.
David was confident that God’s goodness would follow him all the days of his life (Psalm 23:6). As Christians, we can share in this same confidence. We serve a good God, who makes us good through Jesus Christ, and calls us to do good things. We should seek to emulate His goodness in everything we do.
Next Sunday we will talk about faithfulness. I hope you will join us then. Have a wonderful week.
Good morning. For the past 6 weeks we have been discussing “The Fruit of the Spirit”. Scripture teaches us that, as believers, we are to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit in and through our lives. This fruit consists of several nutrients or attributes, all of which are produced supernaturally by the Holy Spirit who abides within us.
Last Sunday, we began our sermon with a review game. You did so well, I thought we might play again this morning. However, this week I will give you the simple definition of each nutrient we’ve covered thus far, and you will try to tell me which it is. Because we added another virtue last week, today we have 5 possible answers - love, joy, peace, patience, or kindness. Here we go…
“Gladness not based on circumstances” (Joy)
“Slow to speak and slow to anger” (Patience)
“Seeks the highest good of others” (Love)
“Merciful, sweet, tender” (Kindness)
“Contentment and unity between people” (Peace)
Excellent. You’ve done well again. I’m impressed. Okay, well let’s dig into the 6th nutrient of the fruit of the Spirit. Today’s message is on goodness.
I. GOODNESS DEFINED
Goodness is demonstrated through various moral qualities and characteristics, most notably kindness. In fact, these 2 words are oftentimes used interchangeably. Goodness, like kindness, is an expression of God’s gracious love which is shown through a selfless desire to be openhearted and generous to others above what they deserve. This is the most common use of the word goodness in the Bible. That said, goodness has a broader meaning that extends beyond kindness.
Goodness can be defined as “moral excellence”. According to 1 of the Bible dictionaries I looked at this week, “goodness in man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.” When we do good, we are doing that which is right and that which honors God. In this sense, goodness is speaking and acting with integrity and uprightness.
Goodness begins with being good. It is a moral condition. Good is the opposite of evil. Good is the opposite of bad. God is perfectly good. He is completely holy, pure, and righteous. We should aspire to mimic these traits - to mirror His goodness. Thus, goodness is perhaps best understood as godliness. When we display goodness in whatever context it may occur, we are demonstrating a degree of godliness. The Greek work for goodness is agathosune.
II. GOODNESS EXEMPLIFIED IN CHRIST
Jesus is described as One who was anointed by the Holy Spirit and power, who went about doing good and healing those who were oppressed by the Devil (Acts 10:38). The gospels contain numerous examples of His goodness. Despite the controversy it caused, Jesus taught that doing good deeds was even permissible even on the Sabbath day. One one occasion, He healed a man’s withered hand while teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:12). This kind act of healing was an expression of Jesus’ goodness.
Jesus referred to Himself as “The Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). He explained that a good shepherd - one who truly loved his sheep - would lay down his life to save them from danger. This is, of course, exactly what Jesus did on behalf of fallen mankind. He laid down His life so that we might be forgiven of our sin and receive salvation. Jesus’ death and resurrection were the ultimate display of His goodness.
Jesus is the Son of God, the second Person of the Trinity. He plainly stated, without ambiguity, that He and the Father were one (John 10:30). Jesus is of the same nature, essence, and being as the Father. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are 1 God in 3 Persons. Therefore, when the Bible states that God is good it applies to all 3 (Psalm 100:5, 1 Chronicles 16:34, etc). Jesus is inherently good because He is God.
III. THE ELUSIVENESS OF GOODNESS
Jesus was approached by a rich young ruler who addressed Him as “Good Teacher” (Mark 10:17-18). Jesus responded by asking, “Why do you call me good? Only God is good.” With this statement, Jesus highlighted His dual nature. Jesus is fully God and fully man simultaneously. With respect to His deity, Jesus was and is wholly good. However, with respect to His humanity, Jesus refused to refer to Himself as good due to the weaknesses and limitations of His flesh.
People are, by both nature and choice, woefully sinful, corrupt and unholy. The Bible teaches that “no one does good, not even one” (Psalm 14:3, Romans 3:12). People are, in and of themselves, not good. The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). People are intrinsically evil and cannot practice genuine goodness, as it is contrary to their nature. No amount of good deeds can change this reality. In other words, we cannot become good by doing good. This is the elusiveness of goodness.
The only way to become good in the sight of God is through faith in Jesus Christ. When we trust in Him for salvation, He makes us righteous and good by the power of His grace. This change enables us to do the good works that God has set before us (Ephesians 2:8-10). We do these good works as a testimony of His goodness (Matthew 5:16). God urges Christians to do good and not grow weary (Galatians 6:9-10).
CONCLUSION
God also demonstrates His goodness to us through blessings and answered prayers. Like a loving father who gives good gifts to his children, so also God showers His goodness on those who ask for it (Matthew 7:11). In fact, the Bible teaches that every good and perfect gift we receive comes from God (James 1:17). He is the source of all goodness.
David was confident that God’s goodness would follow him all the days of his life (Psalm 23:6). As Christians, we can share in this same confidence. We serve a good God, who makes us good through Jesus Christ, and calls us to do good things. We should seek to emulate His goodness in everything we do.
Next Sunday we will talk about faithfulness. I hope you will join us then. Have a wonderful week.