Responding to God’s Goodness
Galatians chapter 5:22
Romans chapter 2:4-11
Introduction-
We have been looking at the Fruit of the Spirit for several weeks.
The text is Galatians chapter 5:22.
“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy. Peace, patience. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Today, we will look at goodness and if we can mix a little gentleness in also.
Illustration-
A little girl was reading this passage in her Sunday School class. She was reading it fast because she was scared to speak. She began, but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kind of goodness. Now of course, she meant kindness and goodness.
Really, don’t we all think that we are kinda good?
Does our culture think goodness and kindness is good?
We know from this scripture it is a God thing to be kind and good. It is one of God’s characteristics and He desires it to be in our lives.
What does the world think about it?
Suppose two NFL coaches faced each other one Sunday afternoon.
Do you suppose that the locker room pep talk would be how kind and good you ought to be to the other team?
I think society still wants kindness and goodness, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their life-style. There not the one making the changes.
We expect people to be polite when you are at the check-out counter.
We expect people not to take advantage of us.
Society also expects that they should be able to tell a person off when they do not agree with them.
We feel angry when it is done to us.
We feel vindicated when we give it to someone else. (who of course needs it)
We appreciate someone going the extra mile.
1st question to ask yourself:
So where does God weight-in on this?
How does God create goodness in us?
The key word being create, because it does not come easily for us, and it does not come naturally.
Julian of Norwhich-
“Every act of kindness and compassion done by any man for his fellow Christian is done by Christ working within him.”
God has to create in us goodness and kindness.
2nd question to ask yourself:
How does God measure goodness?
By what Standard ?
There is only one measure. God measures goodness against Himself.
We then realize that we do not measure up.
Psalm 52:1
“The goodness of God endureth continually.”
1 john 1:5-
“The goodness of God respects the perfection of His Nature.”
God is Good- (Wait for someone to finish phrase) All the time…(God is good)
His essence is good.
Everything He created was good.
His decrees, His creation, His laws, His judgments are all good!
King David-
“Thou art good, and doest good.”
The goodness of God is seen throughout history.
Especially when a good and perfect God in advance provides a way for mankind who fell below God’s goodness and provided them a way of redemption.
It is the goodness of God that believers put their trust in.
“O that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” Psalm 107.8
It is the same goodness that is despised when it is not used as a means of repentance.
“The Lord is good, a strong hold in a day of trouble and He knoweth them that trust Him.”
Melvin Newland is a Nazarene preacher who was preaching on the goodness of God and said,
Everyone expects me to be good, I am the preacher.
He says that you all are good for nothing, but I’m paid to be good.” (let that sink in)
W.H. Auden said-
“Goodness is easier to recognize than to define.” I would agree.
What is at the heart of goodness? Only God knows.
Because people can fake goodness because of agenda or motive to work you over.
It can be faked.
I dealt with a women one time on the phone that I thought was an elderly women. I came to her house to meet a need that she had, and to my surprise, this women was younger than I was. She had faked being elderly so that I would show goodness and help her.
Good works can be faked. Only God knows.
But true goodness is a Godly characteristic of the heart.
It is powered by the Holy Spirit of God alive in our heart and we are actively living and molding Jesus likeness.
Goodness is when the Holy Spirit takes the old out, and makes us new.!
John Wesley understood God’s transformation 250 years ago when he said,
Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you ca,
at all times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as you can.”
That is God working in our lives!
Romans chapter 2:4-11
Talking about God’s wrath against mankind.
God’s judgment to come, How we will have no excuse to escape His judgment.
The goodness here is not how many good deeds you do.
It is not about how much money you give.
It is not how smart you are and how successful you are.
These are the fruit of having a relationship with the Lord.
These things should happen to each person who claims Jesus Christ as Lord.
The goodness He is talking about is a repentant person who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and God see’s Jesus Christ and not their sins.
That is God’s definition of Good.!
(11) For God does not show favoritism.
He see’s Jesus or He doesn’t.
We are repentant or we are not.
God will give to each one of us according to that standard.
We cannot cover our sins by doing more good deeds.
We cannot make God love us more, because He already does.
God’s goodness and kindness received will be a person responding and drawing close to God.
A heart that is realizes what God has done for us will show kindness to others.
It becomes natural, because we are now acting in the love of the Lord!
You are helpless and hopeless without God.
You cannot cover your faults by pointing a finger at someone your better than.
But only drawing close to God.
I pray you realize the goodness of God.
How wide, long, and high, and deep His love is for each one of us.
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
The message of God has always been repent and draw near to me.
Message of the children of Israel- worshipping golden idols.
Nathan to David- selfish taking of another mans wife.
Ezekiel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, all the same message.
Jesus- repent, (come back) The kingdom is not that way- It is that way.!
Close-
Illustration
Lucy who has planned a picnic for the next day, she says to Charlie Brown, “I just hope to goodness it does not rain.” Walking away Charlie answers, “Hoping to goodness is not theologically sound.” Charlie is right. Hoping to goodness is not sound. Fixing our eyes on Jesus is sound.
Our circumstances are not an accurate reflection of God’s goodness. Whether life is good or bad, God’s goodness, rooted in His character, is the same.
The Christian’s hope is in Jesus Christ!
It is not in human spirit, in human goodness, human endurance, human achievement. It is in the power of Jesus Christ!
